News round-up: A major doubt has developed over Longford's ability to host the Leinster football quarter-final against Dublin in Pearse Park on June 4th. While the venue capacity was originally set at 18,000, it has now been reduced to 13,000 following a health and safety inspection carried out on behalf of the Leinster Council.
Given the obvious interest in the match, even from a Dublin perspective, the 13,000-capacity won't come close to satisfying the demand for tickets. Dublin's regular Parnell Park ticket-holders number around 1,300, who will get first refusal, which is expected to leave less than 5,000 tickets available to the remainder of Dublin supporters.
Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney admitted yesterday that the 13,000-capacity of Pearse Park would fall far short of the expected demand but for the time being the fixture would stand. The loss of ticket revenue, however, is estimated at €100,000.
"We commissioned the health and safety report," explained Delaney, "which was standard procedure for any ground recently refurbished to stage a provincial championship match.
"We will put this report before management committee on Thursday night. That's their first opportunity to look at it, so right now I can't predict what will happen next. If both counties come back to us and ask us to reconsider then yes, we definitely would. That hasn't happened yet. But last November we agreed that the match would be played in Longford, and right now that still stands."
The reason for the reduced capacity lies with the north terrace area of Pearse Park, which, according to Longford last November, would be refurbished in time for the fixture. Yet the safety inspectors couldn't give their guarantee that it would, resulting in the reduced capacity.
"That's the sole reason," added Delaney. "Before the inspection we could have put that part of the ground down for 4,000 to 5,000 spectators. Right now we're counting it as zero. We had to make a decision on that now, and that's why the capacity has been set at 13,000. As far as we're concerned that won't be changing before June 4th."
Longford campaigned to get home advantage over Dublin, who inflicted a 19-point defeat on them at Croke Park last year. It is also understood that the Leinster Council are seeking a curtain-raiser to help handle the crowd pressures, but which would further reduce Dublin's allocation of tickets.
The Ireland junior panel has been announced for the International Rules tour to Australia. Fifteen counties are represented on the 24-man panel. The team will be captained by Cavan's Ray Cullivan and managed by DCU's Niall Moyna of Monaghan.
Three Tests will be played, starting at the MCG in Melbourne on Thursday, April 13th, then in Football Park, Adelaide, on Easter Sunday (April 16th) and finally in the Freemantle Oval, Perth, on April 19th.
IRISH INTERNATIONAL RULES PANEL (v Australia): R Cullivan, P Brady, B Watters (all Cavan), G Brennan (Clare), C O'Driscoll (Cork), J O'Leary (Kerry), D Gallagher, M Murphy, E Wade (all Donegal), P Andrews, K Nolan (both Dublin), M Bradley, J Brown (both Kildare), R Ryan, S Shortall (both Laois), M Brady, D McGoldrick (both Longford), B Gibbons, P Hanley (both Mayo), S O'Rourke (Meath), N McAdam (Monaghan), W Mulhall (Offaly), S Henry (Sligo) and T Dunne (Tipperary).
