Latest news with #BrianCarroll
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Jarlath Burns defends GAA's fixtures body in wake of Donegal criticism
GAA president Jarlath Burns has defended the association's national fixtures body days after criticism from Donegal manager Jim McGuinness. Following Sunday's win over Mayo, the Ulster SFC-winning boss was furious about the decision of the Central Competitions Control Committee to stage that All-Ireland SFC final round group game in Roscommon town's King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park. Believing that it was arranged for a venue further away from Donegal than Mayo 'because it's us', McGuinness said: 'We don't believe we should have been here. We think it was very unfair to bring us here. "It was the equivalent of bringing Mayo to Omagh and we also put in an email to the CCCC say we couldn't get a hotel in the area so we had to stay in Athlone.' Speaking on Monday, CCCC chairman Brian Carroll explained that Markievicz Park in Sligo would have been the preferred venue if it wasn't unavailable due to pitch reconstruction. In his address to launch the All-Ireland senior football championship in Croke Park on Tuesday, Burns paid tribute to the work done by the CCCC. Referring to the Tailteann Cup draw he assisted in on RTÉ Radio One's 'Morning Ireland' last Monday week, Burns said: 'I was on the way back in the car with Bernard Smith (GAA's games administration manager), who was with me and he took seven phone calls from counties asking for clarification on this, asking for a favour there, asking that they could play at a particular time, something that would have been on in their county, and I think every one of those requests was met. 'And whenever fixtures are being made, there are so, so many things that they have to take into consideration, particularly with regard to neutral venues. I think they do an incredible job. I think they are amazing people and I just thought that it was important to put on record my appreciation and thanks for the work that they do in very complex circumstances.' Addressing the media in attendance at the event, Burns said the full-time members of the CCCC including GAA director of club, player and games administration Feargal McGill and Smith as well as volunteer chairman Carroll are happy to explain the reasoning behind their decisions. 'Fergal and Bernard and Brian Carroll are also on the end of a phone if anybody ever wants to ring them up and ask them for clarification as are our communications department, and you will always get a good reason as to why decisions are taken. 'But you guys know our CCCC and you know further and you know better and you know how hard they work to ensure that everything is done to the best of the ability to ensure safety and to ensure that there's no bias and to do the best that they can for all of our teams.' Meanwhile, the GAA have reported a 21% year-on-year rise in attendances for this year's All-Ireland senior football round games. In one of the best championship in recent times, crowds have been flocking to games being played under the new rules. Last year, there was a 10% decline in attendances across football and hurling. This past weekend, it was revealed to Central Council that attendances in this year's Allianz Football League had recorded a 24% increase in gate receipts, up over €1.5million to in excess of €8m.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
GAA fixtures chief responds to Jim McGuinness' stinging criticism of Roscommon venue for Mayo v Donegal clash
GAA fixtures chief Brian Carroll has staunchly defended the decision to fix yesterday's All-Ireland SFC group showdown between Donegal and Mayo for 'neutral' Roscommon.
