Cork v Kerry could yet take place at Pairc Uí Rinn after all, after Kerry released a statement on Friday confirming they would be happy to play the game at the Rebels' smaller venue.
The game was initially scheduled to take place on May 7 at Pairc Uí Chaoímh in Cork. However, due to Ed Sheeran concerts happening in the stadium next week, Pairc Uí Chaoímh is now unable to host the Munster semi-final clash.
Cork had lodged a request to hold the game in their smaller venue of Pairc Uí Rinn instead. Three weeks ago, however, the Munster Council announced that the game would take place at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, due to concerns about the capacity of Pairc Uí Rinn.
After weeks of silence on the matter, Kerry GAA released a statement on Friday morning confirming they would be happy to play the game in Pairc Uí Rinn.
Kerry v Cork: Kingdom agree to Pairc Uí Rinn
In a statement on Friday morning, the Kerry County Board said:
The Executive of the Kerry County Board, following consultation with the Senior Football Team Management and subject to the approval of the Munster Council, has decided to accede to a request from Cork County Board to set aside for one year only (2022) the Home & Away agreement between the Counties in order that Páirc Uí Rinn may substitute for Páirc Uí Chaoimh as Cork’s ‘Home’ venue for this year’s Munster Senior Football Championship game.
The present Agreement would recommence in 2023 with a return to Fitzgerald Stadium and on the understanding Cork’s ‘Home’ venue would be confined to Páirc Uí Chaoimh thereafter.
Kerry County Board acknowledges the close relationship that exists between both Boards, the importance of protecting the integrity of the Munster Senior Football Championship and the priority now for the Team Management and Players to prepare for the game without further distraction.It is now a matter for the Competitions Control Committee of the Munster Council to confirm the venue for this game and Kerry County Board will not be making any further comment on this matter until such time as that process is completed.
The Munster Council's concerns about the capacity of Pairc Uí Rinn remain, and Kerry's willingness to play in a smaller venue is unlikely to change that.
The support from Kerry does, however, add to the massive push in Cork to hold the game in Pairc Uí Rinn.
With little over two weeks to throw-in in the Munster semi-final, time is running out to fix a venue. The Kerry County Board have certainly thrown a spanner in the works for the Munster Council with their updated stance.
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