A former Donegal GAA great has expressed concern and “disappointment” at his county’s decision to have a motion next month’s Congress calling for an end to Croke Park being designated as a neutral venue in the Super 8’s.
Former Ulster winning captain of 1974 and well known GAA pundit Pauric McShea believes the county should not be leading the charge to effectively take Dublin out of Croke Park for two of their three matches this year.
“ I don’t see the relevance of the motion because no matter where you play this Dublin team they are going to be very difficult to beat anyway,” said McShea.
“I have the height of respect for my county and its officers and was proud to captain Donegal to an Ulster title in 1974 and am a loyal supporter, but I am disappointed that we are the ones who are calling for an end to Dublin having two games in Croke Park in this particular instance.
“I don’t believe whether Dublin play in Croke Park, Ballybofey or anywhere else that it will make a significant difference to the outcome because of the talent of this present Dublin team.
“I don’t agree with the principle of objecting be it to Dublin or anyone else and I don’t think there is much merit in it.
“And I am disappointed that my own county Donegal, which has a great status within gaelic games, would be the ones with their hands up effectively saying we want to deprive Dublin of what people may see as a material advantage and I don’t see it as that.”
He added: “ Other people are on about the amount of funding that is going into Dublin football, but that to me is a necessary requirement to continue to develop Dublin football and also to take care of the city’s youth and surroundings.
“In 1995 when Dublin won an All-Ireland in 1995, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was driving from Wexford to Dublin for the match and the first Dublin flag he saw was in Drumcondra.”
He added that is every young player’s dream to play in Croke Park: “It is a wonderful stadium and a credit to ex- President Peter Quinn who had a big role in making it happen.
“But all young players have ambitions to play in Croke Park, we are all the same.”
