TWELVE potential venues which could be used if Ireland’s bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup is successful were announced on Tuesday and a Kerry stadium has been included.
The grounds were revealed as Ireland’s entry into the ’Candidate Phase,’ was announced by chairman of the 2023 bid oversight board, Dick Spring.
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Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney was included along with seven other GAA grounds and four venues already used for rugby matches.
Mr Spring said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Ireland to host one of the world’s biggest sporting events and we intend to ensure Ireland’s proposition will be world class and compelling.
“We believe Ireland is ready to stage a Rugby World Cup like no other. A tournament that will capture the imagination of the world. A festival of rugby that will be full of Irish people’s unique spirit and an event that will help rugby to reach new audiences throughout the world.”
According to Irish Rugby, hosting the Rugby World Cup would be worth more than €800 million to the Irish economy, with 445,000 visitors expected to travel to Ireland throughout the tournament.
The 12 venues are Croke Park (83,200), Aviva Stadium (51,711), RDS Arena (18,677), Nowlan Park Kilkenny (26,000), Pairc Ui Chaoimh (45,770), Thomond Park (26,897), FitzGerald Stadium Killarney (38,200), Pearse Stadium Galway (34,000), McHale Park Castlebar (31,000), Casement Park (34,500) Kingspan Stadium (18,168), Celtic Park Derry (17,000).
Gavin O’Connor looks forward to Kerry v Roscommon in the Allianz National Football League R2 game in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on Sunday at 2pm…
Johnny Buckley will partner David Moran in midfield on Sunday. File Photo
THESE two sides paths don’t cross often, but when they do it usually matters.
The 1980 All-Ireland Final will stick on many people’s mind as the ultimate battle between Kerry and Roscommon.
Kerry eventually slogged that one out, but it would take 26 years before the Rossies got some revenge for that defeat when they overcame Kerry in the 2006 All-Ireland Minor Final after a replay.
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Shane Enright, Tommy Walsh, David Moran and Johnny Buckley are four men that lost that minor final. The late Paddy Curtin was also in that side.
The match on Sunday has a less illustrious backdrop, with both sides needing to get off the mark in the league. Last week, a flat Kerry side were outclassed by the Dubs while Roscommon fell to Monaghan with a late Conor McManus goal proving decisive.
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For Roscommon, a trip to Killarney is not the ideal fixture on the rebound, while for a depleted Kerry, it might be seen as a bit of a cushy landing after another Croke Park defeat to Dublin.
This year, the joint management team of Kevin McStay and Liam McHale have brought a bit of a buzz around Roscommon. One of the National League’s surprise packages, they finished top of Division Two led by Killorglin man John Evans.
A promising league campaign was followed by a disastrous championship. Many people had touted the Rossies to test Mayo in Connacht.
But after defeat to an unfancied Sligo they never got the opportunity and eventually exited the qualifiers at the hands of Fermanagh. John Evans went from hero to zero in matter of months and left the post in August.
Last week, mistakes in the end are what cost Roscommon against Monaghan, who are now very much a Division 1 standard outfit. Kerry were pedestrian against Dublin and in the aftermath Eamonn Fitzmaurice was very clear in his disappointment at the performance.
A loss on Sunday will put Kerry in murky waters, so as far as staying up, it’s a must-win match.
On home soil a win is expected, but the way in which Kerry have creaked into action the last few years you’ve got to sense we could have a few sticky moments and a far from a vintage performance is expected.
This early in the year, ‘vintage’ won’t be required.
The view from the main stand in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
THE Munster Council have announced that there will be a reduction in ticket prices for the Kerry v Cork Munster Final replay in Killarney on July 18 at 7pm.
Both terrace and stand tickets have been reduced by €5, meaning a terrace ticket is now €20 and a stand €30.
Terrace tickets will go on general sale via Centra, Supervalu and tickets.ie from 10am, tomorrow, Wednesday July 8.
A limited number of stand tickets went on sale to the public before the drawn match after both Cork and Tipperary did not use up all of their allocation.
Full ticket info…
All adult tickets for the replay have been reduced by 5 euro.
