Explained - why some Cork fans have been left disappointed in the hunt for league final tickets

When is a home match not a home match?

While Cork’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final against Tipperary on Sunday, April 6 takes place at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, it is not a game hosted by Cork County Board and it is a central GAA fixture.

With the top-flight decider – which has a 4pm throw-in time – preceded by the Division 1B final between Offaly and Waterford, there are four sets of season-ticket orders to be fulfilled and, despite the location of the matches, Cork do not have any special entitlements compared to the other three counties.

Stand tickets went on sale on Monday afternoon after the announcement of the fixture details and quickly sold out, with terrace allotments spoken for by Tuesday morning.

GAA communications director Alan Milton outlined the process involved.

“Ordinarily, Croke Park might keep back some small amount of tickets for counties’ requirements,” he said.

“It would be minimal, but thereafter it is pretty much a general sale. Obviously, season tickets would be factored into it, sponsors, media, anything of that nature would be obviously taken out of it, but it wouldn't be massive.

“After that, when it’s a first-up and best-dressed scenario thereafter, they generally find the homes where the demand is greatest.”

Cork’s regular home games, against Limerick, Kilkenny and Galway, drew a total attendance of 65,605 or an average of 21,868 – a record for the competition in modern times. In last year’s championship, home games against Clare and Limerick were played in front of houses of 36,841 and 41,670 respectively.

With hurling in Offaly also on the crest of a wave, demand in the Faithful County is high, as evidenced by the large support they brought to Thurles for the 2023 All-Ireland U20HC final against Cork in Thurles.

The playing of the game in Cork is due to the presence of a home-and-away arrangement between the Rebels and Tipp for knockout league games – the last such fixture was the 2012 semi-final in Thurles, with a last-four clash at the old Páirc Uí Chaoimh before that in 2002.

Cork’s last home final was in 1980, when they met Limerick – both the drawn game and the replay were at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with games ‘paid back’ after Cork were unable to host during the period where the Athletic Grounds was being rebuilt.

It was in the original stadium that Cork met Tipperary in the 1960 league final, the last time that the counties met in the decider. On that day, Christy Ring scored 3-4 for Cork but it was not enough to stop the visitors claiming the title as they won by 2-15 to 3-8.