Croke Park conundrum for Dublin footballers

Whatever about the question surrounding the Dublin men's team playing in Croke Park, it is an even thornier issue for their female counterparts.

Dessie Farrell’s side opened their Leinster campaign in Wexford Park, but the majority of their games take place at GAA HQ, something many observers feel is an unfair advantage.

That is a topic for another day, but their most recent outing, a Leinster final against Kildare was preceded by the women’s decider between the Dubs and Meath, a historic first with two provincial finals sharing the venue for the first time.

Dublin manager Mick Bohan admitted he had "mixed views" on the decision, balancing the need to grow the sport and look for parity, tempered with the struggle to fill seats in an 82,000 venue.

Speaking at the launch of AIG’s new For Times Like These campaign, goalkeeper Ciara Trant said that she reluctantly agreed with her manager.

It's kind of selfish to say you don't want the match to be played in Croke Park

After two cracking encounters between Dublin and Meath earlier in the year in Parnell Park and Tailteann Park with a win apiece, the sparse crowd didn’t lend itself to a similar atmosphere.

"It's kind of selfish to say you don't want the match to be played in Croke Park because there's a lot of men and women who would love to play a match in Croke Park, even if it was empty," she said.

"I think, just based on the crowds we had in Parnell Park, and in Navan this year, that atmosphere wasn't replicated in Croke Park for the Leinster final, which was a shame.

"Obviously, Croke Park is where you want to play.

"I'm on the same page with Mick on that. I don't think the timing of matches should be sacrificed for it to be played in a certain venue, or on TV at a certain time.

"I