In a strong interview delivered to the media in the aftermath of the Connacht semi-final win against Leitrim, Roscommon manager Kevin McStay said that in the event of the final being a Roscommon v Galway fixture he was adamant that his team would play at Dr Hyde Park and nowhere else.
“The Connacht final will be played at Hyde Park. I have no doubt about that. We will certainly be turning up in the Hyde and hopefully there will be someone else to meet us there on the day. We are being very, very absolute about that.
“Let’s see what happens next Sunday. If Sligo win it is their choice (of venue) but I’m sure they will come to Dr Hyde Park. It has a superb surface so the match will be in Dr Hyde Park which is terrific,” he said.
“Whether that puts the Connacht Council or the GAA at national level in a difficult position doesn’t bother me. I am the manager of the Roscommon senior football team and my responsibility is to the 34 players on the panel, to give them the best chance possible of retaining our Connacht title. My sense is that the game will be at home and as we know home advantage is a big thing in Gaelic football and for our own supporters and our own set-up,” he added.
The Roscommon manager was adamant that the matter was not up for debate and the bottom line is that Roscommon will play the Connacht final at Dr Hyde Park.
“The Roscommon senior football team will be in Dr Hyde Park on the 17th of June and whoever we are playing I hope they show up.
“People have backed themselves into positions that could have been avoided and there is fault on both sides.
“I would have a fantastic relationship with John Prenty (Connacht Council Secretary) over the years and I intend to keep that relationship going. My business is the Roscommon senior football team and the Roscommon GAA family. That’s who I have to stick up for and we would be insisting that there are lots of solutions to this problem and a solution will have to be found.
“The bottom line is that we are going to Dr Hyde Park on the 17th of June and nowhere else. Bar of course if Sligo bring us to Castlebar because it’s their choice if they win but I expect that reason will prevail. The Connacht Council don’t need the hassle, Roscommon GAA certainly don’t need it,” he said.
McStay added that it was time to level the playing field for so-called ‘weaker counties’.
“There is a narrative out there about weaker counties not getting a fair shake. We saw Wicklow didn’t get the Aughrim gig etc.
“Remember two years ago we had to give up home advantage for the Connacht U-21 final and play it in Sligo. Mayo beat us that day and went on to win the All-Ireland.
“We had to play a Connacht final replay in Castlebar (2016) with a very young team because we had no pitch at the time and we put our hands up at that stage. But that’s resolved now. You can’t keep pulling stuff out of the bag to knock us back”.
According to the manager, Roscommon’s players are backing his stance in terms of the Connacht final venue.
“I just met the players and they are delighted to be in their fourth Connacht final in three years. It’s a great achievement for a bunch of young lads.
“They are so excited about playing their first Connacht final at home and we had a long talk about this and we couldn’t have that chat until the Leitrim match was over – we had to give them full respect. We are 100% united that this Connacht final will be in Dr Hyde Park,” he concluded.
