Munster Council ponder pitch options
Adverse weather conditions have caused havoc with the council’s efforts to run off club and inter-county fixtures over the past two months.
Chairman Sean Walsh admits that the development of 3G pitches, similar to the new facility in Cavan’s Kingspan Breffni Park, could provide a solution but has warned that they need to adhere to the guidelines that will be laid down by the association at national level.
“3G pitches are a fantastic facility and we’ve seen that they can help in playing off matches. But I feel that we must wait for the new specifications that the GAA are currently working on as regards these pitches. We will only move when those new specifications are issued and then we’ll be able to see whether or not we will try to develop something.”
The Munster Council last night changed the time and venue for next Saturday’s McGrath Cup final due to concerns over next weekend’s weather forecast. The match was originally pencilled in for Austin Stack Park at 7.30pm but it has now been shifted to Dr Crokes grounds in Lewis Road in Killarney at 3pm. The McGrath Cup semi-final clash between Cork and Kerry was postponed last Saturday due to a frozen pitch with Walsh revealing that they sought to avoid a repeat scenario and also that the Council are prepared to organise standby venues in order to ensure all their games take place this weekend.
“We felt that this is the safer decision to take. Now none of the competing teams or supporters are in the dark over the venue. We didn’t want to have to make any last-minute decisions and given the weather forecast, we made the decision early in the week at our management meeting last night. We’re also prepared if we have to at the end of the week, get standby venues ready for our games this weekend. We want to make sure the Munster club football final, and the McGrath and Waterford Crystal games are all played.”
Walsh also insists that third-level colleges are still worth their place in pre-season provincial competitions despite WIT’s decision to withdraw from the Waterford Crystal Cup on Sunday night due to the potentially chaotic fixture list that they would face over the next week. The move has raised questions over whether it is viable for colleges to compete in these competitions, given the proximity to the Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cups. Walsh empathises with WIT’s plight and described it as unfortunate that the quarter-final clash with UL was abandoned in the second-half in Newtownshandrum on Saturday night due to fog.
“I would certainly empathise with WIT as they have a huge amount of games ahead of them over coming weeks. It was just very unfortunate that the game ended last Saturday night as we were very close to getting a result. But this does not change the fact that third-level teams enhance our competitions at this time of the year. It provides a greater number of players with competitive action and exposes young players to a higher level of play. They make a great impact to the standards of play and I’d be very keen for them to stay involved.”
Walsh is also hopeful Limerick will return to competing in the Waterford Crystal Cup next season and understands their decision to withdraw this year.
“In relation to the Limerick situation, I think you have to realise that Donal O’Grady was coming in to take charge of a new panel. He then felt that it would be better for them to prepare away from the public glare so he could get to know his panel and that they could get to know a new manager. That is understandable and given Limerick’s difficulties last year, it was a unique situation. I can empathise with them in that regard. But I don’t think this will be a long-term thing and I hope that we’ll see Limerick back in Waterford Crystal Cup action before too long.”
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