ARMAGH and Galway’s joint bid for their All-Ireland group stage clash to take place in Croke Park has been turned down by the CCCC.
The game will go ahead as originally scheduled, in Avant Money Páirc Sean Mác Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday 18 June, with a throw in time of 4pm.
A request for the game to be played in Croke Park was submitted yesterday by both counties amid concerns over possible attendance issues.
But the request was unsuccessful, and the game will go ahead in the Leitrim venue that holds a maximum capacity of just under 10,000, which may leave a huge number of fans disappointed.
Tickets for the round three match went on sale yesterday evening and sold online on a first come first served basis, with no allocation through the clubs.
Armagh and Galway clashed in the All-Ireland quarter-final last season and played out a hugely entertaining and dramatic affair.
Penalties were required to settle the game after extra time, the first ever in the SFC to be decided via a shoutout.
Over 35,000 fans attended that epic encounter, with Galway eventually edging out the Orchard County, winning 4-1.
Padraig Joyce’s side ended up in the All-Ireland final, beating Derry in the semi-final, but lost out narrowly to Kerry.
If Galway can once again see off Kieran McGeeney’s men, they’ll make their way to the quarter-finals of this year's race for the Sam Maguire.
The Tribesmen have had a perfect record of two from two so far in Group Two, having toppled Tyrone and Westmeath in the previous rounds to top the group.
Armagh, on the other hand, are mostly likely going to make the preliminary quarter-finals, depending on the other results in the group.
If the Orchard win and Tyrone beat Westmeath, Dessie Dolan’s men in maroon will be eliminated from the competition, meaning the top three teams will be tied on four points each and score difference will come into play to decide their fate.
Should Armagh and Westmeath win, however, then Armagh would claim top spot in the group and gain entrance to the last eight with Galway taking second place, Westmeath finishing third and Tyrone exiting the All-Ireland race.
