Croke Park defend decision to defer replay

CROKE PARK have defended the decision to delay the Derry-Dublin All Ireland football qualifier for a week, despite angry objections from Derry GAA chiefs.

Gerard O’Kane, the Derry chairman, said that the delay has been geared to take away any advantage that Derry might hold over a Dublin team still reeling from the knockout blow by Laois.

“In my opinion, everything has been geared to the advantage of Dublin,” said O’Kane. “It is going to give them extra time to recover from Sunday’s game, but that’s the way these things go. Certain counties get preferential treatment, while others are not even consulted on matters.”