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Tyrone boss Mickey Harte INPHO/James Crombie
GAA

Limited tickets still available for Tyrone Kildare clash as Harte criticises throw-in time

The Tyrone manager believes his players still have what it takes to reach the All-Ireland quarter-final stage.

THE GAA HAVE confirmed that a small number of tickets are still available for Saturday night’s eagerly-awaited clash between Kildare and Tyrone.

The sides meet in Round 3 of the All-Ireland senior football championship in St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge but there is huge interest in the game at the venue which has a capacity of 8,000.

The tickets for the game can be purchased from Centra and Super Valu stores outlets while stocks last.

Last year the Lilywhites’ home qualifier against Limerick was switched to Portlaoise due to health and safety concerns.

Despite speculation that next Saturday’s game was set to be switched to an alternative nearby venue like Portlaoise or Tullamore, it was ultimately confirmed that St Conleth’s Park would host the clash.

Meanwhile Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has criticised the throw-in time for the game as he believes the 7pm start is not practical for the county’s supporters or players.

“The one thing I’d have preferred to see would be an earlier time. When you ask our people to come down from the north to Newbridge for a 7pm throw-in, it’s very late when they get home.

“It’s even later for the team when they recover from the match, get something to eat and make the coach journey home.

“I don’t think that’s very practical for the supporters or the players, given the distance between the two counties.

“I think with neighbouring counties, a 7pm start is fine but I’d have preferred an earlier start. I think 5pm would be more practical for us, but we probably weren’t top of the agenda when setting that.”

Harte remains confident that his side are capable of reaching the key All-Ireland quarter-final stage on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

“If I’m not confident that we can do that, then how are the players going to be confident that they can do that?

“But you shouldn’t confuse confidence with arrogance. If you’re arrogant and think you’re going to be there regardless, come what may, that’s not what I mean.

“I mean we’ll be very determined to do everything we can, and I believe we’re good enough to be in the last eight. We have to prove that on the field.”

INPHO

But before that Harte is wary of the challenge posed by the Lilywhites and he has described their qualifier record under Kieran McGeeney as ‘awesome’.

“They are a top side. Looking back over the years with Kieran McGeeney they have always been in knock-out end of the season by whatever path they took. Kildare’s record in the qualifiers under Kieran McGeeney is quite awesome.

“They are unfortunate that with Dublin around in Leinster in the last ten years they were always going to be playing second fiddle. Had they been in another province I’m sure they would have been provincial champions a few times in those years.

“There will be the real Championship atmosphere. It is the stuff of the past when the winner took all. We know what to expect. And we got a feel for that last year in Killarney.”

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