GAA decision frustrates County Board officials

LIMERICK GAA officials have expressed their disappointment after Croke Park overlooked the Gaelic Grounds as a venue for this month’s All-Ireland under-21 hurling final.
Officers of the County Board had made representations to host the September 11 All-Ireland under-21 final between Tipperary and Galway, but this Monday Croke Park officials confirmed that the game would be played under floodlights in Semple Stadium, Thurles.
This decision has left local GAA officials fuming and up in Galway they are equally unimpressed.


On Monday night Galway hurling officials called a meeting with the management of the county’s under-21 side and it is understood that yesterday they made an official request to Croke Park’s management committee of the CCCC to have the venue changed. Leader Sport understands that Galway officials have nominated Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds, O’Connor Park in Tullamore and O’Moore Park in Portlaoise as alternate venues.
The All-Ireland under-21 hurling final has shared a billing with the All-Ireland senior camogie final in recent seasons, but this September the All-Ireland senior, intermediate and junior camogie finals will all be played on September 12 in Croke Park.
GAA officials made a decision earlier this year to move the under-21 decider out of Croke Park and in May fixed the final for Semple Stadium.
“This was done with a view to playing future finals in Semple Stadium. It just so happens that Tipperary happen to be in this year’s final,” said the GAA’s communications manager Alan Milton.
Galway GAA officials had written to Croke Park in the wake of their semi-final win over Dublin (Tipp beat Antrim in their respective semi-final) calling for the decider to be played at a neutral venue.
Limerick can meet all the criteria of Semple Stadium, Thurles in terms of a more than adequate capacity and floodlighting.
“The under-21 final would have been a great dry-run for October 23rds International Rules series in the Gaelic Grounds,” Limerick GAA secretary Mike O’Riordan told Leader Sport.
“Of course we are disappointed - we had hoped that the final would be fixed for Limerick. It was an ideal opportunity for a big game to be played in Limerick,” said the full-time secretary.
Meanwhile, it’s a quiet weekend on the local GAA scene in Limerick, but five different clubs will take part in the annual Meteor Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Sevens on the eve of Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling championship final between Kilkenny and Tipperary.
Recently deposed Limerick SHC champions Adare are in group eight along with Kilruane McDonaghs (Tipperary), Eire Og Corra Choill (Kildare) and Cashel King Cormacs (Tipperary). Croom will play All-Ireland club champions from 2006, ‘08 and ‘09 and All-Ireland Sevens winners in ‘04 and ‘08 Portumna who are led by Joe and Ollie Canning. Also in group four are Eire Og Annacarty-Donohill of Tipperary and Rapparees-Starlights of Wexford.
In group five Murroe-Boher are paired with defending champions Moycarkey Borris (Tipperary), Carrigtwohill of Cork and Lorrha-Dorrha of Tipperary. Patrickswell will face Bride Rovers (Cork), Portroe (Tipperary) and Blackwater-St. Brigid’s (Wexford). The fifth Limerick side are Granagh-Ballingarry and then will play Killenaule (Tipperary), Ballinhassig (Cork) and Shelmaliers (Wexford).

JEROME O’CONNELL