The 42
4 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'The most logical venue' - CCCC chief responds to McGuinness criticism
GAA CCCC CHAIRPERSON Brian Carroll has responded to Jim McGuinness' criticism of the decision to stage Donegal's All-Ireland SFC group stage clash with Mayo at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon. The Donegal boss hit out at the 'very unfair ' venue choice after their dramatic 0-19 to 1-15 victory yesterday, adding, 'It would only happen because it's us'. Carroll, also Roscommon GAA chairperson, has since explained the CCCC viewpoint that Dr Hyde Park was 'the most logical venue' amidst unavailability elsewhere. Sligo's Markievicz Park was out of bounds due to pitch repairs, while he pointed out that counties playing in the championship on the same day was another factor as it was not feasible to host games in Cavan, Clones or Omagh. Advertisement Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland after today's All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup draws, Carroll said: 'I heard the comments alright. Look, I suppose the CCCC, we sit down to put these fixtures together. A lot of situations have to be taken into consideration. 'In the case of Donegal and Mayo, the obvious venue for us was Sligo. Unfortunately Sligo wasn't available because the pitch is being repaired. Breffni Park wasn't available, Cavan were playing at the same time. Clones wasn't available, Monaghan were playing two hours earlier in the day. Omagh wasn't available because Tyrone were playing at the same time. 'Our feeling was that the most logical venue for both of these counties was King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park. There's people in Mayo had to travel just short of three hours as well, so it wasn't ideal for both. 'But look, a lot of things have to be taken into consideration when we're doing these fixtures. When you have a most northerly county and a westerly county playing each other, it's always going to be difficult to find an ideal venue. In fairness, I think both counties were looked after well and got a good welcome. 'I'd say most Donegal people are fairly happy this morning, they're in second place.' Donegal will enjoy home advantage next weekend as they face Leinster champions Louth in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals. Elsewhere, Down host Galway, Dublin welcome Cork, and Kerry entertain Cavan. Mayo are out of the championship following yesterday's result.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
CCCC chief defends Donegal venue selection following criticism from Jim McGuinness
Brian Carroll, the chairperson of the Central Competitions Control Committee, has defended the GAA's choice of venue for the All-Ireland SFC clash between Donegal and Mayo on Sunday following criticism from Jim McGuinness. The Donegal manager hit out at the decision for their final Group 1 fixture to be played at Dr. Hyde Park in Roscommon in the aftermath of his side's one-point win over Mayo, which secured their place in the preliminary quarter-final, where they will meet Louth. "We think it was very unfair to bring us here," began McGuinness on Sunday evening. 'It was the equivalent of bringing Mayo to Omagh and we also put in an email to the CCCC to say we couldn't get a hotel in the area so we had to stay in Athlone. We had to go beyond the venue to come to play in the venue. "I think it would only happen because it's us. Disappointed in that. We made a case and we made the case early. It was on deaf ears. I don't like the fact that our supporters are always being taken advantage of. We had seven games up to this point. Nobody's played more games than us. Nobody. 'And yet and all, we had the longest trek and all those people have to find a way to do all that. Breffni was an option. They're going to say it wasn't. I know that Clones was offered and that was rescinded. All you're looking for is fairness and the middle is fair.' But speaking to RTÉ following the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final and Tailteann Cup semi-final draws on Monday morning, the CCCC chief, who is also chairperson of Roscommon GAA, explained the thinking behind selecting the venue. "When we sit down to put these fixtures together, there are a lot of situations that have to be taken into consideration," said Carroll. "In the case of Donegal and Mayo, the obvious venue for us was Sligo. Unfortunately, Sligo wasn't available because the pitch is being repaired, so the ground wasn't available. " Breffni Park wasn't available - Cavan were playing at the same time. Clones wasn't available because Monaghan were playing two hours earlier in the day and Omagh wasn't available because Tyrone were playing at the same time. "So our feeling was that the most logical venue for both of these counties was King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park. "People in Mayo had to travel just short of three hours as well, so it wasn't ideal for both, but there are a lot of things that have to be taken into consideration. "When we're doing these fixtures and when you have the most northerly county and a western county playing each other, it's always going to be difficult to find an ideal venue. "In fairness, I think both counties were looked after well and got a good welcome, and I'd say most people are fairly happy this morning."
The 42
4 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Dublin to face Cork: here is the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final draw
THE DRAW HAS been made for the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals. Dublin will face Cork, Kerry host Cavan, Donegal welcome Louth, and Down and Galway go head-to-head. The games will take place next weekend, 21-22 June, with fixture details to be finalised by the CCCC later today. The draw took place on RTÉ Radio 1 as part of Morning Ireland, and was presided over by the GAA's CCCC Chairperson Brian Carroll and Feargal McGill, GAA Director Player, Club and Games Administration. Advertisement It was subject firstly to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings, and where possible, repeat pairings from the group stage. Cavan were initially drawn against Dublin, but a reshuffle was needed to avoid Kerry versus Cork. Tyrone, Monaghan, Meath and Armagh await in the quarter-finals after winning their respective groups. The Tailteann Cup semi-final draw was also made this morning. All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals First team named at home Donegal v Louth Down v Galway Dublin v Cork Kerry v Cavan
