‘We’re penalised because Croke Park couldn’t do their business properly’

Kildare president Seamus Aldridge is surprised, given Ned Quinn’s previous experience in Kilkenny, that the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) chairman decided the county can’t host their All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Mayo in St Conleth’s Park on Saturday because of capacity issues.

Reports last night suggested the GAA and the Kildare County Board were to meet about the stand-off, despite Kildare’s insistence the game be played in Newbridge. Earlier in the day, Quinn had explained the decision was made because of health and safety concerns and the less-than-9,000 capacity of St Conleth’s Park.

Aldridge claimed Quinn, who was Kilkenny chairman in 2013, fought successfully to ensure his county enjoyed the home advantage against Tipperary in that summer’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier in the face of calls for it to be moved to a bigger stadium.