Cork chair Sheehan wants Munster finals rotating to Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Cork chairman Marc Sheehan has called for the Munster senior hurling finals to be played in Cork, Limerick and Thurles on a rotational basis.

Thu, 07 Sep, 2023 - 17:40

John Fogarty

Cork chairman Marc Sheehan has called for the Munster senior hurling finals to be played in Cork, Limerick and Thurles on a rotating basis.

After missing out on this year’s Munster SHC decider between Limerick and Clare, Sheehan would like the event played at the venues in alternating years.

Out of commission from 2015 to ’17 due to reconstruction, Páirc Uí Chaoimh has hosted two provincial SHC finals in the last 10 years, although the Limerick-Tipperary game in 2021 was in front of a restricted crowd due to the Covid pandemic.

Between 2004 and ’12, it was the venue for three such fixtures.

FBD Semple Stadium has been the location for 10 of the last 20 Munster SHC finals, with the Ballintemple stadium and LIT Gaelic Grounds each enjoying five of the matches.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh had been set to stage this year’s decider before Clare proposed fixing it for their opponents’ LIT Gaelic Grounds, which came as a blow to Cork as they continue to serve their heavy stadium debt.

Sheehan wants to see each stadium given an equal opportunity to stage the game. “It’s something that I think needs to be considered by Munster Council.

Ultimately, it’s a Munster Council decision and they must look after the needs of the counties and patrons as well.

They have long-established regulations around venues for Munster hurling finals and those venues are Thurles, Limerick and Páirc Uí Chaoimh. I think there would be merit in considering a rotation of those venues.

“The Munster championship is a cracking championship and the Munster final is a national institution and beyond. Sometimes it’s forgotten that there is a Munster regulation which provides for the game being played in the three main stadia.

“We would be very amenable to host Munster finals, we would do a good job with it and from a Cork point of view it’s a stadium that we have. It’s not a money-grab or anything, there is a huge responsibility in hosting it and it’s a great honour too.

“I’m not sure what is going to happen over the next couple of months and we have to be respectful that it’s a Munster Council decision and they have to maximise the opportunity for people to attend the game as well whether it’s Cork, Limerick or Tipp.”

Speaking in this newspaper prior to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals being finalised, Sheehan spoke about Páirc Uí Chaoimh hosting one or both of those games.

However, the Galway-Tipperary and Clare-Dublin games were fixed for Limerick.

Cork are similarly enthused about those knock-out matches coming to Leeside in the future. “That is something that has to come into the mix as well. You generally tend not to have games of that nature in Nowlan Park or Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

“Obviously, geography comes into play but it’s not really a consideration in the province of Munster. If geography isn’t a factor, we would very open to staging All-Ireland quarter-finals.”

Sheehan assured the expected concerts at Páirc Uí Chaoimh next year won’t impact Cork’s home Munster SHC matches against Clare and Limerick.

With Bruce Springsteen among the acts reported to play at the venue, Cork’s senior footballers may have to play their Sam Maguire/Tailteann Cup games in Páirc Uí Rinn but John Cleary has been kept abreast of developments.

“We have discussed this matter with both team managements and there is an understanding that if there is a calendar of concerts or at least one in 2024 there won’t be any negatives in terms of team preparation or games be it in Páirc Uí Rinn or Páirc Uí Chaoimh,” said Sheehan.

“It’s now over to confirmation of concerts and all that.”

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Cork are strongly opposed to the idea that the All-Ireland senior football final could be moved into August.

The topic is up for discussion at Central Council on Saturday. “We would very clearcut that we’re very enthusiastic about the split season,” Sheehan remarked.

“As one of the counties with the biggest number of clubs and with competitive championships, we need the number of weeks that are there at the present time.

“Any interference with that calendar as it stands would not serve Cork clubs well and it wouldn’t serve our games well either and that’s irrespective of it being one or two weeks because that could have a significant impact on us.

"We have had a championship format since 2020 and it’s gone from strength to strength and it is attracting great attendances.

"They are the positives and let’s look at them. There is certainty of fixtures and the standard of matches is increasing. We need the weeks up to the October Bank Holiday weekend.

“It’s condensed as it is and it’s very demanding on clubs but they have bought into the split season. It has to be retained. It’s an absolute from our point of view.”