Croke Park braced for bumper crowds

MORE than 100,000 people will flock to Croke Park for the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals this weekend.

The Paddy Power hurleys might have been cast aside for the do-or-die encounters but there will be passion aplenty. Cork take on Wexford today in the replay of the first semi-final and champions Kilkenny face Tipperary tomorrow.

Some 2,200 people will travel on six trains from Cork today for this afternoon’s replay.

“We are completely sold out. The special train that we put on for the game was sold in just 50 minutes,” Irish Rail spokesperson Andrew Roche said.

GAA bosses are hoping for bumper crowds after 60,000 turned up for last Sunday’s Cork-Wexford thriller. A spokesperson said: “The Saturday game might be a little down but we’re hoping the Tipperary and Kilkenny clash will hit the 60,000 mark.”

Tickets for the today’s game are priced at €35 but children accompanied by an adult can get in for €5.

Attendances for semi-finals have soared in recent years after only 34,000 watched the Galway and Kilkenny game in 2001.

“It’s all down to the qualifiers because you have a team like Wexford that were beaten in the Leinster Final on a roll now. That adds to the excitement,” a Croke Park official said.

And one group of Tipperary fans is leading a drive to give their hurling team top support against Kilkenny tomorrow. The 50 diehard premier county fans, who call themselves The Blue and Gold Ultras, have clubbed together and purchased a massive 50-foot by 25-foot jersey.

The Ultras - led by Eamonn MacCormaic from Killenaule, Willie Dunne from Gortnahoe, Enda O’Sullivan from Nenagh and Brian Corrigan from Newport - aim to bring an “electric atmosphere” to the semi-final. They will bring their massive jersey-flag to all of Tipperary’s hurling clashes to ensure the team gets support from the terraces.

“We want to improve the atmosphere behind the team and we are willing to do everything we can to do that,” Enda O’Sullivan said.

Meanwhile, Ireland rugby captain Keith Wood returns for the first time in almost a year for today’s Test against Wales at Lansdowne Road.