Munster have got a home draw should they win their HC QF game and will meet the winners of the Harlequins/Leinster game which means that if Munster and Leinster win their QF games they will meet in the Semi Final and the only place in Ireland where the game could be played would be Croke Park if Croke Park is not available for the game it would have to be played in Wales or England which in these times of recession would be very hard on the supporters of both teams to travel to

My question is will the game be played in Croke Park ?

Redhot (Cork) - Posts: 739 - 27/01/2009 13:31:43    190750

Under current rules.... No.

denzel (None) - Posts: 452 - 27/01/2009 14:41:54    190843

Surely Ravenhill would be a better and more sensible option!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 27/01/2009 14:45:02    190850

i doubt very much if it would be opened. if i was munster id want it played in limerick, craics 90 down there.

joan_balantine (UK) - Posts: 824 - 27/01/2009 14:45:10    190851

Well if Munster can get over the Ospreys then the game should definetly be played at Croke Park, could you image the atmosphere and colour that the Munster supporters would bring to croker and especially if they ended up playing Leinster. Its certainly a match that id love to attend whether Leinster is playing or not but first we'll have to wait and see if Munster wins their QF. Then wait and see if the GAA will let them play in croker should they seek entry, which if they do it would be a disgrace for the GAA to deny them.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 27/01/2009 14:49:13    190860

Jes, if they have a home draw, then surely they will play in Thomond. After all, they have spend a small fortune on upgrading it, and at the first oppertunity, they up sticks to Croke Park.

If its good enough for the All-Blacks, its good enough for Leinster. Would be a mistake anyway, as correct me if i'm wrong, would that not be a home draw for Leinster? Regardless of ticket allocation!!

Caff01 (Mayo) - Posts: 124 - 27/01/2009 14:49:57    190862

The venue has to have a 20,000 min
if the GAA approve it I would suggest Pearse Stadium as thge perfect location

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 27/01/2009 14:52:38    190865

Munster would have no problem with it being in Croker, none. But it may not be available. Ravenhill is a non starter.
I'd say it will be croker when push comes to shove. Gaelic Grounds and RDS also obvious venues but they are not neutral, not really anyway

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 27/01/2009 15:00:29    190877

Caff, it cant be Thomond. Thats the rules. This is not soccer. U cant play a SF on your home patch

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 27/01/2009 15:01:35    190880

Why did redhot start this thread off by saying:

"Munster have got a home draw should they win their HC QF game and will meet the winners of the Harlequins/Leinster game. . ."

do they have a home game if they get to the semis or not?

peterpan (Louth) - Posts: 80 - 27/01/2009 15:05:57    190889

Caff, it cant be Thomond. Thats the rules. This is not soccer. U cant play a SF on your home patch
Liamwalkinstown , 27/01/2009 at 15:01

If Munster beat Ospreys they have a "home semi-final draw" ?

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12400 - 27/01/2009 15:07:09    190892

It cant be Thomond or RDS. Has to be netutral and has to have a capacity of 25,000 or more so Ravenhill is out. Croker or outside Ireland is the only option. Time for the great GAA to help out our neighbours again and open up Croker for it as having it outside would be unfair on recession-bitten fans. A special resolution will be required.

spudenator (Laois) - Posts: 1052 - 27/01/2009 15:12:20    190902

Itd be great to see it in Croker. Money spinner for the GAA as well everything else..

derfil1 (Kildare) - Posts: 1612 - 27/01/2009 15:15:49    190910

match can be played on any ground that has over 25,000 capacity as long as its not thomond or donnybrook....thurles would be perfect!!!..but dont worry leinster won't make it anyway

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 27/01/2009 15:16:09    190911

The rules for which venues can be used in a HC Semi-final mean that you can't use your home ground and the venue you use must be able to accommodate 20,000 fans. This means that neither Thormand Park or Ravenhill can be used. It's possible that the RDS could be used as it is not Munster's home ground, but it is Leinster's (the rules are very unclear on this point). Right now the speculation is that Cardiff will be used. Personally I think it will be a real shame if the Irish economy was to lose the money that would come with hosting such a semifinal.

Hochopepa (Dublin) - Posts: 42 - 27/01/2009 15:23:18    190917

I doubt the GAA would say no. At this satge of economic downturn to turn your nose up at a few million is not going to happen. Plus if they did they would take millions out of the economy! The GAA aren't the backwards organisation they used to be... I hope....

Tonrio (Offaly) - Posts: 54 - 27/01/2009 15:24:39    190922

is croke park def available??? If thats not an option maybe semple stadium or windsor park?? any ground to be considered has to have a 25000 capacity

Dubfan85 (Dublin) - Posts: 26 - 27/01/2009 15:25:29    190926

Surely if it has to be a neutral venue, it would have to be ravenhill or galway sportsgrounds. It's not our fault that they don't have a bigger stadium of their own.

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 27/01/2009 15:28:58    190938

Breff, in the HC a Home Draw in the semis means a home country, not a home venue
so if they were to meet a welsh/scottish/english/french team it would be in Ireland, but never in TP
Because Munster got the "home" side then if its played in the RDS against Leinster, the RDS will officially be munsters "home" venue and as such Munster will get the bulk of the tickets
If Leinster were the "home" side against a weksh team say, it would be in TP.....Make sense?

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 27/01/2009 15:30:43    190947

It can be the RDS lads as its not Munsters home ground, and if Leinster were drawn first it could be TP with Leinster getting the bulk of the tickets
silly, i know
but thats the rules!
It can be the RDS but Munster will be the "home team" with the bulk of tickets!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 27/01/2009 15:32:14    190953