GAA defends decision for Dublin to have two Super 8s games at Croke Park

Brian Barry

Tuesday 27 November 2018 16:10, UK

Fergal McGill says it's up to a vote at Congress to change the status quo of Dublin having two Super 8s games at Croke Park.

The All-Ireland SFC quarter-final group stage is set to be tweaked for its second year in 2019, with provincial champions beginning the three-game campaign at home.

However, undoubtedly the most controversial take away from the format's maiden season was Dublin having two games at Croke Park, while every other county had one home tie.

In the lead-up to Donegal's meeting with the Sky Blues last summer, the Tír Chonaill county board challenged the GAA top brass, arguing that the Dubs should not have two games at Jones' Road.

"I sat down with Donegal," explained McGill, the Director of Player, Club & Games Administration. "Myself and the Director General (Tom Ryan) sat down with them at the time and we explained to them that it would be a matter for Congress and to bring a motion. So it's a question for them for if they're going to or not. I suspect they may. I don't know."

McGill made it clear that the CCCC's (Central Competition Controls Committee) position on the matter is that Croke Park is treated as a neutral venue for Dublin in All-Ireland semi-finals and finals, and it is up for a vote at Congress to change the definition for quarter-final.

"Ultimately, that's up to counties if they want to bring a motion and there may well be interest out there, I suspect there is in bringing a motion to consider that Croke Park shouldn't be used essentially for Dublin quarter-finals as a neutral venue," he said.

"I don't think it was for CCC to make that call. CCC, for instance, consider for All-Ireland semi-finals that Dublin are in, Croke Park is a neutral venue. If the broader association in Congress want to make that decision that for quarter-finals, it shouldn't be considered a neutral venue then that's fine, we'll work with that. But it's something we felt was a matter for congress and not for CCC."

If McGill's suspicions are correct, there will be a vote at Congress to decide if Dublin travel outside of Croke Park twice in the Super 8s going forward.