*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
TUS GAELIC GROUNDS has been set as the venue for this year’s Munster senior hurling final between Clare and Limerick.
A chance to win a first provincial title at the grade since 1998 is the prize on offer for Brian Lohan’s men who know they face no easy task going up against the reigning All-Ireland champions Limerick on June 11th with a start time of 1:45pm, the move forward by fifteen minutes is to facilitate live TV and the potential of extra time.
Details on a venue were due to be announced on Monday night following a meeting of the Munster Council’s competitions control committee. This decision follows a request from Clare to the Munster Council CCC on Monday evening of May 29th to postpone making a decision on the venue to allow Clare time to explore the possibility of playing the game at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
Earlier, Clare had proposed Semple Stadium, while Limerick had proposed Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The Munster Council CCC agreed to postpone making their decision, and both counties have confirmed that they had reached agreement to play the game at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Munster GAA chiefs had been keen to stage the showdown at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the first time since 2021 when Limerick defeated Tipperary in the decider but the first at full capacity since the redevelopment was completed in 2017. They were going to set the Cork stadium as the venue until Clare officials with the backing of Lohan and his management suggested the Gaelic Grounds.
Stand tickets will be distributed through participating County Boards only, while terrace tickets will be going on sale to the general public on Thursday June 1st at 12 Noon
With a current capacity of 44,023, the Gaelic Grounds is expected to sell-out for the decider. Clare will earn a share of the gate receipts as a result of the game taking place in Limerick.
Clare had one point to spare over Limerick when they clashed in the round-robin series at the end of April, since then the Treaty County drew with Tipperary and edged out Cork to secure their place in the final.
Their latest showdown will be the eighth time they cross paths in the Munster final but the first to be held in Cork. The 1955 meeting took place at the Gaelic Grounds but their clashes in 1918, 1974, 1981, 1994, 1995 and 2022 were all fixed for Semple Stadium in Thurles.
Politicians in Clare were among those calling for Semple Stadium to host the tie. Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) remarked, “Thurles is really the only option for Munster hurling final, convenient to fans from both counties and environmentally friendly, no need to have thousands of cars travelling extra miles emitting unnecessary C02”.
Deputy Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) labelled the potential of hosting the game in Cork as “madness”. She stated, “In my opinion bringing thousands of supporters from Clare and Limerick all the way to Cork is madness. We have perfectly suitable venues in both Semple Stadium and the Gaelic Grounds, considering the current cost of living crisis, fuel prices and the carbon footprint of those travelling I am appealing to the decision makers in the GAA to see sense and have this game at a more suitable location”.
