Croker pitch passes toughest test over hectic weekend

GAA chiefs have expressed their delight at the quality of the controversial Croke Park surface.

The pitch, criticised almost weekly last season, received it’s biggest test at the weekend, with three games on Saturday before torrential rain fell overnight and a further three clashes on Sunday.

However, it came through with flying colours in the difficult conditions. In particular, the surface was in perfect order for the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final replay between Cork and Waterford after the rain had cleared.

President Nickey Brennan said that while it wasn’t ‘the ideal situation’ to have so many games played at the weekend, the continuing pitch improvement makes it possible to do so without any real difficulty.

Nevertheless, Stadium Director Peter McKenna admitted to a certain concern because of the amount of rain that fell between Saturday evening and Sunday lunch-time.

He praised the ground staff for work done in the hours before the first game — the Christy Ring Cup final — pointing out that this had complemented the sophisticated drainage system they have in place.

“The ‘suction’ system will take all of the water off. But, even so you are still left with a film of water on the top and it takes a little while for all of that to be removed,’’ he explained.

“In the morning we put sand on some of the wetter parts and staff also ‘dressed’ the goalmouth area at the Canal end following the first game.

“It was tremendous to get six games of that intensity — and with extra time in the first one on Saturday afternoon. You’d be very pleased that everything just worked so well.

“However, we’re not out of the woods yet. We have a few games left,’’ he commented.

Next Saturday, Dublin and Derry meet in the third of the football quarter finals and that will be preceded by the final of the Nicky Rackard Cup.

Then on Sunday there’s another triple-header, with the Waterford/Limerick hurling semi-final taking centre stage, preceded by the last of the football quarter-finals between Kerry and Monaghan.