Could league finals be an own goal for GAA?

Some supporters believe that the games should have been split and played in neutral grounds.

An Armagh v Down derby staged at Casement park could have made a lot financial sense considering that when Armagh played Tyrone at the Belfast venue in 2006, over 20,000 fans showed up to what was a lowly McKenna Cup semi-final.

With Dublin absent from the NFL finals day, Croke Park already stand to lose somewhere close to a quarter of a million Euro and it would be difficult to see Mayo or Cork, who contest the Premier final, bringing anymore than five or six thousand supporters each.

Although Armagh boss Paddy O’Rourke would stress that competitive games are required before the provincial opener against Derry at Celtic Park next month, the modern day supporter has increasingly began to adopt an ‘a-la-carte’ approach to games considering the rising price of both fuel and match tickets.

The league system is somewhat unusual also, considering the fact that both Armagh and Down already promoted to the top flight for next season.

It seems that the final games on Sunday are more to do with increasing revenue than sorting out league matters. The idea could backfire, however, if supporters opt to stay at home and watch the games on television.

With club matches being fixed for this Friday and Saturday night, Paddy O’Rourke will be keeping his fingers crossed regarding injuries to those players who are given the green light to play.

Ronan Clarke may be given more game time to speed his recovery from injury and Brian Mallon’s endeavour could see the Tr na ng man given a start against the Mourne County.

When the sides met in Newry last month, Down ran out as comfortable winners on what was a poor night for Armagh who finished the game with just 14 men. The new Orchard boss will not be talking up too many ‘revenge’ theories. Armagh will need to keep their feet on the ground following what was a comfortable, yet hollow victory over Donegal last time out.

As a county unit, Donegal were perhaps more worried about their U21 side’s advancement to the All-Ireland final than securing a mere ‘day out’ in Dublin.

This Sunday’s derby game should be a close affair and it would be highly unlikely that things will go as badly this time out against their neighbours as on the previous occasion. The Orchard’s experience in Croke Park may just see them lift the trophy.