Wexford plea for home rule
But cash-strapped Leinster Council leaning towards Croker
Monday November 23 2009
THE Leinster Council will tonight fix next summer's senior provincial football and hurling championship ties, with the venue of the Dublin v Wexford match set to be decided at the meeting.
Wexford have campaigned strongly to host the tie in Wexford Park since the draw was made last month, though the Evening Herald believes that Leinster Council would prefer a money-spinning Croke Park double-header alongside the Laois versus Meath or Offaly quarter-final.
The recently developed home of Wexford GAA has a capacity of between 25,000 and 30,000, significantly reducing the numbers able to attend.
Already though, Wexford chairman, Ger Doyle, has called on Leinster and Dublin to accede to their request, though Dublin have voiced their own wish to play the tie in Croke Park.
Initially, Wexford sought to enter into home/away agreement with the Dublin County Board but will have to sway the opinion of the gathering tonight after their request was rejected.
One of Wexford's Leinster Council representatives will read a letter at the meeting tonight pleading with fellow delegates to grant Wexford home advantage and in the scenario that enough of the gathering are swayed, the final call could hinge on whether their is a vote or whether the Council drives home their wishes for financial reasons to stage the game in Croker.
Should Wexford's attempt prove successful, it would constitute a first Leinster championship match outside of Croke Park since 2005 for Dublin, when they played Longford in Pearse Park.
- Conor McKeon
