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Shane McGrath: Hurling league finals should be in Croke Park

Limerick celebrate victory in the 2019 Allianz Hurling Division 1 hurling final, the last time the decider was held in Croke Park
Limerick celebrate victory in the 2019 Allianz Hurling Division 1 hurling final, the last time the decider was held in Croke Park

The GAA is missing a trick by not hosting the Allianz Hurling Division 1A and 1B finals at Croke Park, according to former Tipperary hurler Shane McGrath.

Cork and Limerick will renew their bubbling rivalry when they lock horns at the Gaelic Grounds on Easter Sunday, 5 April, with that game preceded by the 1B decider between Clare and Dublin.

Since the turn of the millennium, the league showpiece has been held at GAA HQ on just three occasions (2003, 2011 and 2019, when Limerick got the better of Waterford).

The last four editions have been split evenly between Semple Stadium and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with the Rebels last year ending a 27-year wait for a league title on home soil.

Speaking on this week's RTÉ GAA podcast, McGrath insisted that Croke Park should be the venue given the demand for tickets among the four counties.

"I think the Gaelic Grounds is the wrong call.

"This is ideal for Croke Park. Limerick and Cork will sell this out on their own (the Gaelic Grounds capacity is just shy of 45,000). All the football league finals are on in Croke Park.

"Look what happened last year with the Offaly and Waterford supporters for the league final when it was Tipp and Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

"There were only a handful from Offaly and Waterford that were able to go. The ticket distribution might be different this time, but you’d get a right Clare and Dublin crowd that will want to go to this.

"This should be on in Croke Park.

"The counter-argument, putting a cost on people to to Croke Park, but I would think people would gladly go."

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