Dublin’s Croker boost for league games

DUBLIN have received the go-ahead from the GAA to stage all their National Football League Division One home fixtures at Croke Park.

The agreement, which also includes two of their hurlers’ top-flight games as curtain raisers, will see Pat Gilroy’s side host Cork, Kerry, Mayo and Down at Headquarters.

After their opening league game in Armagh, the Blues’ clash with All-Ireland champions Cork will form part of a floodlit double-header with Anthony Daly’s hurlers coming up against Liam MacCarthy Cup holders Tipperary on Saturday, February 19.

Seven days later, the footballers play Munster champions Kerry while the game against Mayo on March 20 is the only Sunday fixture.

Dublin will play their penultimate Division One proper games in both codes on April 2 when Down’s footballers and Kilkenny’s hurlers visit Croke Park in another Saturday evening double-bill.

Confirmation of the decision to permit the games at the 82,300-capacity venue came on Monday evening when Ticketmaster sent out an email revealing that the ticket packages for the six games were on sale, starting at €45 for adults and €10 for children.

New Dublin chairman Andy Kettle said yesterday he was delighted the new venture was being rubber-stamped by the GAA.

“We’re extremely happy, this is the result of six weeks of hard work and negotiations,” said Kettle. “The games fit into our schedule nicely and this is a big part of our strategic plan as regards promotion of Gaelic games in the county.

“It’s also an extra revenue stream and in these economically stricken times we have to make the most of what we can.

“Our teams will gain favourably from this, gaining more experience playing in the stadium and on the best pitch in the country at a time of year when poor weather conditions would affect other surfaces.

“The GAA will also benefit corporate-wise with the stadium being used at a time in the calendar when it wasn’t earlier this year.”

Kettle also revealed that as well as Ticketmaster, the county board will be embarking on a major campaign to sell the tickets via their units.

“We’ll be promoting the games heavily through the clubs and there will be an incentive for them to sell tickets as they will earn a percentage of receipts.”

The Kerry game is also set to be preceded by the Dublin senior camogie team’s league date with Kilkenny while the county’s senior ladies football will play a Division Two game before their men’s fixture with Mayo.

The GAA regards the games as a means of offsetting the loss of income following the FAI and IRFU’s move to the Aviva Stadium after three years playing the majority of their internationals at Croke Park.

Dublin staged their opening Division One games in 2007 and ‘09 with then All-Ireland champions Tyrone providing the opposition on each occasion.

Last year’s event was an opportunity to kick off the GAA’s 125th anniversary celebrations while the 2007 game was the first game played under lights at Croke Park.

Dublin’s previous league game there before that was their opener in February 2003 against Armagh who were also All-Ireland champions at the time.