Moving Antrim-Armagh to Newry 'very short-sighted'
Former Antrim captain Paddy Cunningham says the Ulster Council's decision to switch the Saffrons' Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final against Armagh to Pairc Esler is "very short-sighted and misguided".After a meeting of the Ulster Competitions Control Committee (CCC) on Thursday, Ulster GAA said they "sympathised with Antrim GAA's situation" but that the county must move the last-eight tie from Corrigan Park to Newry in order to accommodate the anticipated crowd for the visit of the All-Ireland champions.In response, Antrim GAA have said they "still expect" to stage the game at home, reiterating that it is their "right" to play the game in west Belfast.At a CCC meeting in February, Corrigan Park was the only venue put forward for the match by Antrim GAA delegates and Saffrons panellist Paddy McBride previously told BBC Sport NI that if the game was not held there, the county would "probably not play it"."This has really galvanised the players and I would urgently advise them [the Ulster Council] to reconsider," Cunningham told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster."Antrim were drawn out of the hat first. The Ulster GAA Championship is sacred. Every team wants to play at home. "It's already going to be a mammoth task for Antrim to get a result against the current All-Ireland champions so every advantage is required for Antrim. Obviously playing at home in front of their own supporters is huge."
'Bigger project is Casement Park'
Cunningham added that "the only positive" to come out of the seeming impasse over the venue for the last-eight tie "is that it probably highlights the need for Casement to get off the ground"."This is probably the last straw for Antrim GAA. We've been forgotten about for the past decade and we've had no home. Corrigan has been very kind to us but it is a stop-gap for the bigger project which is Casement Park."Cunningham perceives widespread support for Antrim's stance from across the GAA."There has been support from Gaels not only within Antrim, but across Ulster and across Ireland, and even within Armagh. The only people who seem to be against this is the Ulster Council. "I think the GAA as a whole is solely behind the Antrim players and the Antrim county board. They will need to take stock of this and do the right thing."I feel sorry for Armagh as much as I feel sorry for Antrim given that they are trying to prepare for an Ulster Championship game 35 days away and it's completely up in the air whether this game will take place. It's a very difficult position to put Armagh in too."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Nathan Collins happy to see Ireland carry momentum into World Cup qualifying
Nathan Collins is relishing the prospect of heading into the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualification campaign with momentum despite surviving a scare in Luxembourg. Heimir Hallgrimsson's men brought down the curtain on their season's fixtures with a disappointing 0-0 friendly draw with the nation ranked 91st by FIFA on Tuesday evening, in the process extending their modest unbeaten run to four games. They will have to be significantly better if they are to emerge from September's opening qualifiers against Hungary in Dublin and Armenia in Yerevan with positive results, but the fact that they will set out having lost just once in six games is a huge plus for Brentford defender Collins. He said: 'When we come back in September we're going in with great momentum. We haven't lost. 'We know there are more things to work on, we know there are things we can get better at, but at the end of the day, going in unbeaten in the last four, going into a qualifier, I've never experienced that myself. It will be a nice feeling.' Asked how big the Hungary game will be, Collins added: 'I can't wait for it. The fans will be at it. What we've created, the bond with the fans, is great. 'I'm looking forward to be back at the Aviva, hunger straight off the bat. We've a massive game.' That said Collins, who captained Ireland at the Stade de Luxembourg, knows they are slightly fortunate to have preserved their unbeaten run after a difficult evening, somewhat unexpectedly so after Friday night's encouraging display in a 1-1 draw with Senegal at the Aviva Stadium. Had it not been for Bristol City keeper Max O'Leary, who made vital saves from Danel Sinani and substitute Vincent Thill on his senior international debut six years after his first call-up, Hallgrimsson's men might have lost. They might have won too with both Collins and substitute Jack Taylor hitting the woodwork, but that would perhaps have been unjust. Collins admitted: 'We're lucky that it still carries momentum. The way we played, we could have lost that. We didn't deserve to win, but to sit in and defend the way we did, we didn't deserve to lose. 'Credit to Max O'Leary, he's been in the camp a long time and not got his caps, but he made two great saves. (Matt Doherty) got a tackle in and (Jason Knight) was class in front (of the back four). 'We weren't at our best, but we defended well, dug in and had our chances. We wanted to be not as passive and wanted to get after them more, but we weren't at that. 'Considering how we were nowhere near our best, we still dug out a clean sheet. But we all know that was nowhere near our best and we have so much more to give.'
