Delays could rule out Hill 16 for next Sunday
Bad weather has caused delays in dismantling the stage used for the Special Olympic ceremonies, meaning Dublin footballers, who face All-Ireland champions Armagh, could be without the support of the Hill for the second successive championship game.
Hill 16 tickets for Saturday's double-header have already been printed and will be made available if and when the deconstruction work is completed.
If the terrace is out of bounds, it may cost the GAA as much as 200,000 in lost revenue, as well as instigating a scramble for tickets because of the reduced capacity.
"Croke Park can still cater for 70,000 without the Hill," a GAA spokesperson said yesterday.
"And there should still be ample tickets for anyone who wants to goTickets went on sale on the web-site yesterday, and most were snapped up in a short space of time.
Meanwhile, the GAA insist that Dublin manager Tommy Lyons is well within his rights to keep his team secret until moments before throw-in, as he did in Clones on Saturday evening.
"As long as any manager supplies Croke Park with a team-list for the programme, then they have no obligation to release it to anyone else," Croke Park said.
"There are no rules that state he can't keep the team to himself and his selectors."
Jason Sherlock's faux pas at the Special Olympics closing ceremony, revealing that Dublin would play Armagh to the crowd and a listening 2FM audience over two hours before the draw was televised live on The Sunday Game, has resulted in GAA President Sean Kelly calling for a review of the entire qualifier draw.
"Most people know the draw is pre-recorded," a spokesperson said. "But what annoyed Sean Kelly was that Jason revealed the news before anyone else was informed.
"We wouldn't be blamingJason, somebody told him, but this isn't the first time this has happened and that is why Sean Kelly was unhappy. It is obvious a full review of the system is now needed."
Meanwhile the chairman of the Cavan County Board, George Cartwright, has slammed the decision of the GAC to bypass Kingspan Breffni Park and fix the All-Ireland qualifier between Fermanagh and Meath for Clones.
"It is a slur on the venue and on all involved in the Cavan GAAWehave spent close to 3 million upgrading facilities at the venue in recent years and have extensive plans to complete the arena.
"It is obvious that certain elements in GAC are contriving to bring every game in the Northern part of the country to Clones.
"Sadly it appears they are being allowed do so by other members of the GAC. Clones has got more than its fair share of games this year.
" There should be a fairer distribution of qualifier games to other venues," said Mr. Cartwright.
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