The ticket prices are as follows –
Adult Terrace: €20
Blue and Green Terrace: Adults Only
Red Terrace Family Area: Adults €20, Juveniles €5
Students & OAP’s can buy full price Adult tickets and receive concession of €10 at designated turnstiles on the day.
Stand tickets (€30) are being allocated to the two participating County Boards and Season Ticket holders
Munster SFC Final Replay – Kerry v Cork – ticket prices reduced by €5 & go on sale from 10am tomorrow – http://t.co/X9Pen7a095
The Kerry team huddle before throw-in of the drawn match against Cork in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
DUE to a clash of matches, there is a chance Saturday week’s Munster Final replay between Kerry and Cork in Killarney may not be televised.
The Munster Council have announced a throw-in of 7pm, which is the same time Sky Sports are scheduled to show one of the Round 3B qualifiers.
RTE are interested in showing the Munster Final replay, but due to an agreement they have with Sky where both networks won’t show GAA matches at the same time puts screening the Kerry v Cork clash is in jeopardy.
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It is reported that all parties are currently trying to come to an agreement, so all may not lost yet.
The reason for scheduling the match at 7pm is due to traffic issues. Both the Munster Council and Gardai want an evening throw-in to ensure people have plenty of time to get to the match.
If the match isn’t televised, this is expected to provide a big boost the attendance figures with fans hoping for a rematch as thrilling as the first game where over 35,000 paid in.
There also could be an issue with lighting. If, on Saturday week, it’s a dull day and the goes into extra-time, the fact that Fitzgerald Stadium does not have floodlight system could cause problems for players.
The Munster SFC Final replay between Cork & Kerry will take place on Saturday July 18th at 7pm at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
LIVES were nearly lost one year on the way to the Munster Final with Páidí Ó Sé behind the wheel according his nephew in his column in the Irish Independent today.
One of the highlights of Darragh and Tomás Ó Sé’s recent articles in the national press has been the odd yarn involving their late uncle.
With the game against Cork now days away, Tomás cast his mind back to a car journey from Ventry to Fitzgerald Stadium on Munster Final day that nearly cost the lives of the Ó Sé clan.
“I remember one year, the traffic was backed up for maybe a mile and a half stretching out from the Golden Nugget pub” writes Tomás in the column.
“We’d timed it badly and were going to be late now. Anyway, Páidí just swung right and did his best Nigel Mansell impression down the wrong side of the road. Anything coming against us and we were dead.
“Next thing a garda launches himself out in front of us, risking life and limb. You could see from his face what he was thinking. ‘Jesus Christ, what kind of lunatic have I got here?’ It wasn’t a ticket this man had in mind. ‘Twas jail.”
“Next thing he spots who it is behind the wheel and, being a local, breaks into a roguish grin. ‘Ah Lord God, ’tis yourself Páidí, drive on there and beat the shite out of those Cork fellas today!'”
“People stuck in the jam spotted who it was too and started hooting their horns in support. And the buzz PO would be getting at that moment… you just couldn’t buy it,” Tomás wrote.
Epic levels of roguery and neck, and we wonder why we Kerry people have a reputation for cuteness!
.On a fine day in Killarney, there is no better place to be for a game of football.
Gavin O’Connor says we all love Munster Final day against the Rebels in Killarney. Here’s why…
1. The Almost Guaranteed Sunshine
As sure as the Gooch breaking rebel hearts, the sun will be out on Munster Final day. Anything other than the glorious weather is a strange anomaly, like El Niño, or Cork winning in Killarney.
Mind you, the forecast isn’t great and it’s now 20 years since Cork won at Fitzgerald Stadium.
2. The Town Turns Red For A Day
For Corkonians, a Munster Final in Killarney – as well as a trip to Thurles – is marked off as a must-attend fixture in their sporting calender. For many, the game is secondary, to the mingling they do with their betters across the county bounds.
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3. The History
Since the introduction of the back door, it’s true a lot of the magic has been taken out of Munster football’s big day, but as anticipation grows when people make their way to the ground, they will take part in a tradition which has helped shape both counties sporting identity for over 100 years.
4. Enemy Lines Can Be Breached
In order to keep the gene pool nicely diluted, another time honoured tradition happens when two people somehow overcome their tribal differences and disappear off into the Killarney night. You’d be surprised at the amount of Munster Final romances that bloomed out there.
