Gaelic Games: The Donegal County Board have questioned the neutrality of the venue for the county's All-Ireland football quarter-final replay against Galway this Sunday, which they feel is more beneficial to their opponents' supporters.
The Games Administration Committee (GAC) were, however, quick to defend their decision to set the replay for McHale Park in Castlebar next Sunday evening (5.30) which had been made in the immediate aftermath of Monday's drawn encounter at Croke Park.
Part of the Donegal complaint is that they feel they weren't fully consulted in that decision, and that a more suitable venue could have been provided.
Yet according to the secretary of the GAC, Seán Ó Laoire, a range of considerations had been discussed and taken into account in fixing a venue, and it was decided that Castlebar was the most suitable.
"I can say that the GAC considered a whole range of options with regard to the game. But they came down on what they felt was the best option. It's unfortunate there wasn't a venue directly between the two. But Castlebar was still the most suitable on a main, direct route."
Earlier yesterday the secretary of the Donegal County Board, Noreen Doherty, confirmed that a request had been sent to Croke Park for the GAC to reconsider the Mayo venue. Among the alternatives being suggested was Clones, which would match the 30,000-plus capacity of Castlebar, and also offer more neutral qualities than Castlebar.
"We primarily feel that it is not a fair venue for both sets of supporters," said Doherty. "But also that we were not consulted at all in the decision. We understand that one match in Croke Park might not have been feasible, and that it wouldn't have made great sense to bring both Donegal and Galway back to Croke Park. Having said that we would have had no problem with Croke Park.
"But we just felt a more neutral venue would have been sought, because we don't feel Castlebar is a neutral venue for a game between Donegal and Galway. But it has nothing to with Castlebar as a venue, or its grounds. It's strictly the location.
"We would also have felt that another week was possible, and that there was no great rush to have it played this weekend.
"So if we had been properly consulted we would have been making that point as well."
Ó Laoire, however, defended the GAC's decision to fix the date and venue for the replay in the hours after Monday's draw: "It can't always be possible to have a full consultation process. But in fact the view of Donegal had been canvassed in advance of the meeting.
"We do acknowledge that Castlebar is not equal distance and entirely central, but in the view of the committee it was most suitable. Largely because it is a 30,000-plus all-seater stadium. Clones is not. That was the crucial factor. And Donegal to Clones might be a direct enough route, but Galway to Clones wouldn't be.
"We know as well that a small stretch of the Sligo road isn't pretty, but the rest of it is good. And we went into all of that at the meeting. So we've replied now to Donegal as to how the decision was made, and how we can't always have perfection with what is available to us. And that it's not an exact science."
Donegal PRO Charlie Lennon had also outlined the main concerns within the county regarding the Mayo venue. And he made it clear the feeling was that Galway were far more familiar with the venue than the Donegal players and supporters would be.
"Without a doubt Castlebar is practically on their doorstep. But the problem also is that there is only one road to Galway from Donegal, and that goes through Bundoran, Tobercurry and Sligo. And on a Sunday evening that will present problems for the travelling supporters."
While any change in the venue at this stage is practically impossible, the process in how the venue was decided hasn't been well received in Donegal. "We know time is not on anyone's side," added Doherty. "But we weren't even aware the decision was to be made just after the match."
Ó Laoire also clarified the background to the GAC's decision, and how pre-considerations for replays had been made. "We were ready for the eventuality of a draw," he said, "and had noted dates and venues in the event of replays being necessary in any of the four matches. But you can't always plan for everything or else the whole thing can jump up and snap you in the face. Like if two of them had ended in a draw.
"The main problem with the Donegal-Galway game is where else we could play it. It is regrettable the GAC couldn't fix the game for a 60,000-seater stadium right between Letterkenny and Galway city. A place like Markievicz Park would be ideal, but it is too small.
"There are parts of Donegal that are very far away from Castlebar, but it is still between the two counties. And there was a limit to what we could do. So there were a whole range of things considered, and it would be wrong to say any quick decision was made. Representation was made and a number of other venues were suggested as well."
