TOMÁS Ó SÉ believes it is ‘wrong’ that next Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final replay has been taken out of Croke Park.
The ex-Kerry defender, who won five All-Ireland titles and five Allstar awards in a stellar career, has also revealed the Gaelic Grounds was never a venue he found favour with during his playing days.
“I can only speak personally. I never enjoyed playing games in Limerick and it’s no disrespect to Limerick. I don’t know what it is.
“Some fields aren’t football fields in my eyes. I didn’t enjoy playing in Tralee either. I love Killarney. I love Pairc Ui Chaoimh and I love this place here (Croke Park).
“I think it’s brilliant that American Football can come here but I mean it’s a GAA field and it’s our field. It was bad planning to put an American football game in our busiest window of the year.
“I’ve been told it was in place a year, a year and a half but I think that it’s wrong. I think it (the replay) should be put to Saturday week. I think basing the decision on the fact that there could possibly be a draw between Donegal and Dublin is wrong.
“I think they should move both games. Sure what about it if the two games are on, on the same day, it’s not about money, it’s not about Dublin filling up the stadium. They’ll still get an extra game out of it if there is a draw.”
Ó Sé doesn’t agree with the theory that Kerry are going to benefit from a familiarity with the Gaelic Grounds.
“A lot of people are saying it will be of benefit. We haven’t played Limerick for the last six or seven years in the league or championship. A lot of our fellas now, maybe they have played there at minor level but it’s a different ball game going down there next weekend.
“I don’t think it’s of real benefit to Kerry to be honest with you and I didn’t like playing there personally when we were young. It was always a tough place to go.”
But the legendary defender reckons is predicting a raucous atmosphere for the game.
“I have never played there with a full house. They’ll be playing with a full house. The atmosphere will be different.
“Look, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and James Horan won’t be talking about that if the decision is made they will have to get on with it and the players will have to get on with it.
“I think looking back on history and the Dublin game that went to Cork and I played in the games in Thurles and there was unbelievable electric atmospheres. One of the reasons I didn’t like playing in Tralee and Limerick is that you couldn’t get that atmosphere going there.
“But I think that you will have an electric atmosphere. We’ll all be hopefully be talking about a Kerry win and a great game.”
