The GAA Bank of Ireland All-Ireland football quarter-final draw has produced another sell-out weekend, with All-Ireland champions Galway in action on Sunday before Dublin return to Jones's Road on bank holiday Monday.
Both double-feature days will be all-ticket and the GAA are anticipating another mass congregation around the capital.
"Given the counties involved, we would be hopeful of drawing around 60,000 people on Sunday and it could be that Croke Park is close enough to capacity on Monday," said Pauric Duffy of the Games Administration Committee yesterday evening.
There had been some conjecture that at least one of the games would go to another venue but such is the interest in the draws that back-to-back double headers was the most sensible solution.
"Both days will be all-ticket, with sales beginning on Tuesday (today) for the Sunday fixtures. The tickets will be available through the usual outlets - the website, Ticketmaster, through local clubs. We are aware that the fact that it is a bank holiday weekend could have some impact on the numbers able to travel. Kerry and Galway, for instance, are big tourist counties, but still, each normally generates a really big support and we feel this will continue at the weekend."
The fact there is no public holiday in the North on Monday meant Armagh, against Sligo, would always be given a Sunday slot. With Dublin a massive attraction, it made sense to use the Galway/Kerry game as the main feature for that Sunday line-up. The GAA were reluctant to hold Saturday games in Croke Park as residents in the area have already voiced their unhappiness at the disruption big-game days cause them. The crowds will be more easily absorbed on the Monday.
Donegal had requested that they might be given a Sunday game but as it turns out they are delighted with the way the draw has worked out.
"That request was submitted with the possibility of a Saturday game in mind. A number of our players work on Saturday and it would have been less convenient for us. But playing Dublin in a packed Croke Park on a bank holiday is as much as any team could have asked for," said PRO Paddy Mullen.
Meanwhile, the referees have been announced for the four matches. Pat McEnaney will officiate at the Galway/Kerry match on Sunday afternoon while Paddy Russell takes charge of the Armagh/Sligo game that precedes it.
John Bannon is in charge of Cork/ Mayo while Ger Kinneavy, who handled last Saturday's qualifier between Kerry and Kildare, has been tasked with handling Dublin/Donegal. There were 18,210 people at that Thurles encounter, but up to 70,000 people could be present for the Roscommon man's next outing.
The winner of the Dublin/Donegal tie go on to face the winner of Armagh/Sligo tie in the All-Ireland semi-finals. Hence, an all-Munster or all-Connacht semi-final is possible in the other section, with the winners of Galway/Kerry and Cork/Mayo to meet. The semi-final dates are August 25th and September 1st. The combination also leaves open the possibility of an all-Connacht final.
RTÉ Sport have confirmed they will televise all four quarter-finals. Coverage begins on both days at 2.0 p.m. In addition to the regular Sunday Game programme, RTÉ will also air The Game on Monday, carrying analysis of that afternoon's matches. With the games also live on radio and satellite television across the globe, it promises to be another incredibly high-profile weekend for the association.
