Cork football has been thrown into a state of chaos after the Munster Football Association announced the closure of Turner's Cross for the foreseeable future over 'extensive damage' to the surface caused by last Friday's First Division game between Cork City and Cobh Ramblers.
This will impact fixtures in the League of Ireland and Women’s Premier Division, with the first casualty being Saturday’s scheduled meeting between Cork City Women and DLR Waves.
The club’s men’s team will also be affected, with games against Longford Town and Finn Harps, now expected to be postponed or held at a different venue.
Virgin Media Park is an option, Cork City played there three times in the 1990s and there was a possibility of a move there in 2021 while the club talked to the Munster Football Association about rent at Turner’s Cross.
The closure in 2024 was announced in a statement released on Monday evening, which reads: "Following a meeting of the Munster Football Association Executive it has been decided that Turners Cross will be closed indefinitely.
"Unfortunately we have had to make this decision in conjunction with and on the advice of our pitch contractors following the League of Ireland fixture that took place on Friday night last where extensive areas of the pitch have been severely damaged.
"We wish to ensure all affected parties that while there is a period of extensive works needed we endeavour to have the Turners Cross Pitch restored and playable as soon as possible."
The state of the pitch was a talking point last Friday evening, with the effects of Storm Kathleen visible from the first minute of the game. The pitch was cutting up and there were rumours around the ground that the fixture was going to be called off.
City won through goals scored by Jack Doherty, Barry Coffey, and Evan McLaughlin.
This is one of many games played on Turner’s Cross over the last few weeks, with other fixtures including two Cobh Ramblers home games.
The closure of the pitch comes at one of the busiest times of the year, when the venue is expected to host local cup finals.
