On another weekend where more than 100,000 fans attended GAA Championship matches it is still venues that are one of the key talking points.
The presence of Michael Bublé and his fans at Croke Park next Saturday night mean that the Leinster Hurling Final replay between Kilkenny and Galway will switch to Thurles next Sunday but with that same venue having hosted 5,000 more fans for yesterday’s Munster Final there can be little argument that it is a fitting venue.
Nevertheless, GAA President John Horan did reveal on Morning Ireland this morning that he would be looking at keeping Croke Park clear for GAA events during July and August from 2019 onwards.
Kildare justified their battle to stage Saturday night’s Football qualifier, in a football context at least with victory over Mayo and while less than 3,000 Kildare fans were there to witness the triumph they will get another chance next weekend to follow the team as they have been drawn to play Fermanagh at a neutral venue.
The draw against the losing Ulster finalists does mean that a Kildare Vs Dublin tie at Newbridge, should Kildare progress, will not arise as the winner of that tie will go into the group including Kerry and Galway.
Dublin’s away tie in the All Ireland Quarter final Series will be against one of Cork or Tyrone on the weekend of the 21st / 22nd of July while the ‘home’ game at Croke Park, unless that is agreed to be switched to another venue, will be against either Roscommon or Armagh.
The venues for this coming weekend’s fixtures will be announced later today after being decided by the Central Competitions Control Committee, hopefully with less controversy than was the case a week ago.