Déise fail in Thurles efforts
Waterford had hoped the July 15 game would be switched from Páirc Uí Chaoimh to Semple Stadium.
The Irish Examiner understands the request came from the Waterford hurling management team and players.
However, it failed to receive the required two-thirds majority from the council’s Competitions Control Committee (CCC), gaining just two of 10 votes.
In a statement last night, the Munster Council pointed out that the venue permutations for both Munster senior football and hurling finals are annually chosen prior to the semi-finals.
On June 7, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which hosted last year’s decider between the counties, was officially selected as venue were the counties to win their respective games.
Following Tipperary’s win over Cork on Sunday, Waterford yesterday moved for a change of venue, surprisingly willing to give their opponents home advantage.
However, the Munster Council statement read: “It is normal practice that a neutral venue would be decided upon in the event that no agreement was in place between the competing counties.
“In the case of a possible Tipperary v Waterford Munster SHC Final, as no agreement was in place between Tipperary and Waterford ahead of that June 7 CCC meeting, Páirc Uí Chaoimh was agreed as the proposed venue, a decision made with the consent and knowledge of all CCC delegates of the Munster counties.
“Once a fixture decision has been made by the Munster CCC, any subsequent change requires a two-thirds majority.
“As a result of correspondence received this afternoon (Monday) from Waterford County Board requesting a change to the original venue for the Munster Senior Hurling Final fixture, a specially convened meeting of the Munster CCC was held tonight and reaffirmed the decision made on June 7 (to fix the Munster Senior Hurling final for Páirc Uí Chaoimh) on a vote of 8 to 2.”
It is understood Waterford's proposal would have been looked on a lot more favourably had it been received prior to the semi-finals taking place.
In 2009, the counties played a Munster final in Thurles but a year later a cash-strapped Waterford County Board revealed they had sought €50,000 to give their potential final opponents (Cork or Tipperary) home advantage.
Prior to last night’s vote, Waterford did not explain the reason for the proposal. While their finances are still believed to be precarious, there was no mention yesterday of a financial agreement being made with Tipperary.
However, sources have told the Irish Examiner the attempt to switch venues was made on behalf of Waterford manager Michael Ryan and his players.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Munster management committee last week, it was decided that all adult ticket prices for the two senior provincial finals be cut by €5 providing they are bought in advance.
The Munster intermediate hurling final between Tipperary and Clare has been fixed for Wednesday, July 25 at Nenagh’s MacDonagh Park.
The junior football final between Kerry and Clare will be staged in Miltown-Malbay on Wednesday July 11.
Munster secretary Pat Fitzgerald has estimated that between €30,000 to €40,000 was spent at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for Munster’s semi-final to make it a safer environment for patrons attending the game between Cork and Tipperary.
A number of procedures have been put in place to cater for crowds in excess of 25,000 at the venue and worked successfully as over 32,000 spectators flocked through the turnstiles for the Cork-Tipp epic.
Fitzgerald explained: “We commenced this practice in 2011 on a trial basis. And following our own observations and that of the Fire Officer in Cork, who also has a serious vested interest in this subject as he also signs off on capacity, we significantly enhanced our safety procedures in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 2012.
“The area around the dressing rooms and tunnel in the covered stand have on many occasions led to difficulties and we agreed to implement a protocol which has significantly enhanced the safety for patrons and players at the critical times when players are exiting the dressing-rooms and entering the field proper.”
In addition, four ‘compounds’ were erected to cater for supporters at the Blackrock End, City Terrace, Uncovered Stand and covered stand at the venue.
These compounds eased the congestion in the four main areas of the ground, with smoking areas, toilet facilities and shops available to fans.
Sixteen extra stiles were also in place and Fitzgerald estimated that an extra 60 people were on duty in a security capacity.
He said: “It would cost between €30,000 and €40,000.
“That money is spent on the extra security staff and stiles, as well as the construction of the actual compounds and the erection of safety barriers.”
Fitzgerald was particularly pleased with the official attendance of 32,568 reported at Páirc Uí Chaoimh – a figure that exceeded Munster Council chairman Sean Walsh’s pre-match prediction.
He remarked: “Sunday proved one thing in my view — when you have two teams and their followers believe in them, they’ll come to the match.”
