Ticket blow for Munster as Leinster allocation almost taken up

MUNSTER supporters were dealt yet another ticket blow yesterday when it emerged that almost all of the 10,500 tickets allocated to the Leinster Branch for the southern province’s Heineken Cup semi-final with Wasps have been distributed.

A number of advertisements over the weekend stated that the Leinster Branch had been given the allocation to "facilitate in the distribution of tickets to Munster fans throughout Ireland". The statement added that the tickets would only be sold from five named shops in Dublin on Friday morning.

However, it emerged yesterday that almost all of the Leinster allocation had been snapped-up over the weekend before any tickets went on sale in Munster by season ticket holders and supporters on the province's mailing list.

Priority ticket booking forms had been sent out by the Leinster Branch as early as last Wednesday and by yesterday morning the offer of two tickets to each applicant had already been oversubscribed.

Last night, Leinster attempted to defuse the row by stating that tickets would still go on public sale from the five outlets named but it is understood the amount available will be about 1,000. It is not yet known whether these will be stand or terrace tickets.

"There's been an absolutely huge demand for tickets," said Leinster spokesman Tom McCormack.

"We're simply in the business of helping the ERC, the IRFU and the Munster Branch to shift tickets for the game."

The Branch were also keen to stress that they would be holding no corporate event on the day of the game.

The organisers of the Heineken Cup last night stated that they have no problem with the way the Leinster Branch have distributed their allocation for the game just so long as there are some tickets made available for public sale on Friday morning.

"As is always the case in rugby, those people involved in clubs get first call on tickets," an ERC spokesman said. "That's what Leinster have done and that's the right way to do things. Leinster have also assured us that a limited amount of tickets will go on sale in shops on Friday morning as previously advised, so we're satisfied with that."

The leftover Leinster Branch tickets will go on sale on Friday at 9.30am in Elvery Stores on Dawson St and Suffolk St; at the Spars, in Donnybrook and Bath Avenue; and in Active Sports, Blackrock. Munster fans in the capital will also be able to purchase tickets on Thursday morning at 9.30am from IRFU headquarters at Lansdowne Road and the Ticketmaster booth in St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. At the same time, tickets will go on sale at the Limerick and Cork offices of the Munster Branch and at Empire Music on Limerick's O'Connell Street.

Less than 1,500 tickets are left to sell for the second leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final tie between Connacht and Harlequins at the Sportsground in Galway.