Pitch is a perfect match for soccer

Gaelic Games Use of Croke ParkRecent speculation that the Croke Park playing surface wouldn't be suitable for sports other than Gaelic games is wide of the mark, according to stadium director Peter McKenna.

Although Rule 42 still prevents sports such as soccer and rugby from being played in Croke Park, McKenna yesterday made it clear that the pitch would be perfectly suitable for most other sports should the GAA decide to amend Rule 42 at any time in the future.

Several counties will be looking to amend the rule at the GAA Congress, which takes place on the weekend of April 15-16th. One motion calls for Croke Park to be opened to soccer and rugby exclusively during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, which is due to begin late next year.

In the meantime, though, there has been some suggestion that the Croke Park pitch could not properly accommodate other sports such as soccer. Republic of Ireland soccer manager Brian Kerr has expressed concerns about the viability of his team using Croke Park should Rule 42 be removed, specifically because of the design of the pitch.

Kerr maintained that his preference would be for a pitch prepared for soccer, where their plan would be to have the grass cut short and watered heavily, but which he felt might not be possible in Croke Park.

While an obvious part of the concern is that the Croke Park playing surface has never been even tested for soccer or rugby, McKenna's view is that the very construction of the pitch would ensure its suitability.

"The pitch that we've laid in the stadium is known as a Desso pitch," he explained. "And that pitch would be replicated in most of the major stadiums in the UK, including five or six of the Premiership teams. The new Wembley stadium will also be laid with a Desso surface. It's a very successful pitch and a proven technology.

"It features a special fibre which gives additional stability to the surface, so Desso is used for all major field sports worldwide, including soccer and rugby league and rugby union. You would have different pitches for, say, hockey or cricket but that's only because of the style of game itself. So you're talking about 60 or 70 per cent of the Irish soccer team playing their football on Desso surfaces at the moment."

The Rule 42 debate is gathering momentum ahead of Congress, with GAA president Seán Kelly among those known to be in favour of opening the stadium to other sports. While ultimately the county delegates will decide on the immediate future of the stadium's use, McKenna added that any adjustment to the playing surface would be minimal.

"The grass is cut slightly longer than normal for Gaelic football, but then shorter for hurling. So any of these surfaces can be cut to measure. And are essentially the same. But it's not designed purely for football and hurling. So, say for soccer, the length of the grass and the markings would be the only difference."

The Croke Park pitch is maintained by full-time groundsman Robert Ellis, with frequent consultation from John Hewitt, who is also working on the new Arsenal and Wembley stadiums in England. The only real concern since the pitch was laid three years ago has been it's somewhat slippery nature, particularly on wet days.

"There were criticisms," added McKenna, "and we have been addressing them with a fairly detailed study of the surface. We have set up a work group and discussed it in detail with our grounds people, and also players and managers."

The GAA declined to comment on the specific matter of the Croke Park pitch being used for other sports: "Right now that remains completely hypothetical," said one source. "Nor are we concerned about what would meet the criteria and standards on the national soccer team, simply because no decision has been taken in relation to the use of the ground by games other than Gaelic games."

Yet other issues do remain in the matter of Croke Park being used for other sports, not least the UEFA regulation that demands separate entrance points for visiting fans, something not easily done in a horizontally designed stadium with so many access points. For now though Rule 42 remains the most immediate obstacle in the way.

Meanwhile, Westmeath back James Davitt has reversed his decision of last week to leave the county's senior football squad.

Davitt has resumed training with his county team-mates and will be a welcome addition to Páidí Ó Sé's panel ahead of Sunday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final against Louth in Drogheda.

Wexford football manager Pat Roe must make do without defender Leigh O'Brien for the coming season. O'Brien, a teacher, has opted out of the county's senior squad owing to work commitments. His withdrawal comes on the back of the decision of midfielder Robert Hassey to also make himself unavailable because of work commitments.