THERE MAY HAVE been calls from some quarters to switch the Ulster final battle of Donegal and Tyrone to Croke Park to cater for a larger crowd but one of Donegal’s players is pleased that the fixture will not leave the province.
The weekend’s semi-final replay wins for Donegal and Tyrone has thrown up an eye-catching pairing for the Ulster decider.
With high interest in the game, Sunday Game pundit Ciaran Whelan suggested that both teams would like to play it in Croke Park and that the bigger capacity at the stadium would cater for the interest amongst neutrals.
But Donegal’s Martin McElhinney is happy the game will not be swtiched.
“There was some talk about making it a double header in Croke Park but I wouldn’t want to bring it here.
“The close proximity of the crowd in Cavan (for Saturday night v Monaghan) – the fans were in on top of you – creates a real atmosphere, whereas if you bring it here it might lose that.
“At the end of the day we’re all from Ulster and we want to play our big games in Ulster. There was no discussion about it at all, it was never mentioned, but I don’t think it’s a runner.
“If you want to play in an Ulster final, you want to play it in Clones. It’s a great day out in Clones and it’s a serious pitch and we love nothing better than driving into Clones on a Sunday for an Ulster final.”
The Ulster finals of 2004, 2005 and 2006 were all held in Croke Park with Donegal contesting the 2004 and 2006 deciders against Armagh.
McElhinney played in the 2006 curtain-raiser for the Donegal minor side against Antrim.
“I was actually playing in the Ulster minor final the same day as the Ulster final against Armagh. It was a great achievement for us because we were minors and there was a great buzz with the Donegal senior team and supporters and that.
“I think it had to go that time because the crowd couldn’t hold it in Clones but I don’t think it would be right to move them now.”
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