O’Sullivan: Let’s make more use of Killarney

In the wake of Saturday’s successful staging of the Kerry-Tyrone qualifier in Fitzgerald Stadium, county chairman Patrick O’Sullivan has called on the GAA to stage more games at the revamped Killarney venue.

The Dr Crokes man believes the ground has been under-utilised and has become “a forgotten stadium” despite being a proven town setting.

While keen not to criticise other county grounds, he says groups such as the Munster Council and the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) should overlook Killarney’s geographical difficulty and focus on its other attractions.

“Managers look at winning matches, the GAA should look at filling stadiums. The GAA are looking at the geographical aspects but they should be concentrating on getting bums at seats.

“Killarney attracts crowds. If this was America, and they knew a place would bring an extra 10,000 people to a game, they would stage the game there, no question.

“If it’s an extra half an hour more out of the way that shouldn’t matter. The GAA should realise how much more they would generate as a unit by staging a game in Killarney than at another venue.

“The Cork-Clare Munster final was played in Limerick. I’m not having a go at other venues but if it was played at Killarney or even one of the hurling qualifiers, there would have been a bigger crowd. People love the place.”

While there were long delays to the game in Adare, Newcastlewest and Abbeyfeale, reports from Tyrone supporters about the staging of Saturday’s game were overwhelmingly positive.

“It should be looked at for big games because it has all the infrastructure and the crowds have been turning up when there were games here in Killarney.

“It has a proven track record. It has the railway station, the airport is out the road, it has the beds and the restaurants.

“The stadium is within walking distance as well so I firmly believe it should be considered more for games in the future.”