Replay receives residents’ blessing

AFTER prolonged discussions between the GAA and the Croke Park Area Residents Alliance it was formally announced last night that the replay of the Bank of Ireland, All-Ireland SFC quarter-final between Dublin and Donegal will go ahead at Croke Park on Saturday August 17 with a starting time of 5pm.

However, the GAA have given the residents alliance a firm assurance that in the unlikely event of draw, the replay will be scheduled for a provincial ground.

In a joint statement issued after yesterday's meeting between the two parties, the GAA has agreed that with the exception of Leinster finals, any future Saturday replays of games, up to and including All-Ireland quarter-finals, will be played at provincial venues if the expected attendance is less than 50,000.

At the meeting the GAA admitted that scheduling the Dublin-Donegal match for Saturday August 17 ran contrary to the spirit of previous agreements and recognised the particular inconvenience Saturday matches cause the local community.

In a magnanimous gesture however, the CPARA stated it recognised that the GAA have difficulties in locating the Dublin-Donegal replay, which is expected to attract an attendance of 70,000, outside of Croke Park and in this, what they described as a "unique situation" have agreed to allow the game to go ahead on Saturday August 17.

It was a breakdown in communications between the GAA and the CPARA the fault being on the side of the sports governing body that led to head-to-head confrontations between the parties over the past few days.

The CPARA, who have always opposed major games being played at Croke Park on successive days, were under the impression that extra-time was to have been played in the event of draws ensuing in All-Ireland quarter-final games following the introduction of the back-door system.

However, the GAA have acknowledged that recent Central Council Rules changes ruling out the playing of extra time in quarter-final games was not communicated to the residents alliance.

They stated that if it had been, it may have caused the alliance to reconsider their position regarding a recent agreement drawn up by both parties on Saturday matches.