Mayo GAA request that Dublin game not be played in Croke Park

MAYO GAA has asked that Mayo’s upcoming championship game against Dublin not be played in Croke Park.

Séamus Touhy, Chairman of Mayo GAA, told club delegates at last night’s (Wednesday) county board meeting that Mayo GAA had made representations to the GAA not to fix the game for the country’s largest Gaelic games venue.

Mayo’s third-round All-Ireland Series clash with the All-Ireland champions is due to be played at a ‘neutral venue’.

However, it has been argued that Croke Park should not be designated as a neutral venue for the highly-anticipated game. 

Responding to a question from Garrymore GAA delegate, John Farragher, Touhy said that Mayo GAA would have no say over where the game will be played.

“What we’ve asked for is that the game is not in Croke Park. We want a neutral venue. We have made representations, but that is as far as we can take it,” said Touhy.

Mayo’s last championship game against Dublin in Croke Park ended in a 0-11 2-17 defeat in Manager Kevin McStay’s first year in charge.

Mayo GAA have also confirmed that Mayo will face Roscommon in the second round of the All-Ireland Series on June 1, in Dr Hyde Park, in Roscommon, at 5pm. The game will be streamed live on GAAGO.

McStay’s charges have already beaten Davy Burke’s Roscommon twice, in both the league and Connacht championship, so far this year.

Mayo will be without the services of their captain Paddy Durcan for the rest of the season after he sustained a cruciate ligament injury in their win over Cavan.