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Casement Park: Euro 2028, millions of pounds and a 14-year saga
Could Casement Park's 14-year stadium saga finally be about to see some good news?The west Belfast site has been earmarked for a state-of-the-art new stadium since 2011 and was even included as a host stadium for when the UK and Ireland host Euro constant delays, legal issues and rows over funding meant the Euro 2028 dream withered while weeds continued to overtake the traditional home of Gaelic games in with the UK government potentially set to announce some new funding as part of its spending review, we take a look back on Northern Ireland's stadium soap opera - and what needs to happen for Casement to come to pass. Where is Casement Park? In west Belfast, just a stone's throw from the busy M1 motorway heading south out of the city, is where Euro 2028, one of the world's biggest sporting tournaments, was supposed to be hosted in Northern first opened in 1953 as a stadium for Gaelic games, and has been the home of Antrim GAA since its inception. The official capacity was just more than 31,000, although three-quarters of the ground was there have been no visitors to Casement in more than a decade and, for years, any passing motorists able to crane their neck into the ground would only see a derelict work did begin at the site in February 2024 in anticipation of the stadium's construction for Euro 2028 - but the long-running row over who pays for it put paid to Northern Ireland's hosting hopes. What happened to Casement Park and Euro 2028? Short answer - nothing. And it's because of have been plans to build a new stadium at Casement Park since 2011, long before Euro that stadium was to cost about £76m, with £61m coming from Northern Ireland's power-sharing government and £15m from the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).But those plans got bogged down in a morass of legal rows, safety concerns and planning permission was rekindled in October 2023 when Casement Park was included as a host venue as part of the UK and Ireland's successful bid to host Euro 2028. However, Uefa tournament specifications, which would turn the GAA ground into an all-seater stadium suitable for Euro 2028, meant construction estimates spiralled - at least £300m, and possibly more than £400m according to the UK government (an estimate the GAA said was "wildly exaggerated"). It would also have to be ready by summer 2027 - a tight turnaround, although not impossible if the hefty bill could be cash-strapped Northern Ireland Executive said it would pay no more than £62.5m and the GAA similarly would not go beyond £ the Irish government promising €50m (£43m), it was all down to whether the new Labour government was willing to make up the October, judgement was delivered - the UK government would not meet the shortfall and Casement Park would not be built for Euro 2028. Northern Ireland would not host matches as part of the UK and Ireland tournament. Why didn't they play Euro 2028 at another Northern Ireland stadium? Uefa requires that all European Championship stadia have a capacity exceeding 30, National Stadium at Windsor Park - Northern Ireland's footballing home - holds 18,500 Irish Football Association (IFA) said there was "no route to fund an expansion" of the ground, despite it being the preference of some Northern Ireland football fans. When it came to Euro 2028 in Northern Ireland, it was Casement or bust. What now for Casement and who's paying for it? Euro 2028 may be gone, but Casement could live as per its original vision - a state-of-the-art ground that could become the home of Antrim GAA and the host for Ulster finals, major events and concerts.A reduction in capacity and no requirement to meet Uefa tournament standards means estimated costs have fallen to about £250m-£ that is still a hefty wedge and the standoff over who will pay has continued, with a little friction at January, minutes emerged of a "fraught and tetchy" meeting between the GAA and the Northern Ireland minister responsible for sport, Gordon GAA has acknowledged it will increase its financial commitment to the project and said it was cautiously optimistic ahead of the UK government's spending review. What is the story behind the Casement Park delay? To answer that question, we have to go back a couple of that time, Northern Ireland's three main stadiums for football, rugby and GAA - Windsor Park, Ravenhill, and Casement - were seen as increasingly not fit for and a new plan was needed. Initially, Northern Ireland's power-sharing government - the Northern Ireland Executive - came up with an idea for a new, multi-purpose national stadium for all sports. But the divisive proposal of situating the stadium at the site of the Maze Prison - which held paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles, Northern Ireland's bloody conflict of 30 years - meant the idea was eventually dashed on the political instead, in 2011, it was decided that cash would go towards stadium redevelopment:Windsor Park, the home of Northern Ireland's international football team and Linfield FC, would get £25m to build a 18,500 all-seater stadium - it reopened in October 2016Ravenhill, the home of Ulster Rugby, was redeveloped and capacity increased to 18,000 at a cost of £16.5m - work finished in May 2014About £36m would be set aside for sub-regional football stadia aka grounds used by local football clubAnd Casement Park would get £61m - the same amount as football in total - for a new 38,000 capacity stadiumWhile Ravenhill and Windsor - or the National Stadium as it is now officially known - are open and hosting big events, Casement Park has only seen a digger or two. Why has the Casement Park redevelopment taken so long? In 2012, stadium designers were appointed to the project and it was expected the new Casement Park would be built by 2015. But it did not turn out that first big obstacle came in 2014, when the High Court overturned planning permission for the residents had lodged a legal challenge over objections to the stadium's size - they said it would block out light from