Another row in Donegal

Donegal Danny · February 03, 2009, 11:57:49 AM

This was on the sports news this morning on "Morning Ireland" but has been a topic of hot debate locally for some weeks now. It regards the venues for Donegal 3 home league games against Mayo, Dublin, and Tyrone,. Donegal now has 3 county grounds, Ballybofey, Letterkenny, and Ballyshannon. The Donegal county board went ahead and put the Mayo and Tyrone games under lights in Ballybofey on Saturday nights and put the Dublin game in Ballyshannon on a Sunday, thus leaving St Eunan's Letterkenny very unhappy that they have no game. Pressure has been put on the county board to change the Mayo game to Sunday in Letterkenny or if this can't be done change the Dublin game to Lettekenny . St Eunan's have asked the county board to allow the clubs to vote on where the Dublin game should be played if they can't change the Mayo game to a Sunday. This would favour St Eunan's because it is very central and most clubs would vote for Letterkenny.

However the fun starts now when you consider Tom Daly president of the Ulster COUNCIL is from Ballyshannon and has a lot of power and the County board seem to be afraid of him. The County Board say Croke Park will not allow them to change anything now because fixtures and venues are made. If this is so then how come Louth changed all their N.F.L. to Drogheda at the last minute because they won their 3 O'Byrne cup game their.

Can anyone tell me the rules regarding where you play you game etc. Another fine mess our county board has landed us in, and one which will surely divide the county again and cause bad feeling between clubs and officials. Why did they not just give each ground a N.F.L game each or give Letterkenny the 2 Mc Kenna Cup games and Ballyshannon the glamour game against Dublin and keep everyone happy. We now have a Full time administrator who is on 60k a year and since he was appointed he has F**ked up on numerous occasions and should be under pressure to perform or resign.

Joxer · February 03, 2009, 12:03:49 PM

Have Eunans "threatened" anything this time?

Place is facial to tell you the truth and they would fight and row over any wee thing!

armaghniac · February 03, 2009, 12:05:18 PM

Is it just a question of Buggin's turn. Does the availability of covered accommodation for supporters or reducing the distance people have to travel not have anything to do with it? To say nothing of the state of the pitch at this time of year.

ziggysego · February 03, 2009, 12:13:22 PM

Donal Og would know what to do.

RMDrive · February 03, 2009, 12:25:05 PM

Don't see what all the fuss is about. So clubs want to have high-profile national league games played at their grounds. Is anyone surprised by this or by the fact that they will try as hard as possible to get the game played there? Circumstances have dictated that some club(s) will be unhappy. It's going to a vote at the County board meeting and there will be a democratic decision on it. End of story. Donegal have plenty of problems however making a big deal over something like this is not going to help.

orangeman · February 03, 2009, 12:29:14 PM

Quote from: ziggysego on February 03, 2009, 12:13:22 PM
Donal Og would know what to do.

Leave him out of it - he's busy at the moment - and so are his deputies.

Hardy · February 03, 2009, 12:45:56 PM

Quote from: Donegal Danny on February 03, 2009, 11:57:49 AMWhy did they not just give ... Ballyshannon the glamour game against Dublin

Media hype works. Surely the glamour game is against All-Ireland champions and local rivals, Tyrone, who will also bring large numbers of supporters and not AIQF-defeated Dublin, whose few stragglers will fall by the wayside pubs before they get beyond Chapelizod, never mind Ballyshannon ?

Abble · February 03, 2009, 12:49:35 PM

Quoting a donegal boy at my work here (he isn't registered on the board yet)

Ballybofey is the best county ground for football / for watchin football we have - Letterkenny has come on in leaps and bounds too - but lets immediately rule Ballyshannon out of the equation here - unless they are prepared to make a serious effort in redeveloping their small squashed ground - and pulling down that joke of a stand - - Apart from being the coldest stand in Donegal with its concrete seating area it also has the worst match viewing position of any ground bar none - AND its not central - forget about Ballyshannon - lets get most of the games in Ballybofey it is the best ground for easy access to pre and post match refreshments - and I have no problem in watching a few games in Letterkenny - they have made a serious effort with their ground and deserve to be given the chance to see how they performing the task of hosting some County games

passedit · February 03, 2009, 12:56:18 PM

Quotebut lets immediately rule Ballyshannon out of the equation here - unless they are prepared to make a serious effort in redeveloping their small squashed ground - and pulling down that joke of a stand - - Apart from being the coldest stand in Donegal with its concrete seating area it also has the worst match viewing position of any ground bar none - AND its not central - forget about Ballyshannon

Your mate needs a lesson in how the GAA works.

QuoteHowever the fun starts now when you consider Tom Daly president of the Ulster COUNCIL is from Ballyshannon

Donegal Danny · February 03, 2009, 02:23:39 PM

BALLYBOFEY is the best ground in the County and rightly gets all the main games, but there is no comparison between Ballyshannon and Letterkenny. Ballyshannon is old and out dated and the pitch is very poor, also no stand worth talking about and as far away for most Donegal supports as possible, Letterkenny have a new all seater stand with 2,800 seats and a brilliant Prunty all weather pitch, with another one at the back of the stand to warm up on.

Hound · February 03, 2009, 03:24:48 PM

Quote from: Hardy on February 03, 2009, 12:45:56 PM
Quote from: Donegal Danny on February 03, 2009, 11:57:49 AMWhy did they not just give ... Ballyshannon the glamour game against Dublin

Media hype works. Surely the glamour game is against All-Ireland champions and local rivals, Tyrone, who will also bring large numbers of supporters and not AIQF-defeated Dublin, whose few stragglers will fall by the wayside pubs before they get beyond Chapelizod, never mind Ballyshannon ?

Betchya the Donegal v Dublin attendance beats the Donegal v Tyrone attendance.

And whatever about glamour there is no question the Dubs bring the most noise and most colour to wintery away league games.

Hardy · February 03, 2009, 04:33:30 PM

I'll give you most noise. Noise yiz are good at. No argument. Five of yiz would make enough noise for a small province. But most colour? It's basically one colour. OK - in two shades. Carlow bring the most colour.

muppet · February 03, 2009, 05:19:21 PM

Quote from: Hardy on February 03, 2009, 04:33:30 PM
I'll give you most noise. Noise yiz are good at. No argument. Five of yiz would make enough noise for a small province. But most colour? It's basically one colour. OK - in two shades. Carlow bring the most colour.

Colour can apply to language. In that case the Dubs have a point.

tyssam5 · February 03, 2009, 05:51:32 PM

Play the whole lot out of Tory. That will tighten up the visiting teams.

MacDanger · February 03, 2009, 05:58:42 PM

If they are two evening game, there might be a problem with getting them moved cos of TV?

Sounds like a balls though