Louth unhappy at ‘downgrading’ of final

TAKING the NFL finals out of Croke Park on Sunday is tantamount to “downgrading” the competition, according to Louth manager Eamonn McEnaney.

Understandably, while the main complaint from Kerry and Galway is the timing of their game (5.30pm) in Limerick, McEnaney and his opposite number in Donegal Brian McIvor expressed strong criticism of the decision not to play the games at HQ yesterday.

The Heineken Cup semi-final in Lansdowne Road on Sunday was one of the reasons - if not the only one - why the GAA decided to move the two league finals to regional venues.

McEnaney, the former Monaghan star who has been living in Louth for the past 16 years, expected the final would be in Croke Park.

“I can see and understand some of the reasons that have been given for it not being there,” he said. “But, at the same time, it’s every player’s dream to play in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day or, in this case, National League final day.”

McIvor, a candidate for the Tyrone manager’s job when Mickey Harte was appointed in 2002, said the news was greeted with “dismay” by the Donegal players. It was one thing to open up Croke Park to rugby and soccer, but quite a different matter to close it for the league finals, he said.

“We have no problem playing in Breffni Park. We were there last Sunday and it was in great shape, but over the last four or five years, the National League has taken on a totally new life, and I was very surprised when I discovered the final was being moved. We have a fairly young side in Donegal, and for a lot of them it would have been a great opportunity to play there,” he added.

Kerry boss Jack O’Connor focused on the timing of their game - as did Galway manager Peter Ford- saying he couldn’t envisage a big crowd travelling to Limerick for a 5.30pm throw-in.

“We’d even have been happy playing it on Saturday evening, it might have made more sense,” he commented. “Certainly it would have made sense if they postponed it for a week.”

The late start would mean Galway players won’t get home until around midnight, said Ford, adding that it would also impinge on parents who wanted to bring children to the final.

“Saturday at 5.30pm would certainly have suited much better,” he agreed.

O’Connor, who rated Kerry’s League final against Galway in Croke Park in 2004 as one of the best games over the last four or five years, has no qualms about playing in Limerick.

“Players love playing in Croke Park, they are a bit disappointed, but then economics dictated that it was possibly not viable. We’re not that worried where it’s played and we are used to the Gaelic Grounds. We have played there three or four times over the last few years and had a few battles with Limerick. We are used to the pitch. We’re happy enough.”

With Ford agreeing that after three rounds, the talk in Galway was about avoiding relegation, he said that the win over Kildare helped to turn their season around.

Ford admitted that while Galway got the result in Castlebar which they set out to achieve against Mayo, for him as a Mayo man it was difficult after the match was over.

“I can see my house from the pitch. It’s a funny feeling. You’d still feel it’s not the place to be doing that. But, in general, the Mayo supporters have no problem with me.”

O’Connor was amused when he was asked if he would manage another team against Kerry, responding: “I don’t even want to go there. There are enough Kerry men training teams around the place besides me.”