Semple the new jewel in the crown

THERE has been huge focus recently on Croke Park, the sizeable jewel in the even more sizeable crown of the GAA, and rightly so.

With its massive 80,000-plus capacity, modern triple-decker stands rising to the clouds, multi-million euro high-tech pitch, it compares favourably with any stadium in the world today. But there is another GAA gem.

Thurles has long been recognised as the Mecca for hurling followers. The atmosphere on the day of a big game is special, thousands of fans bedecked in colours congregate in the square from early morning. To get the full experience you arrive early and linger long. During the build-up, breakfasts are consumed and friendly but cutting banter exchanged. Then comes the procession to the place of worship; Semple Stadium, temple of Munster hurling and its spiritual home.

This Sunday, reigning Munster champions Waterford will be attempting to dismiss the first challenge posed to their title; a resurgent Limerick side back-boned by their three-in-a-row All-Ireland under-21 heroes.

But it will be in a Semple Stadium new to us all. The New Stand, built to accommodate the All-Ireland senior hurling final in the centenary year, 1984, is about to become the old one.

Facing it, a revamped stand, covered from end to end and fully seated. Completed in just over six months, it is a triumph of organisation, a tribute to the vision and courage of those charged with running the stadium.

Secretary-treasurer Tommy Purcell is one of the prime movers.

"The stadium is held in trust by a number of shareholders for the Central Council. The GAA has 93% of the share-holding but there are a number of local shareholders also, and it's a local management committee running the place. We do the local work, but for any major spending we have to get the approval of what we call the governing body, five of the fellas in Central Council who hold 200 shares each."

The idea for this project originated locally. "The basic stand structure was already in place with a little cover on it, but it was in our minds to do something with it when we got enough money,"

End-to-end shelter for more than 9,000 fans, another 6,000 accommodated lower down, all in individual multi-coloured seats. "Oh yeah, very original, blue-and-gold, Tipperary colours," says Purcell.

And the cost? "About €2.5 million, that's if we stop at that. Every job will have a little extra, things you didn't foresee."

Most impressively, there will be little or no outstanding debt.

"We had over a million ourselves, saved over the last few years, we got half-a-million from the Munster Council over two years, €300,000 from the National Lottery and €75,000 from Central Council.

"There are long-term plans for the other stand to make it two-storey with corporate boxes but we haven't gone into any great detail yet. The capacity now is 54,000 but if we can bring the capacity to over €60,000 that will satisfy everybody.

"We're not finished yet that's the next job but I'll hardly live to see it."

Also nearing the age where he feels he's done enough is Purcell's namesake Jimmy, head groundsman and curator of the sacred sod.

He is happy the construction work didn't impinge on the actual playing field.

"The pitch was never touched. All the drainage off the new roof goes down the back, then across to the storm water pipes on the other side, down along the side of the Sarsfields pitch."

Late last Tuesday evening as finishing touches were being applied and with the scaffolding gone, the whole of the stand was open to view for the first time.

There was an obvious pride in the face of Jimmy Purcell. "We are, very proud, when we look at it now. Two months ago though, it wasn't looking so good, you'd wonder if it was ever going to be right.

"But it comes together fast in the end. There's a bit of rush at the moment, we're working day and night. But it will be ready for Sunday."