"We will not play this game in Croke Park"- Kildare GAA make their stand against Croke Park

The Kildare County Board have taken their stance against the GAA's farcical decision to try and force the county's senior footballers into playing a home qualifier game in Croke Park.

Kildare were drawn against Mayo in round three of the All-Ireland qualifiers on Monday morning, and seeing as they were the first name out of the hat they were entitled to home advantage. Fixtures were then released by Croke Park that showed the game would not be taking place in Newbridge, instead being pencilled in for GAA headquarters in Dublin as part of a doubleheader with Cavan v Tyrone.

The move drew the ire of most GAA followers around the country, even when acknowledging that St Conleth's Park will struggle to cater for the regular huge following of Mayo supporters.

Kildare GAA have released a statement this evening however, insisting that they will not play the game in Croke Park under any circumstances.

The lengthy statement can be read below, but the highlight to take from it is the following;

"We can cater for the fixture St Conleth’s Park and it will not cause undue congestion in Newbridge.

"As the management committee of Kildare GAA, we have a responsibility to our team management, players, supporters, sponsors, businesses and every stakeholder in Kildare GAA to insist that we be allowed fulfil the home fixture we are entitled to.

"And we are making it clear that we will not play this game in Croke Park. St Conleth’s Park is perfectly capable of hosting the tie on an all-ticket basis, Newbridge is perfectly capable of dealing with the number of supporters that will attend."

The GAA have not yet responded to Kildare GAA's statement.