Croke Park is one of the world's best stadiums. Not only is it among the biggest in Europe, but it also has an absolute pristine playing surface.
The staff in the stadium do a remarkable job in keeping the pitch in top condition, especially when you consider the volume of games that take place in the ground over the course of any given summer.
It is in top condition once again this afternoon ahead of the All-Ireland hurling final, although one of the rules brought in to ensure the integrity of the playing surface has been brought into question.
Croke Park ruled questioned before All-Ireland final
Before a hurling match at Croke Park, measures are taken to ensure that wear and tear on the pitch is kept to a minimum before throw-in.
One such rule bans players from carrying hurleys onto the pitch in the buildup to the game, meaning members of each panel are empty-handed as they walk onto the surface for the first time.
Kilkenny players walk the pitch before the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final against Limerick at Croke Park. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
It seems like a rather odd law, especially when you consider how well the pitch copes with a heavy schedule each summer. Surely ten minutes of players walking around pucking a ball wouldn't make much difference?
Speaking on The Sunday Game ahead of the All-Ireland final, both Donal Óg Cusack and Liam Sheedy questioned why such a rule is needed.
Dónal Óg Cusack is unhappy with the warm-up rules at Croke Park, feeling the players should be prioritised over protecting the pitch.
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Cusack: The Kilkenny players were out and the grass and didn't have their hurleys with them. I get a bit excited when I see that, because how can the Association stop hurlers bringing hurleys onto Croke Park today?
Do you know why I think they can? There are still fellas sitting up in the nice seats today that think those players are here to serve them. I guarantee you that what happened down in Tipperary, that's not disconnected. They wouldn't admit to it, but that tone still exists in the Association.
This stadium was built on the backs on the likes of Martin Storey's men, Anthony Daly's men (the Wexford and Clare jubilee teams respectively). Of course you need to have a structure and organisation, but it's the players that built this stadium and not the other way around...
Closed for what? What difference is it going to make? How can you stop a hurler bringing a hurley onto Croke Park? I just can't comprehend it.
Sheedy: To be honest, it's a petty rule. Anyone who invented it never played the game, it's silly.
I often hear about players and they had a game of keepy-uppy at 2.30 or 2.45 in the buildup to All-Ireland final and it relaxed them. To say you can't bring your hurley out is a bit ridiculous.
It certainly seems like a rule which does not give much regard to the player, needlessly limiting what they can do in order to prepare for such a big occasion.
Hopefully a bit of common sense will prevail around this issue in the near future.
SEE ALSO: Donal Óg Cusack Blasts 'Brutal' Tipperary GAA Statement
