Pitch battles leave prime venues in need of care

It would be more than fair to say the inclement weather hasn’t helped the country’s premier pitches.

Just last weekend, the crucial Wexford and Limerick Division 1B clash was arranged for a 12.45pm throw-in, ahead of the meeting of the counties’ footballers, so that Wexford Park’s surface would be in sufficient shape for a hurling contest.

Some, though, seem to be in a worse state than others. The sods of the three stadiums that host this weekend’s Division 1A games have seen better days...

Pearse Stadium

The Salthill venue had been closed since last September due to remedial drainage work as well as an upgrade of the pitch. It meant both Galway senior county finals were staged elsewhere: the hurling decider in Athenry’s Kenny Park and the football showdown at Tuam Stadium. “We put in a new drainage system to make the pitch comparable to the best in the country. We are not going to take any chance on it and it’s important that the drainage system gets time to settle,” said Galway chief executive John Hynes at the time.

There had been concerns the work wouldn’t be completed in time for the start of the leagues but it was able to host the footballers’ Division 2 opener against Meath at the start of last month. However, the condition of the surface especially for hurling at the moment has left a lot to be desired, with several drainage lines spoiling the turf. On Sunday, as Galway hurlers hosted Kilkenny, players struggled to lift the ball in and around the ridges across the field.

Cusack Park

As Eddie Brennan said on RTÉ’s League Sunday, “Clare over-elaborated sometimes on a pitch that wasn’t exactly conducive to really good, stylish hurling.”

Cusack Park saw its first hurling action this year last weekend when Tipp visited and the footballers have thus far played there just once this season. Like Pearse Stadium, the turf has been subject to remedial work so as, according to secretary Pat Fitzgerald last year, “to avoid the embarrassment of the county grounds not being able to host games”. As Fitzgerald also revealed, the venue has no caretaker nor administrator.

It was approximately 12 months ago the Ennis venue was described as “a kip” on national radio by an official from another county. In the meantime, funding for redevelopment work has been granted, the first phase of which has commenced and saw Cusack Park unavailable up until this month. The work is expected to total €2.3 million. However, there have been complications. The presence of the evasive Japanese knotweed has meant plans to create a new car park at the stadium have been put on hold for six years as treatment work is done to rid the area of the nuisance plant.

Semple Stadium

Oft considered the best pitch outside of Croke Park, Tom Semple’s Field looked anything but for last month’s Division 1A clash between Tipp and Galway. The sod broke up easily, especially close to the sidelines. Unlike the two other venues, Thurles staged more games this spring. On top of the aforementioned hurling fixture, it hosted the footballers’ Division 3 matches against Limerick and Clare. That Limerick game was moved to Templetuohy last month only to revert to Semple Stadium after it passed a pitch inspection. The previous day, both All-Ireland senior club hurling semi-finals were rescheduled for Gort and Tullamore having been scheduled for Thurles, which was ruled out as it was frozen. Obviously, the extra water has put serious stress on the pitch’s drainage system.