Dean Rock kicks a point for Dublin at Nowlan Park.
By John Harrington
No decision has yet been made on whether 2016 All-Ireland Champions Dublin will play their first match of the 2017 campaign outside of Croke Park.
Jim Gavin’s team started their first match of this year’s successful campaign with a Leinster Quarter-Final victory over Laois in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.
Next year they will face the winners of Carlow and Wexford at the same juncture of the Championship.
The CCC of Leinster GAA will meet on November 16th to decide the 2017 provincial Championship fixtures, and Chairman John Horan admits the prospect of Dublin playing outside of Croke Park again is still up for discussion.
“It hasn’t been fully decided and it won’t be until that night,” says Horan. “So it’s not for me to jump the gun or create any sort of speculation on it.
“It (Dublin’s match against Laois in Nowlan Park) was a successful occasion. I think there was a few things in it we could have tweaked. It clashed with Cat Laughs and it was a Bank Holiday weekend.
“But, all in all, anyone who was there said they enjoyed the atmosphere of the occasion.
“I’m not saying…it’s neither on nor off the table. It’s up for discussion.”
Dublin’s victory over Laois at Nowlan Park this year was their first Leinster Championship match outside of Croke Park in 10 years, and Horan believes it was a ‘fair’ decision to have them go on the road for a change.
“I think it was. I think a lot of people felt it was fair to get them out. It didn’t change the result in any way.
“And Dublin were the happiest of all to go down there. I think they viewed it as a great chance to bond, just to get their Championship season on the road.
“Nobody in Dublin had any issue with it at any stage. But I think it was a success. It’s still on the table and it may happen again.”
Preview: Antrim v Kerry, Parnell Park, 3pm
Horan hopes that in the not too distant future Dublin will be able to play championship matches at an alternative ‘home’ venue in the city and so not play as many matches in Croke Park.
The Dublin County Board are still trying to buy the 35-acre landmark Spawell Complex they were outbid for just last year where they hope to eventually build a large stadium.
“Mr Costello (Dublin County Board Secretary, John Costello) is going back into the Spawell,” confirmed Horan. "That would answer the problem if he can get back in.
“There’s 600,000 revenue from 12 business units in the place. That would be a big help to developing any stadium there. I don’t think Dublin are saying they are initially going to do a stadium.
“They are going to do facilities first and then plan to built a stadium. There is a need for that around this area. You know yourself, when you go into Croke Park, it’s pretty hollow when there is only 20,000 there. The Spring Series initially was great and it was novel and whatever, but I'm not sure how long can it sustain itself.
“But, you can’t go to Parnell Park with those matches because you wouldn’t be able to cater for the crowd.
“So, the reality is there is a need for something in between. I was glad to see John saying there is hope Dublin will get back into Spawell. They’re in negotiations with those investors from Davy to get the site back that they felt they lost out on.”
