Newbridge or nowhere.
We are less than four days out from Kildare’s Round Three Senior Football Championship Qualifier against Mayo and we are no closer to knowing where the game is taking place. We are no closer to knowing IF the game is taking place.
Kildare – aggrieved that the GAA switched their ‘home’ tie to Croke Park – have announced they will be at the ground, St Conleth’s Park, in Newbridge on Saturday evening. Lilywhites boss Cian O’Neill says there is complete “buy-in” from captain Eoin Doyle and the player panel.
Up until the final round of qualifiers, the county drawn out first gets home advantage [unless they are playing a Division 3 or 4 league team]. Kildare were out of the pot first but the GAA swooped in and stuck them down for a double-header at Croker, with Cavan and Tyrone the opening act.
O’Neill was on KFM’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday and said:
“We need to hold firm on this and strengthen our resolve. All we want is due process for our players…
“This is about the guys that have been training for five or six nights a week for the last seven months.”
Fittingly, the Kildare radio station concluded the interview by playing Tom Petty’s rousing, anthemic ‘I Won’t Back Down’.
While Mayo have gone with a ‘wait and see’ approach – opting to steer clear of the controversy – many of their supporters have taken to social media to back the Lilywhites’ bold stance.
The popular Mayo GAA Banter page has come out firmly in favour of Kildare’s Newbridge or Nowhere position.
Good morning Mayo!
It still looks like #NEWBRIDGEORNOWHERE #mayogaa #kildaregaa— Mayo Gaelic Banter (@mayogaabanter) June 26, 2018
They are not the only ones. This issue has exercised GAA fans – from die-hards to casuals and occasionals and everyone in between – and has surely made the association sit up and take notice.
Calling all Kildare fans. This is an extremely relevant podcast which deals with the controversy in an excellent way. https://t.co/9mwUGQoBfr #Kildare #mayogaa #GAA #NewbridgeOrNowhere #KildareGAA
— MAYOAREBACK (@MayoAreBack) June 26, 2018
Mayo supporter Stephen Walshe made this excellent point:
‘Kildare have however played home games elsewhere in both league & championship before (Croke Park & Portlaoise). Genuinely curious as to why the absolutism now? For what it’s worth, home should mean home… for EVERY county regardless of no. of season ticket holders.’
https://twitter.com/myunrulymess/status/1011528824843010048
Solidarity.
