Cooney says it is too early to judge attendances

GAELIC GAMES: NO TOM Kenny, no Ronan Curran, and no Jerry O'Connor. No Cathal Naughton, no Michael Cussen, and of course no Seán Óg Ó hAilpín. No wonder Cork supporters appear a little indifferent towards their Munster hurling quarter-final against Tipperary.

With only 3,000 tickets reportedly pre-sold in Cork ahead of Sunday’s game in Thurles, and only around 11,000 in Tipperary, the Munster Council will do well to draw an overall attendance above 30,000.

Attendances at the seven championship games last Sunday were already down on expectations, although the GAA aren’t panicking yet.

Speaking at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy Under-21 hurling championship in Croke Park, GAA president Christy Cooney said it was still very early days in terms of championships attendances, and some of the biggest attractions have yet to play.

“It’s too early to judge attendances,” says Cooney. “We’ll have a better idea in two or three weeks’ time, look at how they’ve gone and we’ll see from there.

“I was down in Cork for the last two days, visiting schools, and there seems to be a very positive interest from the clubs. It is usual for it to run so late in the week in Cork, that’s been the tradition. From what I hear they’re expecting 30,000 in Thurles next Sunday, which would be great. The days of getting 50,000 for the first round of the Munster championship are well moved on.”

When Cork played Tipperary at the same stage in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last year – and caused a big upset – the attendance was 36,827, actually up on the 35,102 attended the same game in 2009.

Yet Cork only now boast five survivors from their last All-Ireland win in 2005; goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack, defenders John Gardiner and Brian Murphy, and forwards Ben O’Connor and Niall McCarthy.

“If we can hold our numbers as well as last year we’ll be very pleased,” added Cooney, “because it is challenging times for everybody.

“I still think the potential is there for us to hold our numbers, but it all comes down to where the standard is on the day, how teams perform and how teams gather momentum.

“Last year Down created tremendous momentum in the football championship, and I think we have some clinkers of games coming up. Sunday in Thurles should be a good game, then you have Limerick against Waterford. Leinster hurling looks tremendous as well.

“The football is always competitive. I know Munster looks to be the Cork-Kerry final again but Leinster will be competitive. Dublin are always important to our hurling and football championships. As we all know they bring big crowds with them and we want that too, but look the most important thing is that we have a good competitive championship with good quality of games, good sportsmanship and that everyone comes to enjoy it.”

Yet with stand tickets for Thurles priced at €30 it’s far from a cheap day out – although Cooney insisted that extra efforts were being made in all the provinces to put good packages in place.

“My understanding is that Munster haven’t changed their baseline prices but the provinces make their own decision about ticket prices. Centrally, we haven’t an input into that.

“We had some discussions earlier this year with the provinces about ticket prices. They have their views and what they felt was appropriate to charge and the packages they’re putting in place. Let’s see how it goes. It’s a bit early to be commenting on whether prices made a significant difference to attendances and I’d prefer to comment on it more later in the championship when we get a view on the attendances that take place.”

Cooney admitted Saturday’s clash between the Armagh-Down Ulster quarter-final and the Champions League final wasn’t ideal, but that the decision not to bring forward the game rested solely with the Ulster Council.

“I didn’t advise them no. It’s a matter for the provinces to make their own decisions, to manage their own fixtures and they have made a decision that it is going ahead in competition with the Champions League. But I think it is going to be a highly-competitive game, and I would hope the attendance would be very good.”

Meanwhile, a statement from the Meath executive committee confirmed football manager Séamus McEnaney has been asked to nominate two new selectors from within the county, following the resignation of Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan last weekend.

“It is with regret that Meath executive committee confirms the resignations of Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan as senior team selectors. We wish to place on record our sincere gratitude for their efforts and commitment since their respective appointments.

“Executive committee has met and decided that in accordance with Bye Law 38 that the team manager Séamus McEnaney be asked to nominate two selectors for ratification. Furthermore, in accordance with the wishes of the executive committee these two selectors must be from within County Meath.”