The GAA confirmed yesterday that there would be no change in the policy of preventing pitch invasions at Croke Park.
The question arose after scenes of jubilant crowds spilling onto the pitch after Limerick’s Munster Hurling and Monaghan’s Ulster Football Championship wins in recent weeks.
Both occasions marked the end of a long drought but GAA Director General pointed to the fact that Croke Park’s attendance would be two and a half times bigger, on the same size of playing surface, and that the exit routes from the stadium would all spill out onto Jones Road presenting public order and safety issues.
Given that the policy was adhered to after Dublin’s breakthrough win in Football two years ago it is likely that the crowds will adhere to the policy again in September.
Duffy was speaking at the launch of the GAA All Ireland series at Glenaswilly GAA Club, home of Donegal Captain Michael Murphy. Its isolated location presented some dramatic backdrops for pictures which feature representatives of all the provincial champions.
It also presented a problem for Owen Lennon of Monaghan who is believed to have forgotten his Monaghan jersey and instead wore a Monaghan training top that did not carry the Investec sponsors brand.
Kerry Group, Vodafone and Elvery’s were all present and correct on Kerry, Dublin and Mayo but this is one that got away on Investec.
Doubtless having received massive national coverage from Monaghan’s treble title win of Senior men’s, Minor and Women’s titles in Ulster they will be forgiving on this occasion but is not something which would want to be repeated at a time when inter county sponsorship is such a valuable and precious commodity.
In England at present there is a rumbling controversy over a Newcastle United players refusal to wear new club sponsor wonga.com’s logo. The pay day loan company breaches sharia law in terms of a restriction on money lending and the bearing of interest.
How that tallies with playing in the Barclays sponsored Premier League is difficult to fully comprehend but at least our local version of a non sponsor branded shirt has a more small scale reason behind it.
Sports Tourism Seminar at Croke Park (September 19th)
Sport for Business 20/20 at Ulster Bank HQ (October 8th)
The Business of Youth Sport Seminar (November 28th)
