Crowley quits Bishopstown for home

FORMER footballer of the year John Crowley has quit Bishopstown and returned to his native Glenflesk in a bid to recapture his form and fitness.

All-Star Crowley, who transferred to the Cork side 12 months ago, struggled to secure a starting place with the Kingdom last season and now hopes that a return to his home club will help him regain his corner forward berth with the county side.

Bishopstown, who were defeated in the County SFC Final by eventual All-Ireland champions Nemo Rangers, face St Finbarrs tomorrow night under lights in Pairc Uí Rinn in their first outing of the 2003 campaign.

“Johnny will be a huge loss to us,” team selector Noel Ranahan admitted yesterday. “He was very influential in last year’s campaign. It’s easy to understand why he wants to go back to his former club and we wish him every success with Glenflesk in the future.”

Meanwhile, the GAA have announced details of ticket arrangements for Sunday’s Allianz NFL semi-final double header at Croke Park.

Tickets will be available for the lower tiers of the Cusack, Canal End and Hogan Stands priced at 20 for adults with Hill 16 tickets costing 15. Student and OAP tickets will cost 5 while juvenile (under-16) tickets are available free of charge when accompanied by an adult.

Tickets are available from the competing county boards online via www.gaa.ie (booking charge applies), from Ticketmaster phone sales on 0818 719300 (booking charge applies) and from Ticketmaster outlets across the country.

Tickets will also be on sale from the ticket office at the rear of the Cusack Stand on Thursday and Saturday from 11am until 6pm.

Tickets will not be on sale from the usual outlets on Drumcondra Road and Fitzgibbon Street on this occasion.

Instead, tickets will also be available from the ticket office at the rear of the Cusack Stand and from mobile units on Jones Road (one located at Westward House at the North Circular Road End of Jones’s Road and one at the Nally Square at the Clonliffe Road End of Jones’s Road) from 11.30am on Sunday.

The GAA have also strongly advised patrons to attend early on Sunday in order to avoid the large queues at the ticket offices and getting into the ground.

The first semi-final between Fermanagh and reigning league champions Tyrone will take place at 2pm with the clash of Laois and All-Ireland Champions Armagh getting underway at 3.40pm.

Both games will be televised live on TG4.