Dubs leaving Croker "wasn't even mentioned"

November 07, 2014

Stephen Cluxton lifts the provincial trophy after being presented with it by Leinster Council chairman John Horan (far left) ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

Acting Leinster Council CEO Michael Reynolds has revealed that there were no dissenting voices to Dublin continuing to play their Leinster SFC games in Croke Park at Wednesday's meeting of the provincial body.

The Dubs haven't played a Leinster SFC match outside Croker since 2006 and, despite this being a bone of contention with supporters in other counties, they will remain at GAA headquarters for the foreseeable future with revenue, TV coverage, health and safety and a lack of venues suitable for accommodating Dublin's huge support all factors in the decision.

Jim Gavin's side will begin their Leinster SFC defence against Offaly or Longford at Croke Park on Sunday, May 31 as part of a double-header with Dublin's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Galway.

"It wasn't even mentioned last night. Even 12 months ago I don't think it even went to a formal vote although there were speakers against it," Reynolds said in the Irish Times.

"This week we presented the draft fixtures for all the championships and there wasn't a murmur, good, bad or indifferent - and that would have been the forum for someone to raise objections but of the 35 delegates present there was no counter proposal."

Reynolds added: "Health and safety plays a ferocious role in all of this.

"Longford and Dublin in 2006 could not happen in 2014 without greatly reducing the attendance. We could do it if we decided 8,000 was acceptable compared to 16,000 eight years ago. Safety considerations are having a big impact in all walks of life."


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