MUNSTER GAA OFFICIALS got it wrong when they underestimated the huge crowd present in Thurles for yesterday’s provincial senior football championship clash between Tipperary and Kerry.
Chairman Robert Frost has told The42 this morning that provincial Council chiefs had anticipated a figure in the region of five or six thousand but a whopping 11,248 clicked through the New Stand turnstiles at Semple Stadium for the semi-final.
The New Stand was the only access point to the Stadium for patrons and huge queues formed well before the scheduled 3.30pm start time, with throw-in delayed by 15 minutes to accommodate the large numbers outside.
Supporters were seen flooding towards the empty Old Stand via the Town End terrace and the large attendance generated a fine atmosphere, as Munster and All-Ireland champions Kerry got off to a winning start.
“To be fair, we underestimated as we thought there would be five or six thousand people there,” said Frost.
“A lot of Tipperary people came out and there was a big crowd there from Kerry too, with the fine day.
“But everything was sorted out, we put the game back by a quarter of an hour.
“Remember that Kerry were All-Ireland champions and I know people went to see them as well.
“After the match, there was a great atmosphere and all of the young people went out to get autographs.
“The return of the Gooch (Colm Cooper) was a big draw as well.
“I’ll put my hand up and say we estimated wrong but there was no great hassle.
“People cooperated with everybody and everything went well.”
Meanwhile, Frost believes that big attendances at yesterday’s fixtures should serve as proof positive that there is a definite future for the provincial championships, amid growing calls for the introduction of a Champions-League style format for Gaelic Football.
“People talking about doing away with the provincial championships, I don’t know what they’re going to say.
“There was a big crowd in Salthill (Galway v Mayo) and a big crowd in Armagh (v Donegal).
“I don’t know what these people want. I would say that something has to be done, to create a second competition, but they should all play in their own provincial competition first.
“After that, instead of going into the qualifiers, go a different route for the weaker counties, and have a separate competition with the final in August at Croke Park before an All-Ireland semi-final.”
Meanwhile, Clare native Frost is anticipating a figure in the region of 25-30,000 to descend on the Gaelic Grounds for next Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final between Limerick and Tipperary.
