Three-time All-Ireland winner Alan Brogan has said that he can’t understand the calls for Dublin to move out of Croke Park ahead of this summer’s inaugural Super 8 series.
The four winners from the provincial championships will be joined in the Super series by the four teams that successfully come through Round 4 of the qualifiers to form two groups of four where the top two teams in each group will advance to the All-Ireland semi-final.
Every team will have a home match in the Super 8’s and every team will have an away match and every team will have a game at headquarters but Dublin’s home game will be played at Croke Park – even though it’s not their home game.
The GAA’s decision to play two Dublin games at Croke Park, where Jim Gavin’s side have not lost in the championship since 2014, has rankled with many but Brogan claims he can’t see the reason in moving Dublin away from headquarters given the crowds that Dublin regularly attract.
82300 attended Dublin Donegal in all ireland quarter final in 2016.. are we really suggesting moving a game of thay magnitude out of croke pk..
— Alan Brogan (@alanbrogan13) June 27, 2018
There have been many against the move to award two Dublin games with those opposing the decision highlighting a failure from the GAA to acknowledge or recognise the legitimacy of home advantage.
https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/1011922156496785408
Kildare deserve a lot of credit for refusing to be pushed around by Croker. Should be a similar protest by Donegal and the other county is in Dublin's Super Eight group when Dublin's two home games are confirmed.
— Mark Gallagher (@bailemg) June 25, 2018
But this (and the fact that UNBELIEVABLY Dublin are going to get two home games in the Super 8s) is emblematic of a refusal to recognise how important home advantage is. Maybe the hurling round-robins this year will help the penny to drop
— Ciarán Murphy (@saveciaranmurph) June 25, 2018
From the GAA on Super 8s. Dublin v Donegal in Croke Park plus Dublin's third game. They will get two home games. Well done, Goldman Sachs.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) June 25, 2018
Confirmed that Dublin will have two round robin games at Croke Park. The county that needs the least assistance already gets the most from the #GAA, and now here's another leg up.
— Pat Nolan (@pat_nolan) June 25, 2018
By giving Dublin two home games, the Ulster champions are being punished.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) June 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/1012047335290032128
Colm Parkinson spoke about the recent ground selection issues on the latest episode of The GAA Hour:
“I’ve never seen a reaction to a decision by the GAA like this before in my life,” said Parkinson in relation to the GAA’s initial decision to host Kildare’s round three qualifier with Mayo at Croke Park instead of St. Conleth’s Park in Newbridge.
“I think it was a build up. It was a build up of so many decisions by the GAA without consulting players that didn’t really have players’ situation in mind.
“We saw it in the league this year, we saw them changing games from a Sunday to a bank holiday Monday without any consultation with players.
“We saw Laois being sent to Nolan Park to play Dublin instead of at home. We saw Carlow being sent to O’Moore Park instead of playing them in Carlow.
“We saw Wicklow not allowed play them in Aughrim, all to satisfy supporters. Not a notion given to what actually suits players.
“We see Kildare being sent to Croke Park, we see Dublin being given two Super 8 games in Croke Park, all for financial purposes and not, for what as far as I’m concerned, are the most important people in the GAA: the players.”
