Supporters of both Sligo and Mayo are facing disappointment after the Connacht SFC final was fixed for Dr Hyde Park.

The Connacht Council's decision last night to fix its showpiece game for the Roscommon venue on July 19 has come as a shock to Sligo who expected the game to take place in Pearse Stadium. The Yeats County understood it was their turn to decide where a Connacht final involving them would be held.

When Mayo and Sligo last met in the Connacht final three years ago at Hyde Park, the attendance was 23,257. However, the stadium's capacity was subsequently reduced to 18,750 on health and safety grounds by the Slattery Report.

Roscommon GAA has spent in the region of €100,000 improving facilities at the venue since then. However, works to increase the capacity to 25,000 have yet to be completed, meaning there are likely to be no more than 20,000 tickets available for the decider.

The Connacht Council is also set to lose out finacially following last night's surprise decision.

Tweet

Most Read Stories