Fixing Turner's Cross: 'We did something we didn't want to, but we had to'

HARD AT IT: Turner's Cross grounds keeping staff member, Kevin McCabe. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

A reprieve from the never-ending torrents and downpours that have saturated the League of Ireland schedule since February has arrived. Finally.

For Cork City, their enforced four-week absence from Turner's Cross has come to an end. The club's Women's National League side return for a televised fixture against Treaty United on Saturday, while a Bank Holiday Monday evening date is set for Tim Clancy's charge's homecoming. Wexford provide the opposition.

First though, ironically on May 1, the opening day of summer, the Munster Youth Cup final between College Corinthians and Carrigaline United takes centrestage. 

For those at the Munster Football Association, the decision to close their ground - in the aftermath of Cork City's home win over rivals Cobh Ramblers - was not an easy one, but a necessary one all the same.

"It's been a tough few weeks for us. We did something we didn't want to do, but we had to do," said Munster FA's Barry Cotter. "The pitch was in an unsafe condition. We just had to take the decision to try and let it recover.  The upturn in weather has helped, but there's been an incredible amount of work done throughout last four weeks, and a lot of money invested.

"We're ready to open. 'Are we 100 percent there?' No, we're not, there's still a couple of areas that will need a bit of time, but from where we were four weeks ago, we're in a good place now.

"Going forward, we had to take that decision. It has benefitted no one; ourselves, Cork City - men's and women's teams - and the local leagues. At the end of the day, the Munster FA own this ground, and the leagues have lost out as well. There was probably eight or nine games that were supposed to be (played) here during the month of April." 

RECOVERY TEAM: Turner's Cross grounds keeping staff, Kevin McCabe, Andrej Vevera, Mick Murphy and Sean Murphy. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

The decision to close the ground for "extensive works" was confirmed after the April 5 derby between City and Ramblers - a fixture Cotter reckons "should have never been played". 

"The works started on the Saturday morning." Cotter said. "We have four ground staff here who have done incredible work. We also have Cork Sportsground Services - John and Shane Burke - who have been incredible. 

"The first week or so, we couldn't get on it with any machinery, as we had bad weather for another few days after. 

"We fertilised the pitch, verti-drained it, 60 tonnes of sand has gone onto it, seeded it, and there has been two applications of sprays have gone on it as well since."

On the cost, he said: "We've had to invest just over €5,000 for the repairs, and also, the local league games we lost that won't come back around, that's another four or five thousand euro in revenue lost. It has cost us the bones of 10 grand."

RETURN TIME: Turner's Cross Stadium ahead of reopening. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

The Munster FA and Cork City can now see the sunlight at the end of a month-long tunnel. As can the under-18 boys of Corinthians and Carrigaline. 

"It's a lovely one to come back to. We have the Cork City women here on Saturday night, which is being televised live on TG4, and then we have the men here on Monday. 

"The pitch will take a lot of games - when it's good. The game (Cork City v Cobh Ramblers) was only the tenth game played here this year. Six Cork City games, two Cobh games, and two local games. 

"People will probably moan about the Cobh (home) games, but we had to help them. Let's be honest, if the Cobh games weren't on here, there'd have been local league games on."