Double-header to hand €650k windfall to Cavan County Board and businesses

The double-header in Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday June 25 will be worth an estimated €65,000 to the Cavan County Board, The Anglo-Celt can reveal, as well as bringing in what the Cavan Chamber of Commerce estimate at €600,000 to local businesses. Louth and Meath will meet at 7pm following the local derby between Cavan and Longford on Saturday week at 5pm - a double-header which is expected to draw a crowd of at least 20,000 spectators. Cavan will receive 15% of the gate as well as a one-off fee of €20,000 from television rights. "I welcome the decision of the national CCC to give us the game," stated county board chairman Tom Reilly yesterday (Tuesday), who also highlighted the help of the Ulster Council in securing the fixture and on match days. "It is a great opportunity for us to promote the town, the county and the venue. The way that Kingspan Breffni Park is managed and stewarded on match days and the record in crowd control are very important," he said. While a report in yesterday's Irish Independent suggested that Louth were unhappy with the choice of venue, Cavan seemed the most logical choice. Our Lady of Lourdes Park, Drogheda only holds 4,500 fans, while Páirc Tailteann, Navan - usually Louth's second home - was ruled out for obvious reasons. It is understood that Louth officials may have favoured Parnell Park in Dublin but this was also ruled out to a lack of capacity - the northside venue can cater for just 11,000 fans. Jim Burke, president of the Cavan Chamber, stated that he was expecting a windfall of €600,000 or more for local businesses. "I would congratulate the county board on getting the match and for having Breffni Park in such outstanding condition, it's a credit to them," said Mr Burke. "It's great news for Cavan town, it's brilliant for all of the businesses. We put up signs in co-operation with the Garda to encourage people to attend last Saturday's game and the town council facilitated us by opening the multi-storey car park, which we would hope to do again. Huge credit must go to the board and we are appreciative of their efforts." Board rejects criticism of ticket prices - Page 23