CROKE PARK stadium director Peter McKenna has confirmed the renting of GAA headquarters for the Heineken Cup semi-final between Leinster and Munster on May 2nd will have no impact on pitch availability for the National Football League finals a week previous.
In a repeat of last season’s decider, defending champions Derry will meet Kerry in the Division One decider on April 26th with Kerry manager Jack O’Connor calling for the game to be played in Croke Park.
“We want to play in Croke Park at every opportunity as any player who is serious about his football wants to perform on the best stage,” said O’Connor.
The central competitions control committee are meeting this afternoon to schedule the national league final venues, but McKenna confirmed there was no conflicting interest by the deal brokered with the ERC. “The stadium could be made available but it is a decision for the CCCC,” McKenna said. A CCCC announcement is due today.
Another potential conflicting fixture with the rugby match is the under-21 All-Ireland football final, which is also set for May 2nd. A venue and throw-in time will be decided after Saturday’s semi-finals. Cork and Dublin meet in Thurles with Mayo facing Ulster champions Down.
Meanwhile, O’Connor dealt another blow to the experimental disciplinary sanctions by reaffirming his opposition to the proposed new yellow card law that will be voted upon at Congress this Saturday in Cork.
Kerry county board chairman Jerome O’Connor is to consult with O’Connor and his panel ahead of mandating the Kerry delegates going to Congress.
“The referees were obviously under instructions (against Galway) not to give yellow cards because there were harder tackles out there than in any game up to now and more cause for yellows which were clearly overlooked.
“We had three defenders yellow-carded in Omagh (against Tyrone) and I don’t think any of them deserved a yellow.
“Once a player is sent off on one of those yellows, he won’t tackle to save his life in the next game. What the yellow card does is it effectively takes the tackle out of the game. It’s as simple as that. They are taking the physicality out of the game.” O’Connor’s stance has been echoed by a number of high profile intercounty managers in both football and hurling, including the current All-Ireland winners Mickey Harte and Brian Cody.
