GAA releases statement on the Dublin vs Donegal venue dispute The Dubs using Croke Park as their 'home' venue has been a contentious issue. The GAA have confirmed that Croke Park will host the meeting of Dublin and Donegal in the latter stages of the All-Ireland Championship. Advertisement Donegal objected to the venue being used on the grounds that Croke Park is, essentially, the Dubs’ home pitch as it where they have played all of their home league and championship games in recent years. Under the rules of the new Super 8 format, each participating team is supposed to have one home game, one away game and one game at a neutral venue, Croke Park. Essentially, Donegal felt that these rules were being skewered to favour the All-Ireland champions because they frequently play at GAA HQ. In light of these objections, Donegal County Board officials met with the GAA and the following statement has been released. The joint-statement read: "The GAA has confirmed that a meeting between senior officials and members of the Donegal County Committee took place in Croke Park earlier today. "It was accepted as part of these discussions, that the rules in relation to the new All-Ireland SFC quarter-final round robin system had been democratically adopted at Congress 2017 and that these provided for all Round 1 games to be played at Croke Park and each county to subsequently have one home and one away game. "While Donegal challenged how any team could nominate Croke Park as their home venue, it was acknowledged that there was nothing in Rule to prohibit this. Advertisement "Donegal also requested in light of the issues they highlighted, that a review of the first year of the new Championship structures be held by Central Council later in the year and that all counties be invited to submit their observations in this context." The statement concluded: "It was agreed that the issues highlighted by Donegal would be considered as part of this process and that if Central Council collectively felt that non-structural changes to aspects of the Championship were required, that these could be put to Annual Congress in 2019 for consideration."<doc-sep>Donegal GAA officials will meet with GAA bosses tomorrow to discuss and clarify matters relating to venue selection for the Super 8s phase of the Senior Football Championship. Dublin are scheduled to play their first Super 8 fixture against Donegal on Saturday week. It was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the Leinster and Ulster champions will meet at GAA HQ on 14 July at 7pm. However, Dublin are set to have another game, their 'home game' at Croke Park against either Armagh or Roscommon on 4/5 August, following on from an away clash against either Cork or Tyrone. Donegal, however, have another away date against either Roscommon or Armagh, before they host either Cork or Tyrone in their final encounter. A motion passed on the new format in 2017 stated that each team would have a home game, a game at Croke Park and an away game in the new round-robin format. The Donegal board sought a meeting with the GAA's top brass to ensure what they insist is "a level playing field for every team at the All-Ireland quarter-final group stage and to seek clarification on how any county may use a ground as both neutral and home venue." The intention of the meeting, they say, "is to ensure that no team has any advantage over any other team". Donegal manager Declan Bonner told Donegal Sport Hub yesterday: "For all eight teams, I think it's got to be the one playing field, and I don't think it's that levelled if you have to play two matches away from home and another team has two home games. "In terms of fairness, if Donegal were to play Dublin and someone said the game was to be played at a neutral venue, then you would expect somewhere like Cavan or Clones, or a neutral venue. "Not going into Dublin's back yard to play what is a so-called neutral match."<doc-sep>
Croke Park will host the opening Super 8 game between Donegal and the All-Ireland champions Donegal's request to have their Super 8 game against Dublin moved from Croke Park has been turned down by the GAA. The Ulster champions argued that Dublin would have an unfair advantage playing two of their three round-robin matches at their "home" venue of Croke Park. This year's new format sees each side play a home and away fixture and one at the "neutral" Croke Park. The GAA said the format was agreed at last year's Congress and Dublin could nominate Croker as their home venue. The opening round match will go ahead at headquarters on 14 July with a 19:00 BST throw-in. A joint statement was released following the meeting between the Donegal county committee and GAA. Martin McHugh "It was accepted as part of these discussions, that the rules in relation to the new All-Ireland SFC quarter-final round robin system had been democratically adopted at Congress 2017," it said. "These provided for all Round 1 games to be played at Croke Park and each county to subsequently have one home and one away game. "While Donegal challenged how any team could nominate Croke Park as their home venue, it was acknowledged that there was nothing to prohibit this. "Donegal also requested in light of the issues they highlighted, that a review of the first year of the new championship structures be held by Central Council later in the year and that all counties be invited to submit their observations in this context. "It was agreed that the issues highlighted by Donegal would be considered as part of this process and that if Central Council collectively felt that non-structural changes to aspects of the Championship were required, that these could be put to Annual Congress in 2019 for consideration."