Dublin are not packing them in just yet

THE LEINSTER Council are anticipating no more than 40 to 45,000 will attend Sunday’s football quarter-final double-bill at Croke Park – about half the stadium’s capacity – but claim it would be a satisfactory attendance nonetheless.

There hasn’t yet been a rush on pre-sale of tickets, even though the double bill includes Dublin, who play Wexford in the second game at 4pm, with Meath against Laois the first game at 2pm.

“The number we’d be expecting is somewhere between 40 and 45,000,” said Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney. “There’s always something of a run when Dublin are playing, but there hasn’t been a big rush on tickets just yet.

“I think maybe the supporters may still be a small bit wary of Dublin this year. Wexford don’t traditionally bring a big football following, and Laois perhaps wouldn’t have a big following at the moment either. Meath will always bring a decent crowd but it’s not as if they’re playing Dublin. So that’s the crowd we’re expecting and we’d be happy with that.”

Were Dublin playing Meath on Sunday that attendance might be doubled, given 75,250 attended their quarter-final clash last year. However, if they do come through their respective games on Sunday, Dublin and Meath will meet in the Leinster semi-final on Sunday, June 27th.

The Leinster Council also confirmed yesterday that, following consultation with all parties concerned, both football semi-finals would also be played as a double-bill in Croke Park, with Dublin/Wexford against Meath/Laois starting at 4pm, and the Westmeath against Louth game not starting until 5.50pm.

Dublin manager Pat Gilroy, who announces his team to play Wexford today, is expected to include several championship debutants, including defenders Philip McMahon and Michael Fitzsimons and forward Kevin McManamon, with Eamonn Fennell set to form the new midfield partnership with Ross McConnell.

The Munster Council are expecting another strong crowd for Sunday’s football semi-final replay between Kerry and Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which has the earlier throw-in time of 2pm to facilitate live television coverage. Just over 35,000 showed up in Killarney last Sunday.

“We’re certainly anticipating a similar crowd of over 30,000 at least,” said Munster Council press officer Jim Forbes. “Tickets are already on sale from the usual outlets and from the county boards. Like last year the Munster Council also offer a €5 reduction on ticket prices for replays, which means the covered stand is reduced from €30 to €25, the terrace from €20 to €15, and so on.”

The GAA have confirmed that the draw for the first round of the All-Ireland football qualifiers will take place on Sunday evening in Croke Park, and will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 from 6pm. The first round involves eight matches and the 16 teams that fail to reach their respective provincial semi-finals.

Already in the hat are, from Leinster, Carlow, Longford, Offaly, Kildare and Wicklow; Tipperary and Clare from Munster; London and Mayo from Connacht; and Derry, Antrim, Donegal and Armagh from Ulster.

All first round games are scheduled to take place on Saturday June 26th, with the first team drawn entitled to home advantage – provided they have home grounds deemed capable of accommodating the fixture.

Dublin hurling manager Anthony Daly has lost defender Ronan Fallon ahead of their Leinster semi-final against Kilkenny on Sunday week. Fallon has been struggling with a foot injury and has opted out of the panel.