Football

Mayo request ‘neutral’ tie with Dublin not to be played at Croke Park

Venues and times confirmed for last round of Tailteann Cup group games

Dublin's kicking game used against Mayo won't be as effective against a packed Monaghan defence.
Mayo are due to meet Dublin at a neutral venue in the final round of the All-Ireland SFC group games

Mayo are believed to have requested that their All-Ireland SFC final group game against Dublin not take place at Croke Park.

The final round of group games – which are due to take place on the weekend of June 15 and 16 – are due to be played at neutral venues, although times and locations have not yet been set by the GAA.

Reports in the Mayo News reveal that Mayo chairman Séamus Touhy informed a county board meeting on Wednesday evening that they had a submitted a request to the GAA for the game to be played at a neutral venue.

In the 2018 Super 8s, Dublin’s ‘neutral’ tie with Donegal was played at Croke Park and they played two of their three games in 2019 at Croke Park.

There was no group stages in the 2020, 2021 or 2022 All-Ireland SFC due to Covid, but when they returned last year, Dublin’s neutral clash with Sligo took place at Kingspan Breffni.

Meanwhile, the venues and times for next weekend’s All-Ireland SFC and final round of Tailteann Cup games have been confirmed.

It will be a second round of games for all four groups in the All-Ireland SFC, with those teams who played away in the first round of games having home advantage.

One standout tie is the meeting of Derry and Armagh at Celtic Park on Sunday, June 2 at 4pm which will be broadcast live on RTE.

Donegal's Peadar Mogan with Brian Hurley of Cork
Donegal will take on Cork in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday June 1 Picture: Margaret McLaughlin (Margaret McLaughlin Photography )

On the Saturday, Ulster champions Donegal face the long trip to Páirc UÍ Rinn while Cavan host All-Ireland champions Dublin at Kingspan Breffni.

On Sunday, Tyrone host Clare at Healy Park and Monaghan welcome Louth to Clones.

The Tailteann Cup’s third round of matches means neutral venues. Antrim’s clash with Sligo on the Sunday will be at Kingspan Breffni and shown live on GAA GO.

Down, who are already confirmed as group winners by virtue of their win over London last weekend, will take on Offaly at Kingspan Breffni as part of a double header at the Cavan venue.

Fermanagh take on Laois at Glennon Brothers Pearse on the Saturday as part of a double-header with the meeting of Kildare and Leitrim.

Fixtures
Saturday, June 1
All-Ireland SFC

Group 2 Roscommon v Mayo (Dr Hyde Park, 5pm, GAA GO); Cavan v Dublin (Kingspan Breffni, 7pm, GAA GO)

Group 3 Cork v Donegal (Páirc Uí Rinn, 2.30pm)

Tailteann Cup

Group 1 Longford v Waterford (Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 2pm); Kildare v Leitrim (Glennon Brothers Pearse, 6pm)

Group 3 Fermanagh v Laois (Glennon Brothers Pearse, 3.45pm); Wicklow v Carlow, (Parnell Park, 3.45pm)

Group 4 Limerick v London (Parnell Park, 1.30pm)

Sunday June 2
All-Ireland SFC

Group 1 Westmeath v Galway (Cusack Park, 3pm); Derry v Armagh (Celtic Park, 4pm)

Group 3 Tyrone v Clare (Healy Park, 1.30pm)

Group 4 Meath v Kerry (Navan, 2pm); Monaghan v Louth (3.30pm)

Tailteann Cup

Group 2 Sligo v Antrim (Kingspan Breffni, 4pm); Wexford v Tipperary (Netwatch Dr Cullen Park, 2pm)

Group 4 Down v Offaly (Kingspan Breffni, 1.45pm)