Hill challenge still on cards

The Croke Park Development unit are due to consult with the design team responsible for the Hill 16 plans tomorrow in the wake…

The Croke Park Development unit are due to consult with the design team responsible for the Hill 16 plans tomorrow in the wake of An Bord Pleanala's rejection of the blueprint for the retention of the famous old terrace.

The GAA will consider a list of options before deciding how to proceed, but at this time a legal challenge has not been ruled out.

"It is just a regular meeting with our designers and at this stage there really are an infinite number of options to consider. A matter of this importance doesn't lend itself well to knee-jerk reactions," said Croke Park's development manager Dermot Power yesterday.

The Green Party yesterday threw its weight behind the considerable public support for the terrace.

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"`Meet me on the Hill' is a phrase that unites all Dublin football fans," said Green Party representative Sheila Fogarty yesterday.

"It would be a shame to lose the magic forever and we believe an all-seater stadium is the wrong way to go. It would mean higher prices and local supporters would be priced out of the stadium," she added.

Ciaran Cuffe, a Green Party member and chairman of the Dublin Corporation's Planning and Development Committee, declared that An Bord Pleanala had "made the wrong call" and he suggested the GAA submit "revised plans to Dublin Corporation for fire and safety improvements that would keep Hill 16 as a terraced area as part of their plans for upgrading the ground."

Meanwhile, Church and General, the sponsors for the recently-completed hurling and Gaelic football leagues, are to seek clarification from the GAA over a number of incidents which appeared to undermine the worth of the contest.

"There were a few hiccups, such as staging the football final in Cork, and we will discuss those with the GAA, but overall we see it as having been positive," said company spokesman John Redmond.

"There are some things you just can't legislate for, such as Manchester United competing for the league title on the same afternoon as the hurling final, but overall we are happy with the league's profile," he said.

Cork footballer Mark O'Sullivan has been presented with the Eircell GAA All-Star Player of the Month award for April. O'Sullivan hit 1-3 in the Railway Cup final replay for Munster, who took their first title in 17 years, and played an influential role in Cork's successful National League campaign.

Keith Duggan

Keith Duggan

Keith Duggan is Washington Correspondent of The Irish Times