Cork’s Division 1A National Hurling League final against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh sold out in under 24 hours. The April 6th showdown, part of a double-header alongside the Division 1B decider between Waterford and Offaly, is set for a 45,000 full house.
Fixture details were only confirmed on Monday, with tickets going on sale at 4.30pm that day. However, by Tuesday morning Ticketmaster no longer had tickets for sale. The Division 1B final on Sunday week will start at 1.45pm, followed by the main event between Cork and Tipperary at 4pm.
The participating counties had informed supporters on Monday that all tickets would be going on general sale and within hours none remained.
Cork GAA confirmed: “All tickets for the Cork vs Tipperary Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on April 6th are now sold out.
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“We do not expect any additional tickets to become available. Cork GAA does not have tickets for sale via our offices, as all tickets were made available through general sale via Ticketmaster. Thank you for your incredible support – we look forward to a fantastic atmosphere at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where we will also welcome Offaly and Waterford for the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B final.”
Offaly GAA say there was ‘a massive demand’ for tickets within the county and while they might have a very small number of tickets available to filter through clubs it is not expected any will go on general sale.
Given the speed at which fans snapped up tickets for the double-header, it has opened the debate on whether fixture makers might have been better scheduling both finals as standalone matches. A Waterford-Offaly showdown in Nowlan Park would probably have attracted a large turnout. However, part of the rationale behind the double-header was to facilitate TV.
Clare beat Kilkenny in last year’s league decider in front of 12,307 spectators at Semple Stadium.
Pat Ryan is hoping to lead Cork to a first National Hurling League title since 1998 while Tipperary’s most recent league triumph was in 2008. This will be the first league final between the counties since 1960.
The Division 1B final has also generated plenty of interest – particularly among Offaly fans – but the most important achievement for both the Faithful County and Waterford was to nail down promotion.
The Leinster Senior Hurling Championship begins on Saturday, April 19th with Offaly travelling to Parnell Park to face Dublin that evening. The Munster SHC then throws-in on Sunday, April 20th with Cork travelling to Ennis to play Clare. On the same afternoon Tipperary host Limerick in Thurles.
Waterford’s provincial opener is one week later, when they welcome Clare to Walsh Park.
