Dublin double-header in Croke Park a possibility

Pending results, the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee will consider a double-header involving the Dublin hurlers and footballers in Croke Park on Saturday week.

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025 - 13:31

John Fogarty

Croke Park and TUS Gaelic Grounds are among the potential venues for the All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals the weekend after next.

Pending results, the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee will consider a double-header involving the Dublin hurlers and footballers in Croke Park on Saturday week. The Tailteann Cup semi-finals are due to take place in GAA HQ the following day.

A victory for Dublin’s hurlers over Kildare in Newbridge in Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-final to set up a last-six clash with Limerick combined with the footballers finishing second in their All-Ireland SFC group and securing home advantage in a preliminary quarter-final that weekend would pave the way for such a double-header.

Dessie Farrell’s side know a win or a draw against Derry in Newry’s Páirc Esler on Saturday will secure them second spot behind Armagh in All-Ireland SFC Group 4 and a return to Croke Park after losing to The Orchard County there earlier this month.

A win for Tipperary against Laois in Portlaoise on Saturday would ensure a third All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway in the last six seasons. The two previous matches in 2020 and ‘23, both won by Galway, have been played in TUS Gaelic Grounds. However, their 2010 All-Ireland quarter-final was staged in Croke Park when Tipperary prevailed by one point in a classic.

Both quarter-finals have been pencilled in for 4pm and 6pm on RTÉ on Saturday week but neither Dublin nor Kildare would be inclined to play Limerick on their home soil.

At the same time, Limerick could face stewarding difficulties for a Galway-Tipperary meeting there if their own county’s game is played elsewhere on June 21 and therefore that potential pairing could be moved to Sunday week.

Galway would also be unlikely to hand Tipperary home advantage in Thurles and while Cork is an alternative to host both hurling quarter-finals it would mean significant distances for Dublin and Galway.