GAA chiefs fear fixture backlog
The GAA's Games Administration Committee yesterday fixed the qualifier ties between Galway and Tyrone along with Cork and Fermanagh for Croke Park on July 17.
However, that arrangement is dependent on Sunday's Ulster final at headquarters not ending in a draw as the date for a replay is also July 17, with the venue unlikely to change.
If the GAC have to move the double-header from Croke Park, they will not play the two qualifiers together at an alternative venue. In that event, one of them could be used as a curtain-raiser to a replay.
Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has expressed disappointment that their All-Ireland SFC qualifier has not been fixed for next weekend.
"I am glad it's going to be Croke Park, but I would like to be going there on Saturday,'' said Harte.
"At the outset, we thought we would be playing this game next week and that would have been the preferred option for Tyrone. We thought it was going to be 'week on week', with a two-week break for the counties still standing.''
However he is happy with the venue.
"I have been talking about that all year, of giving us more Gaelic games in Croke Park and I certainly would not change my mind at this stage. Earlier in the year I expressed the view that it was not the best possible decision to take the Allianz semi-finals out of Croke Park. That was where they should have been,'' he added.
"There was the opportunity of playing there (against Galway in the League), which we did not get."
Two games in the football qualifier competition will be played this weekend, both on Saturday evening. Dublin will play Longford in Portlaoise, while the delayed second round tie between Wexford and Offaly goes ahead at Wexford Park. The winners will meet Derry on the weekend of July 17/18 at a venue to be decided on.
Meanwhile, the Guinness SHC qualifier between Clare and Offaly will take place in Limerick on Saturday, July 17 with a 6.30pm throw-in.
Tickets for the Cork/Tipperary game are available via clubs and county boards and a limited number will be on sale from the Ticket Office at the rear of the Cusack Stand in Croke Park this week.
Tickets for the Ulster football final between Armagh and Donegal will also be available from the Ticket Office from today until Friday, 11am-7pm and on Saturday from 11am to 4pm, while stocks last.
The stand in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise will also be ticketed for the meeting of Dublin and Longford and tickets will be available through the relevant county boards.
Cash will be taken at the stiles for entry to the terraces.
Fixtures: Bank of Ireland football qualifier competition:
Saturday: Wexford v Offaly, Wexford Park, 6.15pm; Dublin v Longford, Portlaoise 7pm.
Saturday July 17: Cork v Fermanagh and Tyrone v Galway in Croke Park; (times to be confirmed).
July 17/18: Derry v Offaly or Wexford.
*Limerick is the venue for the Guinness hurling championship qualifier between Clare and Offaly on Saturday week. The game will have a 6.30pm throw-in.
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