Dublin footballers to play outside Croke Park for first time in 10 years

By Stephen Barry

The reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin will be brought outside the capital for the first time in a decade, the Leinster Council has confirmed.

The Dubs campaign to win back-to-back All-Irelands for the first time since 1977 will begin in Kilkenny’s Nowlan Park, where they will face the winners of Laois and Wicklow’s preliminary round clash.

The 24,000 capacity stadium, which is surrounded by three stands and a covered terrace, will welcome the Dubs on June 4, 2016.

After growing controversy this season about the Metropolitans ‘home’ advantage playing in Croke Park and in front of a partisan Hill 16, the Leinster Council has accepted the financial hit and moved the quarter-final fixture to a smaller venue.

The last time Dublin were brought out of Croker, 15,213 fans crammed into Longford’s Pearse Park to witness Paul Caffrey’s side eke out a two-point victory against the hosts.

View of Pearse Park #Longford during 2006 Leinster SFC quarter final with #Dublin #gaa #nostalgia pic.twitter.com/1iEgn5Lezt

— GAA Nostalgia (@gaanostalgia) August 29, 2015

Since then the Dubs had played 53 consecutive Championship games in Croke Park, a run which will now come to an end next summer.

Dublin will play either Laois or Wicklow in the 2016 Leinster SFC in Nowlan Pk, Kilkenny on Saturday, June 4 pic.twitter.com/Fj7jyWwTRN

— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) November 11, 2015

The only shock is that a Gaelic football game will be played in Kilkenny.

— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) November 11, 2015

What have Rod Stewart and the Dubs in common - they will both play in Nowlan Park this Summer #gaa pic.twitter.com/p4okXnlqA7

— sportsfile (@sportsfile) November 11, 2015