Friday night’s Premier Division clash between Galway United and Dundalk has been moved to Munster FA Turner’s Cross in Cork.
With Galway United’s regular home of Eamonn Deacy Park to undergo drainage works over the next two months, Galway GAA had agreed to allow them to use Pearse Stadium in Salthill across June and July, a decision which was subsequently rubber-stamped by Croke Park.
However, with the Galway footballers due to host Westmeath in a Round 2A clash in the All-Ireland football championship this weekend, the Salthill venue was off the table for Friday.
No other stadium within the county was either available or suitable under FAI licencing rules around minimum seating and other regulations.
The chance to reverse the fixture was ruled out as Dundalk will host centenary celebrations on the date of their planned home fixture with the Tribesmen. In the end a decision was taken to relocte the match to Cork.
In a statement, United said they felt “forced” into moving the game over 200 kilometres from their home after failing to reach an agreement with the FAI and Dundalk.
The Tribesmen said: “The club did everything in our power to ensure that the game took place in Galway, including presenting multiple different options of venue and date changes.
“All of these options were rejected. We did not reach the decision to play the game in Cork lightly. We were forced into the decision.
“We’d like to sincerely apologise to any of our supporters affected by the venue change.”
United said all season tickets will be valid and the club are running subsidised buses for supporters.
Pearse Stadium will host Galway United’s subsequent three home fixtures, starting with Derry City on 19 June, and then further home games against Sligo Rovers on 11 July and Waterford FC on 25 July.
Galway United had previously played European ties at GAA grounds, hosting Dutch side Groningen in the UEFA Cup at Páirc an Cháthánaigh in Carraroe in 1986 and Odense of Denmark in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Ballinderreen in 1991.