Munster final set to test Páirc Uí Chaoimh capacity

THE Munster Council is expecting a crowd of 40,000 for Sunday’s senior hurling final but have asked supporters to turn up to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on time to avoid crowd delays.

The last time the 43,500 capacity was tested at the Cork venue was 2008 when Cork took on Tipperary in the Munster SHC quarter-final. On that occasion the match was delayed due to the large crowd.

However, Munster Council chairman Sean Walsh is confident an action plan drawn up in the last two weeks will make this 4pm meeting between Tipperary and Waterford safe for everyone attending.

“All that is taken care of,” he said.

“There is a plan made up in the last two weeks to get people in and out of the grounds safely once we found out it was in Cork. The Munster chief executive Pat Fitzgerald has worked on that plan himself. We expect no problem in that respect.

“We always ask people to come early. Obviously people with the county not involved in the minors tend not to come as early and there’s very little you can do about that. You can only get so many people through a style together and we’re going to have a problem if that happens but we’re asking people to buy their tickets and come to the ground early.”

The early demand on tickets has been impressive for the game with both stands close to being sold out already.

“The early indication is that both stands will be sold out pre-match. It’s only Tuesday and it’s early in the week but there is a very brisk demand.

“The covered stand is almost sold out as we speak and the open stand is practically sold out. Both will be sold out before the match. The final figure will depend on the weather for the last 3,000 to 4,000. Last Sunday was a super day and the crowd turned out and we had 40,000 people but to get close to that mark will depend on the weather. But we’d be hoping for about 40,000 this time too.”