LAST UPDATE | 30 Mar 2022
THE MUNSTER GAA Council has opted to move the Munster SFC semi-final clash between Kerry and Cork to Fitzgerald stadium following a meeting this evening.
There was uncertainty over the venue for the game on Saturday 7 May, which had been fixed for Páirc Uí Rinn, with the larger capacity Páirc Uí Chaoimh unavailable due to an Ed Sheeran concert at the stadium.
It emerged in recent days that the Munster Council were considering a switch to Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, as it would have a greater capacity than Páirc Uí Rinn.
The Council has since decided to settle on that switch in venue. A statement released this evening also outlines that the fixture will form part of a double-header with Munster LGFA
The full statement reads:
“At a meeting of the Munster CCC held this evening [Wednesday 30 March], the venue for the Munster Senior Football Semi-Final between Cork and Kerry was discussed. The game was originally fixed for Páirc Uí Rinn given the unavailability of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, in the expectation that Páirc Uí Rinn would hold 15,000 spectators.
“Following an independent statutory annual health and safety inspection which identified a number of issues at the ground, the capacity was reduced to 9,200 and even if all of the required works are completed on time, the maximum capacity that can be achieved at the venue is 11,000.
“Given the average attendance of the last 3 Cork v Kerry matches in the Munster Senior Football Championship held at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is in excess of 22,000, [not including the Covid restricted match in 2020] Munster Council decided to move the 2022 Munster Semi-Final between the teams to Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney on Saturday 7 May at the earlier start time of 6pm.
“It is also expected that this game will form a double header with Munster LFGA (further details to follow).
“Based on the long-standing home and away agreement between Kerry and Cork, following on from this year’s game in Killarney, the next two meetings of the counties in the Munster Senior Football Championship will take place at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. A similar arrangement was successfully used during the recent redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.”
Earlier today, the Cork county board backed calls for Páirc Uí Rinn to remain as the venue for the Munster SFC final-four clash.
With Cork entitled to home advantage under the arrangement between the two counties – they met in Killarney for last summer’s Munster decider – the county board agreed with their senior football management that the game should remain in Páirc Uí Rinn.
This was outlined in a statement released this morning from the board to local Cork radio station Red FM.
“Further to correspondence from our Senior Football management, the Cork County Executive wishes, once more, to confirm Páirc Uí Rinn as our home venue for the Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final versus Kerry.
“Secondly, we are confident that the necessary works can be completed in time for the fixture once the venue is confirmed in the next few days.”
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