A time of plenty

IN ALL FAIRNESS

The months of April and May have always been my favourite time of year, emerging from the dark winter months into the brighter evenings as everything becomes vibrant once more. In a sporting sense it is the same, particularly since the changing of the GAA calendar in recent years with the earlier start of the inter-county championships. It still grates with some, including those in the farming community who feel that calving and lambing season is no time to be playing big championship games, an entirely reasonable argument.

Then there are those who feel playing championship games up against the end of the soccer and rugby seasons is diluting the coverage they would have gotten when they largely had August and September to themselves previously, again an argument of merit.

When you saw the murky conditions the Kilkenny v Galway game was played in last Saturday, Ballinahinch’s Shane McGrath on co-commentary on RTE Radio was saying it is too early in the year for championship, again you couldn’t disagree with his argument.

Then again, you could get a dirty day weather wise in the summer, but as was proven on Sunday, no matter the time of the year, championship is still championship, and that’s what we got in Ennis and Thurles. It might not be short-sleeve weather yet but the action on the field still felt like it was high summer.

Ennis was packed to the rafters with just over 20,000 people for the All-Ireland Final repeat and if Cusack Park had double the capacity, they would have had no problem in filling it. A lot is made about crowds, particularly in the bigger venues when they aren’t full. 32,000-plus was a great crowd in Thurles for Tipp in Limerick, and if Tipp had greater momentum coming into it, there it would have been even greater.

This is what Munster has at the moment that the other provinces in both hurling and football look on with envy. The quality of the fare is what is drawing the crowds with the Munster Council benefitting financially, but they would want to be careful not to abuse the goose that is laying the golden egg. Yes, the fans are coming in their thousands but there is a tipping point, plus what we are seeing on the field won’t last forever.

On the flip side in Leinster, there will be a time when their championship will claim a greater share of the hurling limelight, and the crowds will come in greater numbers. At the moment, it doesn’t help that it feels like a Kilkenny procession, who at this stage are short odds to make another final. However, the race to see who joins them looks as enthralling as what Munster has on offer.

This Saturday, Dublin host Wexford and Offaly welcome Galway to Tullamore, massive games in the context of who finishes in the top 3 in Leinster. This is a big litmus test for the Leinster Council as these two games, on paper, look hugely competitive, and if Parnell Park and O’Connor Park get close to their capacities and generate an atmosphere for the players to feed off, they will get a sense of what Munster has at the moment.

There is a fair chance that four of the five senior hurling championship games this weekend will have full-houses, with Tullamore unlikely to hit its 17,000 capacity but anything over 10,000 will create a good atmosphere. Parnell Park should be full, as well as the limited capacity of Corrigan Park for Antrim and Kilkenny. Walsh Park’s limited capacity of 13,000 will ensure their clash with Clare is a sell-out, and if Cork v Tipperary wasn’t already before last Sunday, it will be now, and what an occasion it should be.

Another special occasion will be in New Ormond Park on Saturday when Nenagh Ormond host UCC in the All-Ireland League Division 1A Promotion Playoff final. How club officials will cope with the anticipated crowd making their way to the Thurles road venue is going to be difficult, particularly in playing their games this season on their new all-weather pitch, which takes the viewing stand redundant.

The atmosphere for last Saturday’s semi-final win over Blackrock College was special and the home support certainly came into play in the second half when Nenagh had to come from behind. It will be the same next Saturday against a UCC side that could come fully loaded with Munster players as the province will be keen to ensure their up and coming players have a higher level of AIL competition to play in, particularly with Garryowen and Shannon having fallen from the top tier in recent years.

A Nenagh Ormond win would make them a more viable option for a Munster youngster, particularly from Tipperary, to register with to play their club rugby with as part of their development. And this isn’t even the number one reason why a win for Nenagh Ormond would be so huge, a long way from it!