Ticket prices the same for replay

TICKET prices for Sunday’s Munster SFC final replay between Cork and Kerry at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (3.30) will be as they were for the draw in Killarney (€30 stand and €20 terrace).

However, Council chairman Sean Fogarty pointed out yesterday that they had increased the number of ‘family’ tickets to a thousand for each stand.

Saying that this would ease the financial burden on families, Mr Fogarty explained that the decision to maintain prices at the same level was linked to the playing of the intermediate hurling championship final between Cork and Tipperary as the curtain-raiser.

That way, they would be losing the ‘gate,’ through not having it as a stand-alone fixture (as originally planned, for Wednesday of next week). He also made it known that it had always been the intention to hold a replay on Sunday.

The same arrangement had been decided in advance of the senior hurling final.

Holding the game on Sunday, rather than on Saturday, should assist team preparations by giving them the ‘extra day’.

Said Fogarty: “I thought Sunday’s game in Killarney was a very physical game and there would have been a lot of tired bodies afterwards because it was so intense.’’

Council officers also felt that it would be difficult for travelling supporters going through the towns and negotiating traffic in the city if the game was played on a Saturday.

Mr Fogarty said it was planned to ‘ticket’ only the uncovered and covered stands and to take cash at the turnstiles. They also took cash at the turnstiles to the terrace in Killarney and it had worked ‘like clockwork’ because dealing with €20 admission made it easy for both patrons and stilesmen.

Munster and Cork officials will be meeting with gardaí in Cork today to agree arrangements for the weekend. In relation to the ticketing arrangements, he pointed out that gardaí would have the final say as to whether or not they would be able to operate the terrace stiles on a cash-only basis.

The game will not be shown live by RTÉ — the station will be carrying live coverage of the Leinster and Connacht finals. The broadcaster is to carry extended highlights on The Sunday Game, later in the evening.

Setanta Sport and TG4, who cover the NFL and NHL, do not have rights to transmit live championship matches.