5. Shure It’s Only Out The Road
One of the undoubted advantages is the short travel time. You can rest your head on Saturday night safe in the knowledge you will cop plenty of Zs and there will be no rush either for the fry in the morning before you head out the door.
6. The Bandwagoners
Considering some of my best friends are ‘Bandwagoners’ I have nothing against them, in fact they bring a whole lot to the table. Fitzgerald Stadium would be more than half empty without them! They also say things like “will the game sell out?” and “what time is kick-off?”.
7. One big happy family
When it comes down to it, we may have our differences, but half of us are all related anyway! We’re also the only two counties who possess the power to really quieten the Dubs.
Kerry season ticket holders, David and Seamus Walsh. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
SOME Kerry season ticket holders have been left dissatisfied with the seats they have been allocated for this Sunday’s Munster SFC Final in Killarney.
Many of the fans, who are seen as the most loyal Kerry supporters, have been left with tickets on the fringes of the main stand in Fitzgerald Stadium.
But the Munster Council point out that the stand capacity in Killarney is limited and they do their best for the season ticket holders.
O’Rahilly’s Villas man, David Walsh, who runs the Kerry fan Facebook page ‘Sam 37′, says he has been inundated with messages from disgruntled Kerry season ticket holders who feel they are being taken for granted.
“I go to every Kerry game without fail. I think the tickets are very poor,” he said. “I’d rather a terrace ticket in the middle of the field, but they won’t swap stand tickets for terrace tickets which is very frustrating.”
“It’s only in Killarney where tickets are bad. In Croke Park, they’re are normally very good. I don’t know who is getting the tickets in the middle of the stand because everyone I’ve been talking to has got a seat from the 21 yard line, down to the goals,” he says.
Traleetoday.ie understands that it is the Munster Council, not the Kerry County Board, who allocates the season ticket holders’ tickets for Sunday’s match and that the allocation has to do with an issue of stand capacity.
The Munster Council points out that the main stand in Fitzgerald Stadium holds just over 8,000 seats and from that total there are almost 2,000 seats to be allocated to season ticket holders.
The 8,000 all seater stand has to accommodate, along with the season ticket holders, the three competing counties, allocations for players families, sponsors and non-competing counties.
Because most of the season ticket holders for the match on Sunday are from Kerry, those tickets have to be taken from Kerry’s overall allocation.
The Munster Council says it does its best to look after season ticket holders and they are getting the best available seats having regard to all the other obligations the Council has to meet to counties and others.
“However, clearly some people are not happy while I’m sure others will recognise the benefits of being guaranteed a stand seat in a stand which provides for very good viewing overall,” say the Munster Council.
They point out that the issue is exclusive to the Killarney venue because of capacity issues, as in Semple Stadium and Croke Park, season ticket holders get much better tickets due to the huge seating capacity in both stadiums.
FANS hoping to soak up the pre-match atmosphere in Killarney for the Munster finals will have an early start on Sunday week.
Kerry will play Cork in the senior final on Sunday July 5 at 2pm in Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney, so fans won’t have much time to enjoy the craic in the watering holes in the town centre, especially since many Kerry fans will want to see the minor final against Tipperary at 12 noon.
The almost guaranteed dry weather (except for the washout of 2002!) and banter with the noisy neighbours makes Munster Final day in Killarney always something to savour.
At least we’ll all be home early…
Ticket information…
Adult Terrace: €25
Blue and Green Terrace: Adults Only
Red Terrace Family Area: Adults €25, Juveniles €5
Students & OAP’s can buy full price Adult tickets and receive concession of €10 at designated turnstiles on the day.
Stand tickets (€35) are being allocated to the three participating County Boards and Season Ticket holders.
Gavin O’Connor says Kerry have enough to get over their great rivals on Sunday…
Kerry huddle before National Football League opening game against Mayo in Kilaraney. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Kerry v Dublin, Allianz National League, Fitzgerald Stadium, Sunday, 2pm throw in.
A HELL of a lot can change in a year.
At this point 12 months ago there was a “crisis” in Kerry football and Dublin were “unbeatable”.
