Croker in mood for change?

THE campaign to open up Croke Park to soccer and rugby continues to gather momentum this week with a significant number of counties pledging their support for the relaxation of Rule 42.

However, the difference between achieving the necessary two-thirds majority or falling short of the votes required at Congress on Saturday week remains on a knife edge, with nine counties, Britain and the overseas vote still to declare their intentions on the matter.

Momentum is one thing, but the 'pro-change' camp believe they have a way to go before an historic change of Rule 42. Two more counties - Derry and Carlow - will come to a decision tomorrow night, with seven leaving it until Congress week - including key counties such as Limerick, Cork and Kilkenny.

Of the nine, most observers will focus on Cork and Limerick for different reasons. Cork has traditionally voted against change to Rule 42, though many clubs are meeting this week before mandating their delegate to Tuesday night's Board meeting.

Limerick have decided to revisit the motions through their clubs, having initially indicated they would be opposed to any rule change. There are suggestions that a u-turn could be on the cards.

The Limerick City Board has already decided to mandate their delegates to vote in the 'yes' camp at next Tuesday's full county board meeting, at which the issue will be discussed. Two more Limerick clubs, Adare and Mungret, have voted in favour of opening the stadium during the period of reconstruction work at Lansdowne Road.

County senior hurling champions Ahane voted 50-2 for change.

However, should both Cork and Limerick vote against any alteration to Rule 42, they would join seven of the nine Ulster counties to form a formidable rump standing in the way of any change.

Westmeath, Leitrim, Louth and Armagh are the four other counties due to declare their stances next week. It is safe to say that Leitrim and Carlow will vote in favour tomorrow night.

Monaghan has already decided against change.

"At our last county board meeting in February, I told delegates to go back to their clubs and get their mandates on how to vote on Rule 42," said county chairman John Connolly.

"At this week's meeting, I proposed the status quo remain the same as regards Rule 42 but after that the floor was opened up for debate for 35 minutes. It was a very civil, frank and democratic discussion.

"We had a full house and everyone had the opportunity to say their piece, for and against, and at the end the decision was made to uphold Rule 42 by 29 votes to 18."

The Rule 42 debate will take place on the second day of annual Congress, though it is still uncertain whether a decision will require two-thirds of the vote. There has been a perceptible shift in attitudes in recent weeks, evidenced by the emphatic decision of the Tipperary County Board last week to support a change to the rule.

GAA President Sean Kelly's bid to bring the issue back to the clubs appears to have had a positive effect.

Clearly, the fact that delegates are being asked to allow Croke Park be opened on a temporary, rather than a permanent, basis is making a huge difference to grass root thinking on the issue.

Waterford also voted to give Central Council the power to decide on the issue.

"A vote was taken to give the power to Central Council and that was passed overwhelmingly," said PRO John Jackson.

"The decision to open Croke Park on a temporary basis was then taken and that was passed unanimously."

Donegal and Galway also voted for change on Monday evening, though despite voting 90-20 to allow other sports into Croke Park, Galway will not be supporting the motion to give Central Council the power to open headquarters.

That vote was defeated 56-52 after a short but heated debate, with Central Council delegate Bernie O'Connor claiming this motion could ease the way for other GAA grounds to be opened.

Despite St Michael's delegate Tommy Kelly's insistence that such talk was a "red herring", Football Board official John Joe Holleran agreed with O'Connor, saying if the motion went through "it would be only a matter of time" before county and club grounds were opened.

Britain and the overseas delegates will also bring considerable voting power and influence to the table.

Britain has 31 votes but it will be early next week before a clear picture emerges of their stance.

London, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, Lancashire and Scotland are all due to meet and instruct delegates on Monday night. Gloucestershire are due to announce their decision by the weekend.

Stephen Dillon, chairman of the GAA's European Board, intimated that three of their four delegates would also vote for change.

"Good relations with other sporting bodies is vital for us. Almost all clubs in Europe share facilities with existing rugby and soccer clubs and enjoy great relationships. In Amsterdam, we ground-share with a rugby side and it works very smoothly."