No danger in terrace at final, GAA chiefs insist
Their assertion is backed up by gardaí who were on duty and who attributed the problem to the fact that about 100 people arrived at the stiles in the five minutes before the match began.
Supt Ger Dillane, who was in charge of garda operations, explained that the supporters who arrived late attempted to move into the area at the bottom of the terrace, where children were accommodated.
At that stage, there was plenty of room at the back of the terrace.
"There was no danger. These people expected they could just walk in and see the match.
"With a capacity crowd that was not possible,'' he said.
When gardaí and stewards saw that the latecomers were attempting to push their way down from the terrace entry, they decided to move the children on to the field. They also allowed a small number of adults to accompany them.
"We took a quick decision to open a safety gate. Everybody was happy, except for some parents who felt their kids should have been allowed through as well,'' he added.
Munster chairman Sean Fogarty said that enquiries were ongoing but the early indications were that people coming in late did not move 'up the terrace'.
He stated that it had been a joint decision of gardaí and stewards "to take preventative action" and allow the people on to the pitch.
Mr Fogarty pointed out that gardaí, Munster and Cork officials and health and safety representatives had attended a briefing last Tuesday and that a similar meeting will take place in advance of Sunday week's Cork/Kerry football decider, which is also in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and has a 4.15pm start.
Everything would be done to avoid a repeat of the difficulty encountered at the weekend.
"We don't want people to suffer any discomfort,'' he said.
He said that while there was no reason to question the capacity of the ground, they were subject to scrutiny from the health and safety people.
"They're the experts. I doubt if there would be any change made in the capacity, but that would be their call.
"They're a statutory authority.''
He added that they had "an adequate number" of stewards and gardaí present at Sunday's game and that they had taken action "well in time".
Meanwhile, the new Munster hurling champions received a boost yesterday when it emerged that Brian Corcoran's shoulder injury is not as bad as first feared.
Corcoran's torn shoulder ligaments injury make him a major doubt for Cork's All-Ireland quarter-final next month, but after yesterday's x-ray in Cork revealed no fracture, he hopes to be back in action by August, when the All-Ireland semi-finals are scheduled.
The Erin's Own star was injured in a first-half clash.
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