Kilkenny and Wexford set for championship venue deal
Preliminary discussions have taken place with a view to the counties entering a home-and-away arrangement which would be willingly facilitated by the Leinster Council. Pending an outcome, the venue for the semi-final game has been left open.
With the Leinster executive having taken a decision to play fewer games in Croke Park next year because of the high costs involved, it’s clear that a full house in either Nowlan Park (30,000) or Wexford Park (25,000) would be an attractive proposition. It would also be guaranteed to produce the biggest gate of the competition.
Privately, the officers concede that the final - which everybody expects Kilkenny to be involved in - is unlikely to be an attractive fixture unless, for instance, Offaly were to make a big impression in the League.!
Kilkenny Chairman Ned Quinn yesterday indicated that they hadn’t had a direct approach from the Wexford Board, but that they were aware that the idea of an agreement had been floated. “We know the Wexford view that they’ll never get a major game unless they do enter a home and away, but no official in Wexford has made any approach to us,’’ he said.
Asked if Kilkenny would be interested in such an arrangement, Mr Quinn said that they “would obviously look at it.” In general, he said that they would welcome any big games in their redeveloped stadium, with capacity having been increased to a little over 30,000 this year. And, it’s hoped to carry out further work at the car-park end of the ground which would raise it by up to 7,000.
“Obviously, if Kilkenny and Wexford were going well, you’d be concerned about a 30,000 capacity, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens in that regard. We’re anxious to have big games in Nowlan Park.’’
Interestingly, Wexford Secretary Mick Kinsella revealed that the possibility of an agreement had been mentioned to him by the Leinster Chairman, Nicky Brennan. And, they would be very favourable towards the idea. “I told Nicky that we’d have no difficulty,’’ he said.
“We have an open mind on it. We’d be prepared to toss for home or away and there’d be no problem going to Kilkenny even.
“We haven’t had any part in the League which we were due by right. Since the new Wexford Park opened we have got nothing, except what we were due.
“Over and above the ordinary, we got three (football) qualifier games, against Westmeath, Tyrone and Derry - all because we had been drawn against ‘strong’ counties. As regards hurling, they don’t even look at us.’’
What it amounts to is that the biggest fixture hosted in Wexford Park since the redevelopment was the 2002 Leinster Under-21 final against Kilkenny. And that was the result of a home-and-away arrangement. “We also have an agreement with Kilkenny covering the intermediate championship. They’d be no problem extending it to senior,’’ added Mr Kinsella.
He believes that irrespective of League form, any championship meeting with Kilkenny will always be attractive to Wexford supporters. “League form aside, the support for Wexford in the championship is huge. I’m sure that the Leinster Council ‘gasped’ when we drew them in the Leinster semi-final, for obvious reasons. You take Wexford out of the equation in the final and your attendance is not going to be anywhere as big as it should be.’’
Acknowledging that Wexford Park had a smaller capacity than Nowlan Park, Mr. Kinsella suggested that the financial return from a 25,000 crowd would still be more profitable than playing the game in Croke Park.
Meanwhile, a request from Arles/Kilcruise for a postponement of their AIB Leinster club football semi-final against Round Towers from Kildare from next Sunday has been turned down.
It was considered by the officers on Monday night, and while they were sympathetic to the Laois champions, they had no alternative but to insist that the game goes ahead as scheduled in Dr. Cullen Park. It was pointed out that this side of the draw had already been held up in order to allow the Laois representatives take part.
Leinster and All-Ireland hurling champions Birr are seeking a deferment of the final with Kilkenny title-holders O’Loughlin Gaels from November 30. The request will be discussed by the Leinster executive tonight, but the early indications are that it will not be successful.
In the meantime, the clash between Arles/Kilcruise and Round Towers will be broadcast live on the internet this Sunday. The Laois GAA Website www.gaa.ie/laois will offer its users worldwide the unique opportunity of accessing live text updates together with delayed audio commentary from local radio station Midlands 103.
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