Croke Park admit grass was too long

Croke Park have accepted that the grass for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final was too long. It was noticeable at the weekend that the ball wasn't running easily and although the surface reduced the incidence of players slipping, it also attracted criticism from some of those involved.

"It was very high really," said Cork manager John Allen. "I've no doubt that they're making an effort to sort out the surface. I presume the idea was to prevent the slipping and sliding because the grass was so high. There wasn't as much slipping but the grass was too high. That's not an excuse - we didn't lose because the grass was too high."

Cork full forward Brian Corcoran also expressed his surprise at the state of the pitch. "It was the longest I've ever seen it. I assume it was to prevent fellas slipping like in the semi-final. It was the same for both teams but it certainly wasn't the pristine surface you'd expect in an All-Ireland final."

Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna accepted the validity of the criticism and explained the course of action had been taken to improve the grip for players.

"I agree with some of the commentators, who rightly pointed out that the grass was too long," he said. "It was deliberate on our part. We reviewed the surface after the Cork-Waterford semi-final and the advice we got was to improve the aeration and let the grass grow a little longer to get a greater stud grip. But there was over-compensation on the length. Players weren't slipping but the grass was a shade too long for ground hurling. It also looks longer because it's not striped."

McKenna added that the surface, which has been causing difficulties all summer, has improved in recent weeks thanks to technological assistance, designed to soften the pitch and make it more comfortable for players. We've experimented with a machine that spikes the pitch and blows compressed air beneath the surface. So far the procedure has made the pitch 40 per cent less hard."

He was also critical of the pitch invasion that eventually followed Kilkenny's victory, pointing out that the debris left behind hinders the preparation of the field for the next scheduled fixtures, the All-Ireland camogie and under-21 hurling finals.

"There's seven or eight hours' work involved in cleaning up after a pitch invasion. Broken glass, pens and earrings were all cleared up so they've spent the following day doing remedial work rather than getting the surface right for next weekend."

"For 10 minutes the crowd stayed off the pitch. Had we got the team up to the stand more quickly I don't think it would have happened."

From 1999-2001 presentations were made on the pitch, similar to other sports, and it's possible such a format will be reintroduced to protect the surface and maintain crowd safety.

"That would be under consideration. Nickey (Brennan, GAA president) is very much in favour of that. But first we have to ensure people won't come on to the pitch. The President of Ireland is involved in the presentation and you can't have a dignitary subjected to a swarm like that - for security reasons if nothing else."

There is, however, no plan to introduce such a presentation in advance of the football final on Sunday week. "We would hope if the crowds stay off the pitch, we could organise a lap of honour. If we had been successful with the hurling final, we might have tried it for the football final but it won't now happen before 2007."