No home games for Waterford hurlers due to Walsh Park work

The Waterford hurlers will cede home advantage in the Allianz Hurling League and the Munster championship this year as work has begun on the redevelopment of Walsh Park.

The Déise were scheduled to host All-Ireland champions Limerick and Clare at the Waterford City venue in April/May but those games are now likely to be played in Thurles or Cork.

Their only victory in 12 round-robin provincial games to date came at Walsh Park against Tipperary in 2022.

Waterford are also due to host Dublin and Kilkenny in the league, with the county footballers' usual home of Fraher Field in Dungarvan a possible option for those games.

A statement from the Waterford county board said that "Phase 1 Redevelopment of Walsh Park has commenced. Following extensive discussions with the contractors and in order to meet the strict requirements of the six-month work programme, Walsh Park will not be available to host the scheduled inter-county games.

"Waterford GAA are currently in negotiations with Croke Park and the Munster Council regarding alternative venues for the Allianz Hurling League and Munster Championship games and the details will be advised in due course.

"It is the intention that Walsh Park will be available to host Waterford GAA Club Championship games from July."

The redevelopment of Walsh Park from its current 11,000-person capacity to 16,500 has been planned for almost four years but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rising cost of building materials.

The plans include a new roof on the existing main stand, as well as the construction of a new uncovered stand across from it. The uncovered stand is the first of three phases of the project and will be completed this year.

Waterford chairman Seán Michael O'Regan recently