A bumper crowd of 13,754 at the Box-It Athletic Grounds doesn’t justify the decision not to play Sunday’s All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Final at Croke Park.
That was the view of both Derry manager Damian McErlain and his Monaghan counterpart Dermot Malone following the all-Ulster showdown in Armagh City on Sunday evening.
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It is the second year in succession that the Minor decider has been held at a provincial ground with Dr Hyde Park hosting last season’s all-Connacht final with Galway beating Mayo by six points.
The last All-Ireland minor final at Croker was Meath’s 2021 win over Tyrone while Kerry won the 2020 title in July 2021 with a victory over Derry in the final at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.
Derry boss McErlain stressed that not all minors go on to play senior inter-county football, a sentiment echoed by Monaghan manager Malone.
“It was a brilliant occasion and a super atmosphere and great venue - there are people who make the decisions think that vindicates that,” stated McErlain.
“There are boys in these squads who won’t get to play in Croke Park. They just won’t and they deserve the opportunity to play there. Nobody has ever sat down and explained the reason why.”
Malone added: “It is hard to know, there are pros and cons, but I would have preferred if it was played in Croke Park to give all those young lads their day out.
“It is the same with Derry and Monaghan - only a handful of these boys may go on and play for Monaghan (seniors). They might never get the chance to play in Croke Park. I do think it is something the GAA needs to look at next year.
“It would have been easy to play it yesterday before the hurling (Limerick and Galway)."
Malone also feels the GAA needs to allow all the players involved with the minor squads to be named in the match day programme.
“I think another thing the GAA needs to look at - they are naming a panel of 24 for these games,” said Malone.
“It is really harsh, both teams have a panel of 35 players and there’s 10 or 11 lads who are absolutely devastated, in tears, at not making the match-day programme.
“They should make that small tweak, still have 24 players, but allow all players to be named in the programme.”
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