Replay throw-in will stay at 5pm
Clare have formally requested that the game be brought forward by at least an hour from the scheduled 5pm throw-in time.
Among a list of reasons given by Banner chairman Michael McDonagh was the safety of supporters travelling home at such a late hour after the showpiece. Cork have stated their concerns too.
O’Neill said that, technically, it was nothing to do with him as the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) decided on the time.
But pushed on whether there is any leeway for change, he ruled it out.
“That (time) was handled by the CCCC, the stadium executive and the gardaí,” said O’Neill. “They decided on that time and I don’t interfere with that, that’s done for a very good reason.
“No, (it won’t change). They’ve made that decision. That’s taking several factors into consideration, like traffic. That’s the decision they’ve come back with. It was done by consultation and that decision won’t change.”
It means the September 28 replay will be the first final played beneath floodlights. Last year’s replayed final between Kilkenny and Galway was played on a Sunday.
“I’d rather the Sunday,” said Kilkenny’s Jackie Tyrrell. “It’s a familiarity thing. You always play on the Sunday and train on the Monday and Wednesday. I like the familiarity about it but that’s just my opinion, different people like different things.”
Interestingly, O’Neill didn’t rule out a curtain-raiser to the rematch, potentially one of the camogie finals if they finish in a draw this weekend.
“There are three camogie finals on this Sunday so I don’t know what will happen,” said O’Neill. “I don’t know what the possibilities are. Logistically, the nearer it gets to the game, the more difficult it is because of the allocation of tickets and we have to give people a fair shot at coming.”
The GAA chief was speaking at the launch of ‘The Celtic Champions Classic’ at Notre Dame University on October 19, a joint GAA and GPA initiative supported by Aer Lingus.
The clash between two 11-a-side hurling teams, playing a short-form of hurling under specific new rules, has been planned for the last six months and will coincide with the biggest NFL college showdown of the season between Notre Dame and rivals USC.
The ‘Super 11s’ format can be viewed by the public for the first time at an exhibition game in Galway’s Pearse Stadium on Saturday week. It will involve top inter-county hurlers and will form part of the programme for the final day of the Aer Lingus/Etihad Airways International Hurling Festival in the area.
“The highlights of the game I suppose are one hand pass, one strike,” said GPA chairman Donal Óg Cusack.
“You can strike as many times as you want in sequence but you can’t hand pass more than once. No points, only goals. And the goals are a different shape.
“There is a goalscoring zone. Inside it, you get three points. If you score from outside it, you get five points. Doubling on the ball gets you an extra point.
“We talk about all the other things that we’re proud of, the arts, poetry and all these people. I love the game and maybe I’m blinded by the love of it but last Sunday was really breathtaking, living poetry in motion. And why not show it to the world?”
GAA President Liam O’Neill rejected the suggestion that promoting the game at home, in weaker counties, would make more sense.
“We’re working to do this because we can do it and we’re already working very hard at areas around the country,” said O’Neill. “But not to showcase the game abroad, and not to take every opportunity to promote it, it wouldn’t improve hurling at any level. We’re just saying this is something we have a chance to do.
“It’s not a very costly exercise for us, it’s something that’s worth doing because it’s got to do with the awareness of the sport internationally.”
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