Roscommon’s emergence as league semi-finalists on Sunday against Kerry has capped an exceptional first season back in the top division. Unfortunately the county attracted as much attention for where they were playing as for how they were playing.
The county ground, Dr Hyde Park, has been able to host just one of the four Division One matches – last weekend's big meeting with All-Ireland champions Dublin was a controversially late switch to Carrick-on-Shannon. Also damaging was the loss of home venue for the under-21 Connacht final, which was played in Sligo and won narrowly by Mayo.
County chair Séamus Sweeney has been worn out reiterating the county’s plans to lay a new surface in Hyde Park in time for next season but the county has missed out on the revenues from their biggest season in more than 10 years. A crowd of 12,000 attended the only league match played in Hyde Park – against Connacht champions Mayo.
Even after being switched on the morning, the match against Dublin attracted an estimated 10,000 spectators.
No decision
Replacing the surface with a sand-based Prunty pitch could, according to GAA sources, cost up to €1,000,000 but county officials say that no decision has yet been made on the type of surface to be installed.
Roscommon has been beset with administrative problems. Hyde Park was at the centre of a long-running dispute between the county board and Roscommon Gaels club, which held up redevelopment of the ground.
Then, land for a centre of excellence in Runnabracken became the subject of a legal dispute when attempts were made to pull out of the purchase (the agreed price of which was nearly €600,000) after reservations were raised at Croke Park level. Damages were paid to the vendor for the delay in payment on the contract.
It is believed that the GAA have agreed to compensate the county for the cost of the delay.
A major fund-raising drive is planned to coincide with Roscommon’s opening championship match against New York in May. The ambition is to be able to make a start on fitting out the site in Runnabracken.