homes and cause serious traffic in 2015, came possibly the most contentious year of the Casement Park it emerged that a Safety Technical Group (STG) formed to oversee safety issues around the new stadium had not approved the design plans due to concerns over how long it would take people to leave the ground in an one of the STG members, safety expert Paul Scott, told a Northern Ireland Assembly committee that he had been put "under pressure" to approve the plans by government also complained of bullying - he later settled an industrial tribunal case with Sport NI. With the original Casement plan now scrapped, the GAA went to work on plans for a new stadium, revising the capacity down from 38,000 to about 34, submitted a fresh application for planning permission in 2017, which was granted in in 2022, local residents lost a legal challenge against the new project against the plan - the stadium could now go ahead. What else do we need to know about Casement Park? Well, as ever, if Casement Park does get extra money from government, you can be sure other sports will be asking why they cannot get the same years there has been frustration among local football fans over stadium money of a different kind - when cash was announced for Casement, Windsor Park and Ravenhill more than a decade ago, £36m was set aside for what were described as sub-regional football football league grounds in Northern Ireland are in dire need of redevelopment. But that fund only opened for applications at the start of this year, after delays caused by years of political instability. No money has been distributed yet. As the original stadium plan put Gaelic games and football on an equal funding basis, it is likely football authorities will be asking questions should the government offer extra cash for issue is also further complicated by how sport and politics intertwine in Northern and the GAA have long had an uneasy, distrustful relationship. One of the GAA's own stated goals - "the strengthening of national identity in a 32-county Ireland through the preservation and promotion of Gaelic games and pastimes" as per the organisation's official guide - puts it and unionism in political Park itself is in predominantly nationalist west Belfast and named after after Sir Roger Casement, an Irish revolutionary who, in 1916, was executed in London for treason. However, DUP minister Gordon Lyons attended his first GAA match last month in a move seen as highly symbolic given its timing close to the UK government's spending optimism may be most keenly felt by the stadium's long-term tenant, Antrim GAA, who have essentially been left without a fit-for-purpose home ground thanks to its dereliction. So what next for Casement Park? The short answer - get the money, get the stadium built and file the Casement saga into long answer? It remains to be seen how much the UK government, GAA or any other source will put on the table to pay for the stadium - and with a shortfall of about £150m, it will require some serious largesse. However, there is no doubting the political will of the GAA, supported by Northern Ireland's biggest political party Sinn Féin, to get Casement built. A gesture today from the UK government could bring things a step closer to reality.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Ireland aim to 'turn big results into series wins'
Ireland assistant coach Gary Wilson says the team are aiming to turn big one-off wins into series successes as they prepare to face the West Indies in three T20 internationals at teams drew their ODI series in May, with Ireland winning the first match, the second ending in a draw after a lengthy rain delay and the tourists running out convincing winners in the third Irish side has won three and lost three of their previous T20Is against the West Indies and triumphed by nine wickets in the last meeting between the sides in the T20 format in a World Cup encounter in Hobart in also secured a shock nine-wicket win on the last occasion the West Indies visited the north west, after bowling their opponents out for just 25 runs at Sion Mills back in 1969."We have had a decent record against the West Indies over the past number of years and it's a great place to play cricket here. The locals really get behind it. It's a hotbed of Irish cricket," observed Wilson."Obviously we know how good they are in this form of cricket - it's definitely the format they feel most comfortable in but we're looking forward to the challenge and hopefully the weather plays ball."We've shown a big ability to get big results, especially on the global stage over the last number of years, now we're looking to put that into series wins rather than one-off games."The T20 games take place on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. 'We'll get after it' - Adair West Indies lost all three of their T20Is against England in recent days, but returning pace bowler Mark Adair knows they will be formidable returns to the squad after missing the ODI series through injury but Craig Young, Curtis Campher and Gareth Delany have been ruled out."They're one of the best teams in the world in my opinion. I think they've got some of the most exciting cricketers and are one of the most entertaining teams to watch," observed Adair."This is a fresh challenge and we'll get after it. Hopefully we can do the business.""The aspiration is to win the series. I think we match up pretty well and I'm looking forward to getting back out there."In addition to Adair's return, Tim Tector, younger brother of experienced batter Harry, comes into the squad for the triple header, along with Stephen Doheny and spin bowler Gavin Hoey."Mark is a big player for us and has been for the past 24 months, if not longer," said assistant coach Wilson. "He's plying his trade around the world now and it's great that he's getting that recognition because he has put in some match-winning performances for us."Tim is here on merit and he's shown over a period of time in interpro cricket that he's got good run-scoring ability in this form of the game and I'm sure he's looking forward to the opportunity."
