Final fever as Cork and Waterford fans scramble for tickets

WATERFORD and Cork have been gripped by a massive scramble for tickets ahead of Sunday’s Guinness Munster SHC final in Thurles.

Queues half a mile long formed outside Walsh Park and Pairc Uí Rinn yesterday as tickets went on sale for Sunday’s Semple Stadium 53,000 sellout. “It’s incredible,” said Waterford PRO Paddy Dunphy. “The whole county seems to be going to Thurles on Sunday.”

It was a similar situation in Cork, where the queue stretched from the selling point back as far as the Silver Key pub.

Cork GAA chairman, Jim Forbes, said the demand for tickets, in his opinion, is greater than in 1999. He said that the Board had distributed all available tickets to clubs and the public by 7pm last night. The Board has shifted 21,000 tickets and has begun the search for a further allocation.

“Cork played so well in defeating Clare in round one that there is an air of anticipation among our supporters.

“The fact that our minors are also involved adds to the pressure for tickets. For Munster finals the participating teams are given approximately 80% of the tickets and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we get can meet the demand, but it’s looking unlikely. “There were around 15,000 in Thurles for the game against Clare and we are expecting another 10,000 wanting to be at the final.

“The fact that Cork have been out of the limelight for a number of years has heightened the anticipation. It’s a tribute to the team and all involved with them that so many people want to be at this final, but I would urge caution. Waterford are the defending champions and having been beaten by Cork on the last two occasions they met in the final, will be all out to make amends.”

Added Waterford secretary Seamus Grant: “We thought things were bad last year in the run up to the final against Tipperary at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, but even with the additional capacity of Semple Stadium the situation is more hectic this time”, Grant said.

“Maybe it’s the hype of seeking to win back to back Munster titles for an historic first time, but whatever the reason I have never known anything like the ticket demand.”

Meanwhile, Waterford boss Justin McCarthy continues to play down the chances of the skipper, Tony Browne, winning his fitness battle.

McCarthy says Sunday’s final has probably come two or even three weeks too soon for the Mount Sion man. “It looks as though we will just have to plan without Tony on Sunday, it’s a great pity”, McCarthy added.

Sources close to Browne continue to insist that he has a realistic chance of being passed fit although that decision is unlikely to be taken earlier than the morning of the game.

The Cork team to be announced tonight is unlikely to show any change from the side that beat Clare in the semi-final three weeks ago.

*Waterford have had their request for a postponement of tomorrow night’s Munster U21 FC first round tie with Clare turned down.

CORK (probable): D. Óg Cusack; W. Sherlock, P. Mulcahy, D. O’Sullivan; T. Kenny, R. Curran, S. Óg Ó hAilpín; M. O’Connell, J. Gardiner; B. O’Connor, N. McCarthy, T. McCarthy; S. Ó hAilpín, J. Deane, A. Browne.