Moving U21s to midweek proves a hit with fans

THE Munster Council’s decision to run off their U21 FC on midweek dates has been vindicated with the total attendance up by almost 40% from the corresponding figures for 12 months ago.

Wednesday night’s provincial decider between Cork and Kerry saw 6,000 supporters present in Páirc Uí Rinn, which meant 10,811 people attended the five games in this year’s championship.

That compares to 6,662 people attending the 2010 games, when two of the matches were played on Saturday afternoons, and the 3,860 people attending the fare when all five games were held on Saturdays in 2009.

The pairing of Cork and Kerry in the final was clearly a major factor in the huge increase this year but there were healthy attendances at the two semi-final ties as well; 2,134 supporters were present for the Cork andTipperary match while the Kerry and Limerick tie drew 1,242 fans to the Gaelic Grounds.

The 6,000 attendance for the Cork and Kerry match was also a marked increase from the last time the counties met in the decider in 2004, when 4,150 people were present in Tralee.

The figure compares favourably with the 2,650 crowd that attended last year’s Munster final between Kerry and Tipperary in Tralee, while the 2009final saw a paltry 800 people present on a Saturday afternoon to witness Tipperary play Cork in Tralee.

Wednesday night’s Leinster U21 final between Wexford and Longford in Longford attracted a crowd of 3,123 to Portlaoise.

In the case of that game and the Páirc Ui Rinn clash, the actual numbers attending the games would have been considerably higher as U16s were allowed in free.

The move to play the games on midweek dates has been well-received by inter-county managers.

“I’m totally in favour of it and can’t see anything against it,” said Wexford boss Kevin Kehoe.

“It’s great to play these matches midweek as it means lads are free at weekends to play for their clubs and counties.

“It’s a novel idea and one that should be applauded. There’s no harm in trying new things.

“People say that you might get more spectators at weekends but I’m not so sure about that.”

Cork boss John Cleary agreed with Kehoe but raised an interesting concern for competing management teams.

“It is awkward for the people behind the teams trying to be there on a working day.

“It’s a long wait around in the middle of the week and all the guys in the backroom team have to take a half day or a full day off work.

“That’s not an ideal situation. But there certainly is a bigger crowd and a better atmosphere.

“There is so much else on Saturdays on TV or with people taking children to sports events that it’s better in the middle of the week.”