Decision on semi-finals delayed until Monday

The GAA won’t decide until next Monday where to host the Division 1 semi-finals — but there is a distinct possibility Croke Park will once again stage a double-header.

A disappointing crowd of 11,342 attended the Cork v Down and Mayo v Kerry semi-final games in HQ last year, prompting speculation the top two teams would be given home advantage.

That may yet happen but with Dublin and Kildare guaranteed two of the last four spots — Tyrone have the other — and Jim Gavin’s side virtually certain of finishing in the top two, Croke Park is still a runner to host them.

“If Dublin are involved in one semi-final and Kildare the other, it would make sense to bring them to Croke Park,” said Dublin chairman Andy Kettle.

Kildare are all but certain to face either Dublin or Tyrone with the current semi-final line-up pitting them against Mickey Harte’s side and Dublin facing Cork.

Based on Harte’s previous comments, Tyrone would have no issues with travelling to play their semi-final in Croke Park.

In 2004, he criticised the decision to move the semi-finals away from Croker and award home advantage to team via a coin toss.

Three years ago, Tyrone were fixed to face Dublin in Omagh but Harte argued in favour of the game being moved to Croke Park.

“Competitions like the Allianz League need to be in Croke Park,” he said at the time. “Let’s promote it, let’s bring young children there and add value to the occasion.”

Cork must at least draw with Mayo in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday to ensure they qualify for a semi-final place, in doing so keeping their chances of winning a fourth Division 1 title alive.

They can finish no higher than fourth as Kildare, who are ahead of them by two points on eight, beat them in Páirc Uí Rinn. That means should they do enough to qualify, they will face either Tyrone or Dublin.

Cork and Kerry’s involvement in last year’s semi-finals was a major reason for the poor crowd in Croke Park. At the time, Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) secretary Feargal McGill suggested Dublin’s involvement in the semi-finals would have brought an attendance of approximately 40,000 to Croke Park.