Limerick keen to make replay first of many

Limerick football chairman John Cregan hopes the county can set a precedent for more major championship games to be held at the Gaelic Grounds.

Having had just six days to prepare for the All-Ireland semi-final replay, Limerick officers have been working furiously to ensure all is in order for 5pm on Saturday.

Cregan believes if they get it right then they can make themselves a viable alternative to GAA HQ.

“It’s only the second time in the history of the GAA that this has happened and if it works out you wouldn’t rule out more opportunities, maybe not semi-finals, but big games being staged here.

“With the home-away arrangement in Munster, Limerick may only get a Munster final every four or five years and it’s difficult to try and maintain a stadium of this size when you can’t predict what games will be played here.

“We hope we can set a precedent, that after Saturday people can say Limerick had six days to prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final replay, did the job properly and helped people go to and from the game without much hassle.”

Cregan believes it’s a great opportunity to promote football in a mainly hurling and rugby county, while he is delighted the county’s sponsors will gain more exposure from the occasion.

“We acknowledge we’re in a predominantly hurling county but we are keen to promote football and are doing a lot of work at underage level to become more competitive.

“It’s great for the kids that this game is happening on their own doorstep. It’s also a fantastic boost for the economy and sponsors as well.

“We have some very decent and generous people backing up and paying for signage. The opportunities we get to pay them back can’t be predicted. We’re living on scraps in that regard.

“The rugby people in Thomond Park can go to their sponsors and say we have X amount of games that will fill the stadium this season and work it out that way. There is no comparison. We have a facility that we can’t say for certain when it will be full. We have had Limerick and Cork in a Munster final here last year but those occasions are few are far between.

“Thankfully, we now have this semi-final replay and we are delighted to have the chance to host it in a great sporting city.”

Interest locally is more focused on Sunday week’s minor hurling final against Kilkenny, where Limerick hope to lift the Irish Press Cup for the first time in 30 years. A small allocation of 100 tickets has been made available to Limerick football supporters for the Mayo v Kerry clash.

“A lot of the football people will be going in stewarding anyway,” said Cregan. “All the county officers have been asked to row in and help on the day. With so many people travelling and some discontent about it, we want to make sure that their day is as pleasant as possible.”

Former Limerick football chairman Sean McAuliffe is adamant the pitch will be in pristine condition too.

“I walked across the Gaelic Grounds pitch yesterday [Tuesday] and I have never seen it looking so well. This opportunity may never again happen in Limerick so it’s important that we embrace it.”