Ballybofey’s race against time for Ulster SFC opener

The Donegal County Board are making every effort to get their side’s Ulster SFC quarter-final against Tyrone on home turf in Ballybofey after announcing a refurbishment plan at Monday’s county committee meeting.

The All-Ireland champions were handed a home draw against the side managed by Mickey Harte on Sunday, May 26, but question marks were raised over whether Sean MacCumhaill Park would be able to host the match.

The Ulster Council demands that inter-county grounds have a capacity of over 17,000 for championship matches and although Donegal have accommodated for that number in recent years, the Slattery Report, a commissioned audit by the GAA undertaken by independent health and safety inspectors, reduced the capacity earlier this year to 12,250. St Tiernach’s Park in Clones is the most likely alternative.

Among the improvements required to increase the capacity again to 18,000 are the installation of four new turnstiles, a turnstile computerised counting system and the realignment of the crush barriers on all three terraces.

Other alterations include the creation of a secure walkway from the main entrance to the River End of the ground, and the erection of safety fencing behind the main stand and River End.

Tenders for the €120,000 project are due to go to contractors and the project is expected to take up to six weeks. Development Officer Michael McMenamin said Croke Park was supporting the project with a €10,000 grant towards the computerised counting system and 33% towards the rest of the cost. The remainder of the cost will come from the county’s own resources.

“If the refurbishment work is carried out, it would put the county in a great position to stage the game,” said new chairman Sean Dunnion.