Tyrone-Dublin Double Header Makes Sense for All Concerned

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association are working tirelessly behind the scenes with the GAA to co-ordinate what would be a fantastic double header in Croke Park on Saturday, August 27.

Currently, Dublin take on Tyrone in the Bank Of Ireland football quarter final replay in Croke Park in front of what will surely be a full house. The next day, the Dublin ladies team, managed by the 1995 All-Ireland winning captain John O’Leary, take on Tyrone in Breffni Park in the TG4 All-Ireland ladies football quarterfinal.
It would be a dream come true for the ladies footballers of Tyrone and Dublin to play as part of a double header in front of a packed Croke Park and a perfect chance to show off what should be a free flowing game between two excellent teams.
Angie McNally, the former Irish soccer and basketball international who has starred for Dublin ladies footballers for so long, voiced the support of the Dublin players for such a move. “Having the ladies game on before the men would do the profile of our games so much good. We work so hard and the only chance we get to show off our skills is on All-Ireland final day if you are lucky enough to get that far. This is a great opportunity that should not be missed. It would be a dream come true for the Dublin girls to play in front of a packed Hill16,” she said.
Moreover, having a curtain raiser game should suit the authorities, who delayed the throw in of the original Dublin-Tyrone game by 15 minutes to accommodate the late arrival of fans. Having an attractive game on before the replay, would hopefully make people arrive earlier for the eagerly anticipated replay and avoid similar delays.
John McAleer, the Tyrone manager echoes the sentiments of Angie McNally and on behalf of his Tyrone players said: “It would be great for the Tyrone girls to play on such a stage and we are all behind this move. I don’t think Tyrone ladies have been to Croke Park in over five years and it just makes so much sense for the fans and it would be such a boost to promoting ladies football.”
It is understood that the Ladies Association are more than willing to wave all gate receipts in return for the profile this will bring and a double header of this nature would be a massive boost to the integration process, which GAA President Sean Kelly is a known advocate.
There are also several family ties and connections between both sets of squads. Anne Dooher is a sister of Tyrone captain Brian Dooher, Avril Cluxton is a sister of Dublin goalkeeper Steven Cluxton, Eilish Gormley works in the same school as Peter Canavan and Ryan McMenamin’s girlfriend Maura Kelly also plays for the Tyrone ladies.

It just makes so much sense for all concerned to have the Ladies game on before the men. Hopefully common sense will prevail.