Provinces asked to select new venues

Floodlighting: The GAA will have proposals for another four floodlit venues around the country by the end of this month. Seán Moran reports.

These will come from each of the provincial councils in response to an invitation from Croke Park to submit plans with a view to obtaining grant aid.

In the medium-term, it is intended that 10 or 12 venues with television-quality lights and surfaces suitable for winter and spring use will come on stream as the GAA try to expand the fixture options available in an increasingly crowded games calendar.

Although the provinces are reluctant to identify venues ahead of discussing the details with individual counties, grounds that are likely to feature in these plans include: Hyde Park in Roscommon and Sligo's Markievicz Park in Connacht, Omagh and Enniskillen in Ulster, Portlaoise and Navan in Leinster and Limerick and Thurles down south.

Already there are three grounds up to the proposed standards at present. Páirc Uí Rinn in Cork and Stack Park in Tralee have staged National League matches that have been televised, and the former will do so again this Friday when Cork and Kerry meet in the first fixture of this season's league.

Dublin's Parnell Park makes its debut under lights the following night when the home side face Mayo.

According to GAA director general Liam Mulvihill, at Saturday's Central Council meeting the association had asked for grounds to be nominated for immediate development.

"We have initiated discussions with the counties over the next 10 days," said John Prenty, Connacht secretary. "The surface is probably the first consideration and there are a number of good, sand-based pitches in the province. There's no point in being dazzled by the lights reflecting off puddles of water."

The matter has already been discussed in Ulster, and according to provincial secretary Danny Murphy ideas and proposals will be taken.

"If we get to 10 venues," he said, "it will give great options at certain times of the year. If you lose a fixture on a Sunday, you can play it again midweek. In the past, matches were fixed for other Sundays, but we don't have them available any more. With lights we can list fall-back dates without upsetting the national programme."

Simon Moroney, the Munster secretary, identified further advantages of floodlit venues.

"The under-21 championship has gone back to dates earlier in the year and will be played side-by-side with the league this year. Having a midweek facility gives a great option in a very congested fixture calendar.

"I'd say we'll take a strategic approach to nominating two grounds in the province. It would be foolish to select any more in close proximity to what's there in Cork and Tralee."

Leinster's Michael Delaney said the two venues being looked at were Portlaoise and Navan, but that he couldn't confirm the former as the Laois County Board have yet to make a decision on whether O'Moore Park will be available, because counties involved will be required to assist with the funding.