Camogie Association hopeful of record crowd for semi-finals double-header

At Semple Stadium on Saturday, Galway play Kilkenny and Cork face Tipperary in the last four of the All-Ireland Camogie Championship

Two of the last three camogie championship semi-final double-headers have had attendances of over 7,000 Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

The Camogie Association is hopeful of a record 10,000-crowd at Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final double-header in Thurles.

With two of the last three semi-final double-headers having climbed over the 7,000-mark, including a record 7,250-attendance in 2023, Camogie chiefs are optimistic of attracting 10,000 supporters to Thurles for the Galway-Kilkenny and Cork-Tipperary clashes.

In its 2024-26 Strategic Plan, the Camogie Association targeted a 20% increase in attendance at all fixtures, culminating in 50,000 watching next month’s senior decider.

While a jump to 50,000 from last year’s final crowd of 28,795 seems too large a leap to make, a healthy gathering at Semple Stadium this weekend would indicate a record-breaking 30,000-plus crowd at Croke Park on August 9 is on the cards.

“I encourage supporters from all four counties, and lovers of camogie everywhere, to make the journey to FBD Semple Stadium. With two outstanding semi-finals in store, it promises to be a memorable evening in Thurles,” said Camogie president Brian Molloy.

Galway and Kilkenny get proceedings underway at 4pm on Saturday. Reigning League and All-Ireland champions Galway are bidding to reach a third consecutive All-Ireland final, while Kilkenny return to the last four for the first time since their O’Duffy Cup-winning campaign of 2022. The interim three years consisted of three consecutive falls at the quarter-final juncture.

Under new manager James Meagher, Kilkenny came through Tier 2 of the new All-Ireland championship structure, overcoming Clare, Dublin, Limerick, Offaly, and Wexford before securing an extra-time quarter-final victory over Waterford two and a half weeks ago.

Galway, meanwhile, recovered from an opening day drubbing to Cork with wins over Waterford and Tipp to advance straight to the last-four.

In the second semi-final, at 6pm, a slightly new-look Cork are striving to secure a six-in-a-row of All-Ireland final appearances. After a disappointing League and Munster championship, Ger Manley’s charges powered through Tier 1 of the All-Ireland series unbeaten.

Their opponents, Tipp, are desperate to end their horrible semi-finals run. The Premier women have reached seven of the last eight All-Ireland semi-finals, only to lose all seven. James Heffernan’s side bested Cork in the Munster quarter-final by 1-18 to 2-9 in mid-April, with Cork reversing that result when they clashed in the group phase of the All-Ireland two months later.

Adult tickets for the double-header are priced at €15, €10 for students and OAPs, and €5 for U16s.