Football

Donegal GAA chairman Mick McGrath: All we're looking for is Super 8s level playing field

Donegal with manager Declan Bonner
Donegal with manager Declan Bonner Donegal with manager Declan Bonner

Donegal’s concerns about Dublin having Croke Park as a venue for their first match in the Super 8s were “never about Dublin”, according to their top officer.

County chairman Mick McGrath said many people were asking why this question was being raised at this particular juncture.

He added that Donegal had got great support from counties all over the country for their stance.

“It was about highlighting it really,' he said.

“We could not raise it before as we only got into the Super 8s after we won the Ulster title and there was no point in raising it before the Ulster final.

“Counties had voted on this at Congress and we have no problem with the overall structure of the Super 8s.

“But our question is simple and we will also be asking it at Congress and that is:

“How can any team effectively declare Croke Park as their home venue when it is not their home venue?

“That is what the bone of contention is about and we have had great support from other counties throughout the country and the majority of counties are not in the Super 8s.

“All we were looking for is a level playing field.”

He added: “This is not about Dublin, the issue is the Super 8s, this was never an issue between us and Dublin, we were asking for clarity on how any county could declare Croke Park as a home venue in the Super 8s.

“We accept that this has been passed under rule and at no stage did we question playing Dublin in Croke Park on Saturday evening.

“Some members of the media tried to portray this as if we had an issue with Dublin, but that was never the case.”

McGrath added: “I welcome the comments of the GAA Uachtaran John Horan that there should be more major games in the championship played in provincial towns.

“That’s where the buzz is and what the GAA is all about.

‘There is a Heaven in going to Croke Park but there is also a great loyalty to home venues.”