Limerick: Killarney qualifier will cost GAA €100,000

THE GAA is set to lose over €100,000, by playing Saturday's All-Ireland hurling qualifier between Tipperary and Cork in Killarney, Limerick GAA officials claimed yesterday.

The Shannonsiders are particularly angry that they lost out on the fixture at the Gaelic Grounds because of perceived traffic congestion in Limerick on Saturday afternoons.

Limerick argue that they have 20,000 seats at the Gaelic Grounds, compared to 9,000 at Killarney.

"At €20 per person we have calculated a drop in revenue of around €00,000," said one official yesterday.

GAA PRO Danny Lynch outlined the reasons for taking the game to Killarney in a letter to a national newspaper.

"In the specific venue case of Tipperary and Cork in the hurling qualifiers on July 10, circumstances dictated that the options were reduced to Killarney or Limerick. The decision to play the game in Killarney was taken on the basis that traffic congestion in Limerick city on a normal Saturday business and shopping day was almost certain to cause major problems for supporters.

"The Munster Football Final is taking place in Limerick on Sunday, the day after the hurling game. Killarney, which has hosted Munster Hurling Championship games in the past and an All-Ireland hurling final, is eminently suitable in its revamped state and as a location it has a proven logistical record. Suitability cannot always be quantified by distance alone on every occasion," he said.

"There are never traffic problems in Limerick on a Saturday, witness the All-Ireland qualifier between ourselves and Tipperary two weeks ago, when over 26,000 attended.

"We simply do not accept Limerick presents a logistical problem. Killarney, a busy place at any time of year, is now at the height of its tourist season and we wonder was that taken into account. Limerick was the most central location for the match," the Limerick official said.

The decision to opt for a neutral venue was taken after Tipperary and Cork failed to agree on a toss of a coin for choice of venue. Tipperary then proposed Limerick.

Limerick are to request Croke Park to clarify Mr Lynch's explanation for taking the match to Killarney.