Northern counties still divided on infamous Rule 42

WHILE reaction was muted yesterday, the decision of the GAA to allow Rule 42 be debated on the Congress floor is expected to lead to weeks of feverish discussion in the northern counties.

Some counties, like Armagh and Antrim, have been quite strident in their opposition to opening up Croke Park in the past.

Like the equally divisive Rule 21, for soccer and Rugby to be allowed into Croker, the northern counties will need to be convinced.

And it might take some convincing. Derry PRO Gerry Donnelly believes his county is still divided on the issue.

“Historically, as a county, we would be naturally opposed to such a move. But the mood is shifting slightly, people are starting to see maybe the time has come for a change.”

He says that some clubs in Derry are strongly opposed to the abolition of the Rule, while others feel the Rule is out-dated. It is a situation mirrored in other counties.

Armagh and Tyrone have been two of the most vehement opponents, traditionally, and that is unlikely to change. “The matter has yet to be discussed at ground level,” said a Tyrone county board spokesperson.

“But based on past history and past opinion, the county would be opposed to opening up Croke Park.

“We certainly were the last time it was discussed at county board level.”

Down are an interesting example. As the northern county at the forefront of scrapping the more divisive Rule 21, the county has always seen to be one of the more liberal county boards in the north. However, the mood within the county seems to be leaning towards opposing any amendment to Rule 42.

“I think what might decide many people’s minds is how Croke Park will be opened up. Whether we are going to open up the stadium full-time or if it is only going to be opened for as long as Lansdowne Road is being re-developed,” Down chairman Gerry Quinn said.

“That is what the vote might come down to.”

There tends to be more sympathy in the north for allowing rugby to be played in Croke Park rather than soccer. Rugby, of course, is a 32-county sport, while soccer is very much a sprained sport in the north.

The Antrim county board would give no comment on the fact that Rule 42 will be open for discussion. A spokesman for the county said the matter was still to be discussed at county board level. Antrim are known to be one of the most vehement opponents of any change to the Rule.

Fermanagh county board chairman Joe McGurn said it was too early to predict how his county will be voting on the motion. The matter will not be discussed until the next county board meeting on Monday March 7.

Like the other northern counties, Fermanagh is believed to be divided on the issue with one source saying “it would be touch and go” as to how the county would vote.

Cavan, whose submitted motion on Rule 42 was accepted, and Donegal are both likely to be in favour of amending the rule, although it is thought Monaghan will side with the other counties in the province.