Sport Ireland confirm athletic demands meant they could not offer denied League of Ireland applicants Dublin County regular use of Morton Stadium

Sport Ireland have cited an increased demand for services as to why they could not offer a permanent venue for Dublin County at Morton Stadium.

Dublin County say they were denied entry to the League of Ireland as a result of their inability to guarantee a stadium.

Morton Stadium – which is operated by Sport Ireland Facilities DAC – agreed to rent Morton Stadium to Irish Sea FC, later renamed to Dublin County, subject to availability. 

“Sport Ireland Facilities DAC has experienced a significant increase in demand, and as a result Morton Stadium, which is primarily an athletics facility, is no longer available on the regular basis required for home matches of a soccer team,” the sports body told Extratime.com.

Sport Ireland said that these increased demands are due to a combination of Covid-19 and requirements for the Olympic Games. 

This follows claims made by Dublin County on Twitter this afternoon which suggested that a contract was signed between the two parties which allowed the club to use the ground this season. 

Sport Ireland, however, stated that there was no permanent contract between the two parties and it was an agreement subject to availability. 

Dublin County have been contacted for comment. 

Sport Ireland statement in full:

Morton Stadium is operated by Sport Ireland Facilities DAC. Sport Ireland Facilities DAC agreed, subject to availability, to rent Morton Stadium to Irish Sea FC (now renamed Dublin County FC).  

Since correspondence in December of last year, Sport Ireland Facilities DAC has experienced a significant increase in demand, and as a result Morton Stadium, which is primarily an athletics facility, is no longer available on the regular basis required for home matches of a soccer team. 

The increased demand for the Athletics Stadium is due to a combination of COVID-19 and training requirements for the Olympic Games.