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Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
‘They do an incredible job': GAA president Jarlath Burns defends CCCC after Jim McGuinness criticism
GAA president Jarlath Burns has defended the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) after Jim McGuinness was critical last weekend of the decision to schedule Donegal's All-Ireland SFC encounter against Mayo for Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon . Speaking after Donegal's one-point victory over Mayo on Sunday, McGuinness expressed his frustration at the GAA's fixture-making body for opting to schedule the round-robin clash in Roscommon. 'We don't believe we should have been here today either, being honest with you,' said the Donegal manager. '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 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. 'So, it was the equivalent of Mayo going to play us in Omagh and staying in Derry and I don't believe that would happen. I think that 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.' READ MORE I think they are amazing people and I just thought that it was important to put on record my appreciation — Jarlath Burns However, speaking in Croke Park on Tuesday afternoon at the launch of the All-Ireland senior football championship knockout stages , Burns made a point of praising the work carried out by the CCCC. The GAA president did not reference McGuinness or the Donegal manager's comments but he was keen to highlight the CCCC's efforts. GAA president Jarlath Burns at the launch of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship knockout stages at Croke Park. Photo: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile 'Whenever fixtures are being made there are so many things that they have to take into consideration, particularly with regard to neutral venues,' said Burns. '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 they do in very complex circumstances.' Burns added that after attending one of the Monday morning championship draws in RTÉ recently, he was able to appreciate the number of calls fielded by the GAA's games administration manager, Bernard Smith, whose challenge it is to link all the pieces of the puzzle. 'I was on the way back [from the draw], in the car with Bernard 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 . . . and I think every one of those requests was met.' One of the arguments put forward by the CCCC was that there was no suitable alternative venue for the Donegal-Mayo fixture. The most logical location would have been Markievicz Park but the Sligo venue is currently closed as the pitch is undergoing repair work. Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Leitrim, with a capacity of just under 10,000, would have been too small for a fixture that attracted a crowd of 18,751 last weekend. St Tiernach's Park in Monaghan and Breffni Park in Cavan were not available as both counties had their senior footballers in action elsewhere last Sunday afternoon. Donegal will have a home All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against Louth in Ballybofey at 4pm on Sunday.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Jarlath Burns praises CCCC following McGuinness criticism
GAA President Jarlath Burns has praised the work of the CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) after criticism was voiced over selection of neutral venues at the weekend. Last Sunday, Donegal manager Jim McGuinness hit out at the decision to fix their game against Mayo for Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon, branding the decision "unfair" and suggesting that their opponents would not have been made to travel that distance. Speaking after the preliminary quarter-final draw on RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Monday, CCCC chief Brian Carroll defended their choice of venues and outlined the considerations that had to be weighed when selecting appropriate grounds. In his address to the media at the launch of the knockout phase of the All-Ireland football championship in Croke Park, Burns, without referencing any manager's comments directly, singled out the CCCC for particular praise. "I think they do an incredible job," Burns said. "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. "I was on the way back (from the Tailteann Cup quarter-final draw) in the car with Bernard Smith (Games Administration Manager). "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. And I think every one of those requests was met. "Whenever fixtures are being made, there are so, so many things that they have to take into consideration, particularly with regard to neutral venues." Burns went on to say that every decision around venues was taken to ensure there was no hint of bias. "You guys (the media) know our CCCC and you know how hard they work to ensure that everything is done to the best of their 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." Following Monday's draw, Carroll specifically defended the choice of Hyde Park following McGuinness' comments, noting that the obvious venue, Markievicz Park, was ruled out due to ongoing maintenance work on the pitch. " Breffni Park wasn't available - Cavan were playing at the same time," Carroll said. "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." Also at the launch, Burns said that the changes made by the Football Review Committee had re-invigorated Gaelic football as a spectacle, pointing to attendance figures for the group stage which show a 21% increase when compared with the 2024 group stages.
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.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
CCCC chief defends Donegal venue decision after Jim McGuinness' anger
The chairperson of the Central Competitions Control Committee, Brian Carroll, has defended the GAA's venue selection for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC clash between Donegal and Mayo. Donegal edged to a one-point win over Mayo at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, a result which saw Jim McGuinness' side finish second on Group 1 and ended Mayo's Championship involvement. However, speaking afterwards, McGuinness was highly critical of the decision to play the game in Roscommon and revealed that Donegal had written to the CCCC complaining about the choice of venue. McGuinness said: "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 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. "Everybody else had a fair shake this weekend. You're 38 minutes from Mayo's training ground. We're three and a half hours from Inishowen. It's not fair." However Carroll has defended the decision, insisting that there was no viable alternative to Dr Hyde Park for the game. The CCCC chief, who is also chair of Roscommon GAA, was in RTÉ for the All-Ireland and Tailteann Cup draws this morning and, after Donegal were handed a home tie against Louth, he explained the rationale for the venue against Mayo. "When we sit down to put these fixtures together, there are a lot of situations that have to be taken into consideration," he said. "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 [remaining] for both of these counties was King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park." Kerry were arguably at more of a disadvantage in having to face Meath in Tullamore. Carroll pointed out that some parts of Mayo as far as from Roscommon town as Donegal but did not address McGuinness' point about a lack of accommodation. "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
5 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'It would only happen because it's us' - McGuinness hits out at 'unfair' Roscommon venue choice
DONEGAL MANAGER JIM McGuinness was fiercely critical of the decision to stage his side's dramatic victory over Mayo at Dr. Hyde Park in Roscommon, claiming it was unfair and would only be inflicted on his team. Ciaran Moore's dramatic late point earned a one-point win for Donegal, which secures for them second place in the group and a spot in next weekend's preliminary All-Ireland quarter final. The result eliminated Mayo from the championship. With the final round of games in the group phase fixed for neutral venue, McGuinness rounded on the CCCC for their selection of Roscommon as that neutral venue. The Donegal boss said the decision was unfair, saying his side had to travel to Athlone to find accommodation. McGuinness claimed that venues in Cavan and Monaghan were available, but not selected, and then went on to claim that the decision would not have been made for any other team involved. Advertisement 'We don't believe we should have been here', McGuinness told reporters after the game. 'We think it was very unfair to bring us here, it was the equivalent of bringing Mayo to Omagh. 'We also put in an email to the CCCC to say we couldn't get a hotel in the area. We had to stay in Athlone, we had to go beyond the venue. It was the equivalent of Mayo playing us in Omagh and staying in Derry. I don't believe that would happen, I believe it would only happen to us. It would only happen because it's us. 'We made a case, and we made a case early, but it was on deaf ears. I don't like the fact our supporters are always being taken advantage of. We have had seven games to this point, nobody has played more games than us, yet we had the longest trek. 'Breffni [Park, Cavan] was an option, they will say it wasn't. I know Clones was offered but it was rescinded. All you're looking for is fairness.' Asked why he believes Donegal have been uniquely treated in this regard, McGuinness replied, 'That's probably a long conversation we would need to have, but we knew a month ago it would be here, we knew we couldn't get accommodation and we knew it would be difficult for supporters. 'We put that case forward and that didn't happen. It happens for all the other teams, why not us? Everyone else had a fair shake this week. 'We are 38 minutes from Mayo's training ground. We are three and a half hours from Inishowen. It's not fair and if I don't say it, who is going to say it?'
