Bring all games to neutral venues, says Flanagan

THE campaign to introduce a home and away system in the provincial championships may be gaining support but one manager has called for neutral venues to be considered for all championship fixtures, including the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Westmeath football boss Pat Flanagan has called attention to the time his side spent on the road for their Leinster Championship defeat to Wexford earlier this month and the midlanders face another unenviable trip on Saturday, away to Antrim in Belfast.

“The trip to Wexford was about three hours,” Flanagan explained. “Two hours, fifty-five minutes to be exact but it ended up taking us three hours, 20 because you have to stop a few times and let lads stretch their legs before a game.