A look at a variety of interesting aspects of the championship journey.
Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to building stadiums
SO THE Munster Council have decided Thurles will host the provincial hurling final should Waterford defeat Clare this afternoon.
A Cork-Waterford decider would certainly bring the spectators. And Semple is the perfect venue (with the drive from the Jack Lynch to the Horse and Jockey now less than one hour).
But there is another ground in Munster, the GAA’s third largest stadium – and with the same capacity as the new Aviva Stadium – that has apparently, once again, stayed completely off the radar. Not only have the best hurlers deserted Limerick, but GAA matches have gone AWOL from the county as well. Even the GAA’s plan to hold an International Rules match at the 50,000-capacity stadium hardly shields the ground’s embarrassment.
It seems the very first question any county board asks when funds are gathered to put into a stadium is: How many more seats can we put in? But there are some wonderful stadiums in the world that have not gone by the GAA motto of “bigger is better”, but “better is better”.
Take, for example, Finnair Stadium in Helsinki. A capacity of just 11,000, it is fully covered, fully seated, and – wait for it – the main stand is heated. Imagine that. Heated! Spectators actually comfortable at a match.
But then, the GAA would rather have 10,000 spectators in a 50,000-capacity stadium, than 10,000 spectators in a much more comfortable 20,000-capacity stadium.
Tipperary to meet Wexford in qualifier
DESPITE THE GAA last week insisting the qualifier draw for the first round of the hurling championship would take place alongside the football equivalent on June 13th, the draw was, in fact, made after the Kerry-Cork game in Killarney yesterday evening.
In the preliminary game, scheduled for June 26th, Carlow will host Laois, with the winner travelling to meet Antrim the following weekend. Also on July 3rd, in the tie of the round, Tipperary will host Wexford, with the loser free to concentrate on club hurling for the rest of the long, and hopefully hot, summer.
Divided loyalties for Fitzgerald
IT’S THE weekend of facing former comrades.
In Markievicz Park, Alan Costello greeted the Mayo players as if they had sent him a ‘You’ll Never Make It As A Footballer’ card when he last left the county’s dressingroom and crossed the border into Sligo a few years ago.
Ronan McGarrity must have bought the card, as the two tangled several times on a wonderful evening for the home supporters.
Of course, Costello isn’t the first to transfer from Mayo. Sure the great John Nallen played for four counties – including Galway – during the 1950s and ’60s. And, to be fair, Balla native Costello only agreed to don the black and white when it was clear Mayo wouldn’t be calling again any time soon.
This evening a manager will plot to defeat the side he spent many years playing with. Nothing new there – Eamonn Cregan even led Offaly to All-Ireland glory against his native Limerick.
But this is different. Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald is . . . well . . . Mr Clare.
“It’s the first time in 20 years I can recall not looking forward to being involved in the Munster championship,” said Davy.
In fact, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if, just before the throw-in, he takes off the Bainisteoir jersey, jostles Donal Touhy out of the way, and stands between the posts for his native county.
The absolute least we’re expecting is for Fitzgerald to forget himself and celebrate a Clare score at some stage this afternoon.
Quote of the Weekend
"I think we're getting a bit of cream, we had sour milk in some of the others"
- Martin Carney on the difference between yesterday's Ulster tie and the previous three.
If I knew then................
Kildare were favourites to beat Louth. Mayo were fancied to overcome Sligo and even Armagh (surprisingly) were odds on to get past Monaghan. A €10 bet on Louth, Sligo and Monaghan - along with Cork and Kerry to end all square - would have yielded over €3,000!
