Na Piarsaigh chairman O’Connor hits back at Walsh

A TOP Limerick club official last night launched a blistering attack on Munster Council chairman Seán Walsh.

Na Piarsaigh chairman Timmy O’Connor said he was “disappointed at the personal attack on me by Seán Walsh” in Tuesday’s The Irish Examiner in a row over the venue for the province’s senior club hurling championship final.

Walsh was furious Na Piarsaigh refused to toss a coin to decide a venue for their clash with Crusheen of Clare last weekend. The game, which ended in a draw, was then fixed for Semple Stadium with Munster Council claiming the attendance suffered by not playing the game in either Limerick or Ennis. And Walsh is angry Na Piarsaigh again refused to consider a coin toss, so the game again heads to Tipperary on Sunday.

Walsh claimed: “We wanted to play the match in either Ennis or Limerick. In fact we still want to play the match in either of those two home venues, but Na Piarsaigh were adamant they wouldn’t agree. We couldn’t get through to the Na Piarsaigh secretary but Timmy O’Connor, their chairman was the man who told us they wouldn’t agree, under any circumstances. We were left with no choice then but to go for a neutral venue. We spoke to Timmy O’Connor again today (Monday) and he is still adamant — Na Piarsaigh will not toss for choice of venue.

“We’re very conscious of the economic circumstances that many people find themselves in nowadays, and it’s also taking from the gate. It makes no sense to play this in Thurles.”

However last night O’Connor issued a strong rebuttal. He said: “I’m disappointed at the personal attack on me by Seán Walsh. I was surprised by the tone of his comments and what he said about me and the club. We will look after our own affairs here in Na Piarsaigh and he should look after his in the Munster Council.

“If Seán is so worried about the economic situation then he and the Munster Council should look at the cost of tickets. I got more complaints in the last few days about the admission charge than I did about the game being played in Thurles. It was €20 at the gate and €3 for a match programme. A week earlier I was down in Newcastle West (for the Munster Club IHC final). It was €15 there to get in and €3 for a match programme.

“If they are so worried about the economic situation in the country then they should be looking at these things, not just for the club championships but for all their games. I don’t think that the venue, Semple Stadium, was the chief reason for the small crowd on Sunday. I think the Munster Council should be looking at the cost of admission and the fact that the game was also broadcast live on television.”

Meanwhile, TG4 are to broadcast the Munster Club SHC replay on Sunday. The station will carry live broadcast of the province’s senior football decider between UCC and Dr Crokes from 2pm followed by deferred coverage of the clash between Na Piarsaigh and Crusheen. The station has now cancelled plans to show the Leinster SFC semi-final between St Brigid’s and Portlaoise.

The Munster Council have confirmed that admission will be €15 for the replay with all U16s free, and pensioners and students getting a concession.