Replay proceeds ‘will go back to the grassroots’

ANOTHER DRAW — another smiling bank manager.

The GAA’s Munster Council may not reap the financial bonanza their Leinster counterparts are anticipating from the sequel to Dublin and Meath, but yesterday’s hurling semi-final draw between Tipperary and Limerick will provide its own southern comfort.

An attendance of 26,246 were present in Limerick yesterday and Munster chiefs hope to have a similar crowd for the replay at Semple Stadium next Saturday at 7pm.

Munster Council Chairman Jimmy Gorman confirmed that RTÉ will broadcast the replay live and said yesterday’s game was further proof of the strength of hurling in the province.

“It just shows any of the counties there have a shot. I’m looking forward to a feast of hurling in Munster next weekend with the replay and the semi-final between Cork and Waterford.”

Though Gorman wasn’t prepared to predict what the replay will be worth to the council he is grateful for the additional income following poor attendances in the Munster senior football championship.

“It will also help us to meet our demands of grant aid to all the counties in the province. The thing I would like to stress is that though the GAA is an amateur organisation, monies are spent in ensuring that we have top class facilities and as result we need as much income as we can get. I don’t want to see money resting in the bank. Any extra finance that we get goes back to the grassroots.”

He added: “The game is definitely on RTÉ. We should never be afraid of televising our games and should do so any chance we get.”

It will be a bumper weekend of action for armchair GAA fans — on Sunday, RTÉ will broadcast the Ulster SFC clash of Donegal and Tyrone, the Munster SHC semi-final between Cork and Waterford on RTÉ Two while the Leinster SFC sell-out between Dublin and Meath will be screened on RTÉ One.

Meanwhile tickets for that Munster SHC semi-final between Cork and Waterford go on public sale tonight at Páirc Uí Rinn between 6.30pm and 9pm.