Fast forward to this Sunday, it’s Kerry who are the champions while Dublin are still left scratching their heads and wondering how did it all go wrong?
But we can’t be too smug; Kerry’s record against Dublin since the 2009, is well, to put it mildly, dismal. In the games since that 2009 drubbing, the record stands as seven games played, six wins for Dublin, one for Kerry.
The solitary win in six years coming in 2012 in Croke Park. Only two games in that time have been played in Fitzgerald Stadium, the game in 2013 will stand out in people’s minds as a match where Kerry only kicked four points in total.
Many people can take or leave the national league, but I think everyone will be hoping this poor patch we’re going through against our most storied of rivals will begin to swing the other way again this Sunday.
Though they would never admit it, Eamonn Fitzmaurice along with his Dublin counterpart, Jim Gavin, will want to gain enough knowledge as possible with one eye on a championship meeting in August or September.
The team news is that Kieran Donaghy will run out for the first time as Kerry captain, the Rock man being well acquainted with the opposition’s support from previous encounters, no doubt the travelling Hill will give him hell to pay once more.
Anthony Maher, will make his first appearance in the new year, moving into midfield, while the ring rusty, Tommy Walsh will make way.
One thing that can be said now is, Kerry have some great competition for places in midfield between Walsh, Maher and Sheehan.
At this point it feels like David Moran is a guaranteed starter – what a difference a year makes indeed.
So, not much change at all in the three teams Eamonn Fitzmaurice has picked in the league this year, perhaps advancing to the latter stages of the competition rather than experimentation is priority.
What may take a slight sting out of this match is both sides have a win notched up after losing their opening round games; Dublin failing in Cork yet again, then bouncing back against Donegal, the side that rocked them in the summer.
A worry for Kerry is, they may be still behind the pace after a late start to the season.
Against Mayo, the extra few weeks under Mayo’s belt really showed. Dublin also have the three or four week jump on Kerry. It’s still so early in the year, that maybe the difference.
I’m going to predict a Kerry win. It’s a settled side, the forwards buzzed in the latter stages of the Derry game and the Dubs can’t beat us three times in a row in Killarney, surely not?
Saying that, I’d gladly take ten lost games in Killarney in the league for one game in September.
Kieran Donaghy beat the goalie but his effort is saved off the line. Photo by Dermot Crean
AUSTIN STACKS, booked their place in the SuperValu Kerry County Senior Championship semi-final after they overcame West Kerry by 0-14 to 0-7 at a rain-soaked Fitzgerald Stadium.
Stacks will now go into the semi-final draw tomorrow which will be made live on Radio Kerry at lunchtime. They will face either, Mid Kerry, Dingle or Shannon Rangers.
Judging by the way the Rock brushed aside divisional side West Kerry, they are now well capable of bridging that gap of 20 years without a county title.
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Shane O’Callaghan was in fine form against West Kerry. Photo by Dermot Crean
The players who stood out for Stacks were Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan and Shane O’Callaghan. The match was the second of a double header in Killarney where, as soon as the ball was thrown in, it turned into a squally nightmare for players to operate in.
The opening exchanges exhibited this and it was West Kerry who actually took the lead first, but this was to be the last time the men from the west would lead in the match with Stacks taking full control from then on.
Midfielder, Wayne Guthrie contributed greatly to this dominance in the centre of the park, aided by the Rocks half backs who hoovered up everything that came their way to make sure West Kerry could not get a foothold in the game.
High fielding action from the Austin Stacks V West Kerry championship tie in Fitzgerald Stadium. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kieran Donaghy was selected at full forward, but only rarely went into that position, preferring to roam the pitch in Killarney and be a link man for his side’s attacks.
The game at half-time was all but over, with Stacks leading by 0-9 points to 0-2. In such horrible conditions the Stacks backs looked particularly mean, with Conor Jordan and Greg Horan not giving an inch in the tackle and winning possession.
In the second half, Stacks tagged on an extra five points, the pick of the bunch being a long range effort by Wayne Guthrie right at the beginning of the second half. West Kerry put up some resistance towards the end, but the game was long gone from them at that stage.
The Rockies march on…
• Full match report and more photos will follow tomorrow
