GAA predicts hurling bonanza
Cusack Park, Ennis will host the largest gathering as Brian Cody and Davy Fitzgerald renew sideline acquaintances, with Clare County Board officials expecting a crowd of 8,000 for the highly-anticipated tie.
All three Division 1A games will be televised by TG4 and Setanta, while tomorrow’s Division 1B meeting of Cork and Limerick is also live on Setanta Sports.
County Board chiefs, however, are confident many spectators will skip the televised coverage and ignore the adverse weather conditions and “flock through the turnstiles.”
Clare PRO Sean O’Halloran said the attendance in Ennis for the clash of the reigning league and All-Ireland champions could top 8,000, but only if the weather holds up.
“If we get reasonable enough weather on Sunday we could get between 7,000 and 8,000 at the game,” he noted.
“In saying that, if you get more wind and rain people will stay at home. Live on television and that will hamper attendance figures. If there is no let-up in the weather, I would expect no more than between 5,000 and 6,000.”
Galway secretary John Hynes believes hurling supporters in the south of the county will overlook Galway’s league opener at home to Dublin and instead travel to Ennis.
Nonetheless, Hynes is confident of a 5,000-strong crowd at Pearse Stadium.
“We would be expecting an even bigger crowd but we imagine that a lot of hurling supporters in south Galway will probably travel to Cusack Park, Ennis to watch the clash of Kilkenny and Clare” he said.
“It is the meeting of the two most recent All-Ireland hurling champions and it is more convenient to get to Ennis from south Galway also.”
Tipperary secretary Tim Floyd forecasts a similar attendance for tomorrow’s all-Munster clash at Semple Stadium, lamenting, however, the GAA’s persistence with flood-lit evening fixtures.
“It’s a pity the game isn’t on Sunday afternoon as floodlit games tend not to attract as big attendances as games in the afternoon. We looked to have it played on Sunday, but the GAA in their wisdom decided to play it on a Saturday evening.”
Cork chairman Bob Ryan stressed the importance of a bumper crowd for the visit of Limerick as the number of high-profile games in Division 1B are less than plentiful.
“We’d be expecting between 7,000 and 7,500,” he enthused.
“You simply can’t beat seeing it first hand and I think the Cork supporters have been re-energised by the performances of the team last year. It is vitally important that we get a good crowd out. We have three home games and we know this is the one that will draw the largest crowd.
“From a financial perspective it is very important we get a good crowd. Gate receipts are clearly an important source of income.”
