U21 final would struggle to fill Croke Park

TOM COOPER (Letters, September 1) claims that the All-Ireland U21 hurling finals should be played in Croke Park rather than Semple Stadium. I believe this is a foolish idea and the main reason for that is crowds.

The Senior Hurling Championship this year has failed to fill Croke Park on any occasion and the U21 campaign is on a much lower level.

Even the U21 final would fail to fill Croke Park. The stadium would seem empty and there would be an almost eerie atmosphere in the ground. This would take away from the game as a spectacle and would severely lessen the enjoyment of the game for those in attendance. If the GAA is the heart of our communities, as Mr Cooper says, then why can’t finals be played in stadiums all over the country rather than just Croke Park?

Croke Park is the pinnacle of GAA grounds in Ireland, of course, but should be reserved for the big games exclusively. This gives young players, like the U21s, the incentive to strive for the top to have their day in Croker in front of a full house.

Justin Kelly

Edenderry

Co Offaly