Cork GAA chairperson backs footballer's Páirc Uí Rinn ultimatum

Cork GAA Chairperson Marc Sheehan has backed the stance of the county's senior footballers who are adamant that they will not fulfil their Munster SFC fixture with Kerry if it is not played at Páirc Uí Rinn.

The provincial semi-final was due to be played at the venue on 7 May as Páirc Uí Chaoimh is unavailable due to the hosting of concerts by Ed Sheeran, but Munster GAA switched it to Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney because of their concerns over capacity.

The maximum attendance possible at Páirc Uí Rinn, even if necessary remedial work is carried out, would be 11,000.

As a result, the provincial council made the switch with the next two championship meetings between the sides to take place at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

In reaction to this, Cork panel said that they would fulfil the fixtures if it is to be played in Killarney and insisted that the game be played in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Speaking RTÉ's Allianz League Sunday, Sheehan reiterated his support for the football panel and called on the Munster Council to ensure the game is played in Cork.

"Since Wednesday night we’ve been talking to our team management and players," he said.

"We had an executive meeting on Friday evening and we have formally corresponded with the Munster Council requesting that this decision is revisited and that Páirc Uí Rinn is reinstated as the venue for the Munster senior football semi-final on 7 May.

"We are fully aligned in Cork around that decision to write in, and also the enabling works that are required, which had been flagged for quite number of weeks by the Munster Council in the run up to this.

"Those enabling works will be completed well in advance of 7 May and we will have safe capacity for 11,000 patrons on that night."

'We're appealing to the Munster