GAA DIRECTOR-GENERAL Paraic Duffy admits that ‘it is not ideal’ in terms of location to bring Waterford and Wexford to Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the All-Ireland hurling quarter-final but feels it was the right decision given the magnitude of the occasion to mark the opening of the redeveloped stadium.
Three years ago the counties clashed in Nowlan Park in the qualifiers and last year they met in Thurles for their quarter-final.
18,964 supporters attended the 2014 tie, and while the Kilkenny venue would be closer to both counties, it was felt that the interest from supporters will be far greater on this occasion, given the progress both have made since.
Staging the game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh has raised concerns over traffic problems as both sets of supporters will be travelling the same route and Duffy acknowledges they must be addressed.
“I understand that and absolutely appreciate that. We did discuss that. Geographically, it is not ideal and there will be traffic issues that will have to be addressed as well as possible.
“But because we are opening a brand new stadium, a great facility, the feeling was that we would go for the two games over the weekend.
“Given the occasion that it is, and it is not too often that we have an opening of a stadium of this quality, I think that people will understand that as a once-off, that is fine.
“I don’t think Nowlan Park would have catered for the crowds that they would get for this game, absolutely not.”
Duffy believes a double-header was not an option given the interest in the opening matches.
“We felt that if we played them on the one day you wouldn’t be able to accommodate all who wanted to go, so we didn’t want to take that risk.
“We are opening a new stadium, (so) there’s a curiosity factor as well and people would want to see it. I think in fairness to supporters we divided them over two days.
“Given the enthusiasm in Cork at the moment, I think a lot of Cork people would want to go on one or both the occasions as well. Everybody who wants to go from the competing counties can do so now.
“There’ll be a good wow factor when people see it and it’s really impressive and a great stadium.”
Duffy revealed staging quarter-finals at the Cork venue is ‘not a permanent arrangement’ and didn’t rule out the possibility of other games being staged there this summer if All-Ireland semi-final replays are required.
“It depends on the pairings, but you would never rule it out. At the moment all that’s planned for Páirc Uí Chaoimh are the two quarter-finals, it’s a matter for the CCCC to fix games after that.
“It’s not a permanent arrangement. What happened was at the last Central Council meeting the CCCC recommended the quarter-finals be played there this year, and that was as far as it went.
“There was nothing decided beyond that. We are just looking at these two games at this stage.”
Hawk-Eye will in the future be in operation in Páirc Uí Chaoimh but for the quarter-final ties the company will supervise score detection technology at the venue.
“We are not using the HawkEye cameras — that’s the only difference. We just weren’t ready, those are high-speed cameras.
“There will be cameras, there is a score detection system and it will be powered by Hawk-Eye technology. That explains it as best as I can.”
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