Updated 12.25pm
THE GAA HAVE confirmed that Kerry and Mayo’s All-Ireland semi-final replay will go ahead in the Gaelic Grounds next Saturday and they have cut ticket prices for the game.
Despite criticism of the decision and a request by Mayo for a postponement to allow the game to be played in Croke Park, the GAA last night stated that it will take place at the Limerick venue with a throw-in time of 5pm.
The GAA have announced today that they will cut ticket prices for the game with stand tickets to be reduced from €40 to €30 and the terrace tickets have been changed from €25 to €20.
The Sunday Game presenter Des Cahill revealed that they had been in contact with the GAA and the reason for the decision was communicated to them.
Croke Park is not able to be utilized on Saturday September 6th as the GAA need to keep that date free in the event of a second replay being required for Kerry and Mayo or if next Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final between Donegal and Dublin finishes in a draw.
Mayo expressed their disappointment with the decision but they are set to accept it. They have reiterated their belief that the match should have been scheduled for a more neutral venue than Limerick and that an All-Ireland semi-final replay should be held in Croke Park.
Criticism
The decision was criticised by pundits Ciaran Whelan and Dermot Earley last night on The Sunday Game.
“There’s a contradiction within that if the GAA are looking at whether Dublin and Donegal draw and they have to have a contingency for that,” said Whelan.
“Why didn’t somebody sit down at the start of the year and say, “We need a contingency for every match’. This is the prime time for our games; when we should be in Croke Park.
“When the players are entitled to be in Croke Park, they decided to put an American football match in there in the middle of the high season so that was a commercial decision made by the GAA.
“I think they didn’t have a contingency plan in place for this game and I think it’s unfair, it’s unjust and using the Dublin Donegal excuse – maybe cross that bridge when you come to it and put them in Croke Park on Saturday week.”
Venue
Earley believes the Kerry and Mayo players deserve to play in Croke Park.
“No player dreams of playing an All-Ireland [semi] final down in Limerick and that’s no disrespect to Limerick because it’s a fine ground but they deserve to play up in Croke Park, at our headquarters, on the best surface in the country with the best facilities.
“I think it’s a great thing that we can bring these games to Croke Park but you pick your time. This is a GAA stadium, this is a busy time for us. The ground is empty for six months of the year, have them at a different time of the year.
“I fully support bringing concerts, bringing American football but its picking the right time and unfortunately this clashes.”
