GAELIC GAMES NEWS ROUND-UP:THE GAA'S developing embrace of marketing tightened yesterday in the leafy confines of Lismore Castle in Waterford with the launch of this year's provincial championships by the Munster Council.

In 2006, in his first congress speech in office, recently departed president Nickey Brennan undertook to do something about what he considered the poor marketing of Gaelic games. The ‘Unrivalled’ marketing campaign for the championships was the first step in the association’s policy to market directly the big games.

A year previously Croke Park’s then marketing sub-committee had identified one important element of any successful campaign, noting in its recommendations: “Families (and the 15-30 age group) are probably key sectors to the target. It is recommended that a consistent policy towards family tickets be agreed by GAA units for all matches, so that the concept can be promoted in all GAA communication channels.”

Munster Council PRO Jim Forbes explained how this aspect is to be more broadly incorporated into the summer’s campaign and what prompted the provincial authority to organise a formal launch for their football and hurling championship.

“The thinking behind it was that in the current economic climate there is even more of a need to promote the games and devise incentives to attract people. One area is family tickets and there will be a lot more available for all games as well as specific promotions such as a free flag in the county colours for every child attending.

“We’ve also organised a deal with Killarney Tourism whereby anyone who overnights there can get a minimum of 10 per cent off their bill on production of a match ticket at participating businesses. It’s also a big day for Fitzgerald stadium as well because the redevelopment will be formally opened.”

The famous Killarney venue is just completing an overhaul of the dressingroom area to provide enhanced terracing facilities and push the capacity up to around 44,000 as well as improved changing facilities and a media room for post-match interviews.

“There will also be specific 125th anniversary projects,” said Forbes, “but the main focus is on the games. It’s all about marketing and promotion, giving incentives to people to come through the turnstiles.”

There has been a tremor of concern throughout the GAA at the prospect of the recession affecting attendances and admission prices for the recent National League finals were reduced. Championship prices are not being increased and earlier the week new president Christy Cooney said that even those pricing levels might be reconsidered.

According to Forbes the Munster Council are confident that this season will be a success partly due to the most influential factor of all, the championship draws, but also because of how the season has already unfolded in both codes.

“There isn’t a concern because we expect to be able to hold to last year’s figures at least. The hurling is opening with Cork and Tipp, which always draws a crowd but this season with Tipp having done so well in the league final on Sunday and Cork having put a lot of controversy behind them we’d expect a big turn-out.

“Limerick-Waterford holds a big attraction because of the managers involved.”

He is also confident that the football championship, which had a poor attendance record last year, will improve. Cork beat Kerry in the final but were again unable to repeat the feat in Croke Park but this year Conor Counihan’s side have been in good form, winning the Division Two title and earlier this week the county added the under-21 All-Ireland whereas their rivals took the Division One honours.

“We believe there’ll be a big crowd for Kerry-Cork if Cork get past Waterford because last year’s matches were memorable and the Cork crowd likes travelling to Killarney. In recent years there has been a fall-off in attendance at this fixture because they were playing each other so much, on average twice a year in championship for the past five years.

“It’s also been a great football league for the province with Munster teams winning the top three divisions. Tipperary have done particularly well and we would hope that that will be reflected in the crowds.”

Yesterday saw the April Vodafone player of the month awards go to the respective league winners. Tommy Walsh was recognised for a bustling display in the football final against Derry as well as a goal in the final divisional fixture against Galway. Kilkenny’s Richie Power, unable because of injury to play in last weekend’s league win against Tipperary, took the hurling award after a prolific month that included three goals in the rout of Cork.