Cork v Kerry replay to be screened on RTÉ
The game was first fixed for 3.30pm but that ruled out television coverage as TV3’s broadcast of the Leinster SFC quarter-final between Dublin and Wexford (4pm) precluded RTÉ from carrying a championship game at the same time.
But Munster Council PRO Jim Forbes last night revealed the game was being brought forward following contact with GAA headquarters yesterday.
He explained: “There was a request from Croke Park and the sponsors, to bring the game forward so it would go live on television. We couldn’t clash with the second game because it was covered by TV3.
“So we agreed with the request that was made and the game will be shown live on television. I think RTÉ will cover their scheduled Leinster game simultaneously.”
The decision causes a scheduling headache for RTÉ chiefs who had plans to show the Meath v Laois on RTÉ One as the World Cup game between Serbia and Ghana is fixed for RTÉ Two. Broadcast chiefs may opt to carry to soccer on their website only to make room for the additional football clash.
Forbes doesn’t believe the decision will impact on attendance at the weekend.
“Well it didn’t last year,” he said. “Cork and Kerry in the Munster championship has a magic all of its own. It is a game that deserves live television coverage and we expect a big crowd yet again.”
Meanwhile the Leinster Council is to investigate the events that led to the throw-in of Sunday’s Leinster SFC quarter-final between Westmeath and Wicklow in Tullamore being delayed by 15 minutes. Approximately 3,000 patrons were queuing for tickets with the scheduled start time of 3.30pm fast approaching, many of them having stood in line for up to an hour.
Supporters were angered by the situation and Leinster PRO John Joe Walsh admitted yesterday that the supporters were entitled to be upset. Walsh said: “We are disappointed with what happened and we’ll be investigating it further. Ticket sales had been poor coming up to the game and it was thought that around 6,000 people might turn up. But by 3.10pm, the signs were that the crowds were coming. You’d have to say that we weren’t ready for them.”
According to Walsh, there were 5,000 people inside O’Connor Park at 3.20pm and a further 3,200 made it in before the throw-in.
Approximately 100 people were still waiting to get in when proceedings finally started.
By that stage though, the ticket booths had run out of change and council officials decided to accept cash at the stiles, which got the supporters into the ground quickly.
Walsh said that there were a number of factors which added to the problem.
He said: “We have to look at it. There were so many looking for tickets at the one time and then you had the people going to the stile looking for their change. As well as that, the fact it was a stand-alone game was a factor. If there was a curtain-raiser, you’d have more of the crowd coming earlier. With them all coming at the one time, we were overwhelmed.
“I’d have to thank the guards and the stewards and staff of O’Connor Park who dealt with it so well. They were getting the blame when they had nothing to do with it. Leinster Council is responsible for ticketing for all championship games no matter where they are held and we will look to learn from this.”
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