GAELIC GAMES DUBLIN DEVELOPMENT PLAN:DUBLIN COUNTY Board secretary John Costello outlined yesterday initial plans to raise €14 million to finance the development of a 25-acre site in Rathcoole as a centre of excellence for the capital's football and hurling squads.

Although planning permission was granted over the weekend, no date has been set for breaking ground, never mind completion, at the south county Dublin venue but Costello was able to confirm the new facility will provide a state-of-the-art training base that will be accessible to several GAA teams.

Matches will also be played at the venue but a maximum 1,500 capacity means it will not be designed to house any high-level championship meetings.

"There will be no stadium," said Costello.

"We are not trying to replicate the stadium we already have at Parnell Park on the northside of the city.

"Sure, there will be low-key games like school matches where maybe a couple of hundred people can be facilitated but nothing of significance.

"Railway Cup matches might be played there," he added tongue in cheek.

This comes on the back of last night's confirmation of Anthony Daly as Dublin hurling manager. There will be a press conference tomorrow in Parnell Park to unveil the 1995 and 1997 All-Ireland-winning Clare captain after he was ratified by county delegates for a two-year term.

Daly's selectors, trainer and various backroom staff have yet to be confirmed.

The next challenge for Costello and his executive officers is to convene a committee charged with running a long-term fundraising campaign to ensure the centre of excellence becomes a reality.

However, he refused to be bogged down by a timetable just yet, especially considering the objection process has yet to start.

"Basically, we haven't come up with a plan with regards funding just yet. We didn't expect this to come through until the New Year and then there is the objections process through An Bord Pleanála. We are yet to even receive written confirmation.

"Whether the project is financially viable still needs to be addressed. In total it will cost €14 million, which is a mammoth undertaking for any county board. We shall be putting together a committee to decide whether we have to go about this in stages or one block."

The task becomes more daunting in the current economic climate as the Dublin County Board will be approaching the Government to seek grant aid.

"We received grants from the Sports Capital Programme before so we shall be going back to the Department of Art, Sport and Tourism for funding."

The new facility is planned to have four pitches, three sand-based and one all-weather, with floodlights on two and a hurling wall. There will also be an onsite gymnasium and indoor training facilities, while access from north Dublin will be improved by the soon-to-be-upgraded M50 motorway.

"It will be a centre of excellence where the various intercounty football and hurling panels will train, along with the development squads.

"The facilities will also prove beneficial to the Leinster Council and Central Council. It could also be used for colleges' matches, especially at this time of year when the synthetic pitch can be used in adverse weather conditions.

"Saying all that, we are under no illusions that it is a huge undertaking."