GAELIC GAMES: The Central Games Administration Committee are facing a potential crisis over the scheduling of the football championship. Gavin Cummiskey reports.

The Mayo board, at the behest of manager Mickey Moran, have written to the CGAC requesting the All-Ireland quarter-final against either Laois or Offaly remain in Croke Park on August 12th.

The game is fixed as part of a double header with the Dublin quarter-final against either Galway or Westmeath. Considering Dublin's ability to fill the stadium (capacity 83,500), switching Mayo to a provincial venue is under consideration.

Nothing will be rubber-stamped until the CGAC, under the chair of Jimmy Dunne, meet next Monday evening, but the stance of the Mayo management has now been officially clarified.

"I can't understand why unnamed sources from Croke Park are already leaking this information," said Moran. "Are their minds made up already? Our supporters and players deserve the chance to go to Croke Park for an All-Ireland quarter-final. If it is money that is motivating such a move then the ethos of the GAA has been diluted. We are not asking for anything different from the other provincial champions already through to the All-Ireland quarter-final, just fair play. If Cork or Armagh were put in this situation I would be coming out in support of them."

There have been suggestions the Dublin or Mayo fixture be moved back to Bank Holiday Monday, August 7th.

This would create new problems as the quarter-final double-header involving Armagh and Cork is on Saturday, August 5th, while there is an All-Ireland hurling semi-final 24 hours later.

"Is the Bank Holiday Monday acceptable to us? Is it acceptable to Dublin? This is not a slight on Dublin. I hope their supporters understand our position. Why should the other provincial champions get to play their quarter-finals in Croke Park but the other one be forced to travel to a provincial ground. All we are asking for is fair play.

"In 2004 I was in charge of the Derry team that played Westmeath in Croke Park in the quarter-final at 2pm and that was followed by Dublin against Kerry. Before that, in 2003, Cork played Fermanagh before Dublin played Armagh in Croke Park. What has changed since?

"The dimensions of the pitch in Croke Park are 20 metres longer and wider than any other pitch around the country. If we were to reach the semi-final our opponents would have an unfair advantage. Some of our players have played there before but this team, as a unit, have not."

Moran has dug his heels in for the match to go ahead as scheduled, without preferential treatment for Dublin over ticket allocation, but the Mayo secretary, Seán Feeney, was more conciliatory.

"We support the management's request but I can't see them (CGAC) putting Dublin on as a double-header," said Feeney.

"Playing the quarter-final on the bank holiday wouldn't create a problem for us. Neither would a stand-alone fixture in Croke Park on August 12th. But putting either our fixture or Dublin's back a week means the team that qualifies from the fourth round may have a problem with only eight days' preparation."

Also, the Croke Park Residents' Association have voiced dissatisfaction with four high-profile games over three days.

Spokesman Pat Gates said, "Saturday games are especially disruptive to residents . . . as it's a shopping day and time to spend with the kids, but four matches over three days would be hugely disruptive.

"We normally don't have a problem with the bank holiday if games are played on Sunday and Monday, but if this occurs it merely shows the contempt the GAA hold towards the local community."

After a rift this year with the residents' group, Croke Park suspended arrangements whereby tickets were distributed through the association.