Carroll defends decision to host Mayo v Donegal game in the Hyde

The chairperson of the CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) Brian Carroll has responded to Donegal manager’s Jim McGuinness’ assertion that King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park was an unsuitable venue for his side’s big championship game against Mayo on Sunday.

Even though his side prevailed by a point, McGuinness was highly critical of the decision to hold the game at the home of Roscommon GAA, stating that it was the “equivalent of bringing Mayo to Omagh”.

"Everybody else had a fair shake this weekend. You're 38 minutes from Mayo's training ground. We're three and a half hours from Inishowen. It's not fair,” he told reporters after the game.

However, speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Monday where he helped conduct the draw for the All-Ireland SFC Preliminary Quarter-Finals and Tailteann Cup Semi-Finals, Mr Carroll, who is also the chairperson of Roscommon GAA, highlighted that alternative venues weren’t available.

"When  we sit down to put these fixtures together, there are a lot of situations that have to be taken into consideration," he highlighted.

"In the case of Donegal and Mayo, the obvious venue for us was Sligo. Unfortunately, Sligo wasn't available because the pitch is being repaired, so the ground wasn't available.

" Kingspan Breffni wasn't available — Cavan were playing at the same time. Clones wasn't available because Monaghan were playing two hours earlier in the day and Omagh wasn’t available because Tyrone were playing at the same time.

"So our feeling was that the most logical venue for both of these counties was King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park."

"In fairness,  I think both counties were looked after well and got a good welcome, and I'd say most people are fairly happy this morning,” he said.

The game brought nearly 19,000 supporters into Roscommon Town on Sunday, generating a huge boost for the local economy.