Fixtures fall foul of stand-off

BARRING an eleventh-hour resolution of the Cork dispute, a number of attractive fixtures in hurling and football will be lost as a result of their withdrawal from the Allianz National Leagues.

With the Meath football game (away) and the highly attractive clash with the All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny on Sunday falling by the wayside, next up would have been a home clash with Leinster football champions Dublin on February 16 under lights in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Another home game the same weekend with Munster hurling champions Waterford would be a further casualty, all the more regrettable for both sets of supporters bearing in mind the quality of their meetings in both league and championship in recent years.

Overall, in football Cork were to play Meath, Dublin, Roscommon, Westmeath (another floodlit game in Páirc Uí Rinn), Cavan and Monaghan (in that order) and after the Kilkenny game the hurlers are paired with Waterford, Dublin, Antrim and Wexford.

A total withdrawal from the two league competitions would have financial implications not merely for the Cork County Board but all the counties involved in terms of lost gate receipts (with the host county gaining a percentage of the gross figure). However, in Cork’s case a loss of revenue would be expected to be offset by a significant saving in (players) travel expenses for training, along with meals and accommodation for away games.

Clearly, the absence of Cork from the Munster championship, which is still considered unlikely in spite of the present situation, would have serious financial implications both for the Munster Council and traders in the city and surrounding areas. Even though the capacity of Páirc Uí Chaoimh has been steadily reduced over a period of time, a Cork/Tipp semi-final would be a sell-out two times over and yield a gate well in excess of €500,000.