THE GAA HAVE confirmed that Dublin will face Kildare on Sunday March 10th in next year’s Allianz Football league in Croke Park despite speculation that a Friday night date would be chosen for the game.
The game will form part of the 2013 Spring Series which will see seven games played at GAA’s headquarters encompassing six football matches and one hurling game.
There had been suggestions that the GAA would break new ground by holding one of the games on a Friday night, a proposal that was backed recently by Dublin county chairman Andy Kettle.
Following the confirmation that two of Kildare’s home league games would be played at Croke Park next spring, the match between the Lilywhites and Jim Gavin’s Dublin team was viewed as the obvious contender for a Friday night fixture.
Ireland’s home game in the Six Nations against France on Saturday March 9th had ruled out that date for the Dublin Kildare game but the GAA fixture-makers opted to fix the game for Sunday March 10th at 2pm.
The series will begin with an attractive double-header in Croke Park on Saturday February 2nd as Kildare face reigning All-Ireland champions Donegal at 5.15pm and that will be followed by Dublin against Cork at 7pm.
After their relegation to Division 1B Anthony Daly’s Dublin hurling side are set to have only one match as part of the Spring Series, when they will face Limerick on March 16th.
2013 Spring Series
Sat February 2nd: Allianz FL Division 1 – Donegal v Kildare, Croke Park, 5.15pm; Dublin v Cork, Croke Park, 7pm.
Sat March 2nd: Allianz FL Division 1 – Dublin v Mayo, Croke Park, 7pm.
Sun March 10th: Allianz FL Division 1 – Kildare v Dublin, Croke Park, 2pm.
Sat March 16th: Allianz HL Division 1B – Dublin v Limerick, Croke Park, 5.15pm; Allianz FL Division 1 – Dublin v Tyrone, Croke Park, 7pm.
Sat March 23rd: Allianz FL Division 1 – Dublin v Down, Croke Park, 7pm.