Former Ireland midfielder Liam Miller’s memorial match has been moved from Páirc Uí Chaoimh to Turner’s Cross due to a conflict with GAA rules.
Miller passed away in February after a prolonged battle with oesophogeal cancer. A memorial match was organised in his honour with the proceeds to be donated to his wife Clare and his three young children Kory, Leo and Belle as well as the Marymount Hospice, where he died.
The organisers of the memorial match confirmed that an approach had been made to the Cork county board with a view to hosting the match at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
The board understood to be receptive to the idea, however, in accordance with the GAA’s rule 42, which states that grounds controlled by Association units shall not be used or permitted to be used, for horse racing, greyhound racing, or for field games other than those sanctioned by Central Council, the match will not be played at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and will instead be played at Cork City’s home ground of Turner’s Cross.
Every pitch except Croke Park has to go before Congress for permission for outside use. So even though Cork county board were open to letting the Liam Miller testimonial match go ahead in pairc Uí Chaiomh (45000) they can’t use it and it will be in Turners Cross (7000) my God
— Tomás Ó Sé (@tomas5ky) July 19, 2018
SportsJOE contacted the GAA to ask if an exemption could be made for the Liam Miller match at Pairc Ui Chaoimh but a spokesperson from the association confirmed that the matter of allowing field games to be played at grounds outside of Croke Park would have to be reviewed at Congress.
Croke Park hosted ‘The Croke Park Classic’, an American football match between University of Central Florida and Penn State in 2014, with GAA Commercial Manager and Croke Park Stadium Director, Peter McKenna also confirming last year that the association would look at the possibility of bringing an NFL game to headquarters in the future.
Miller’s memorial match will go ahead as scheduled on September 25 with Cork Lord Mayor Mick Finn lamenting the loss of Miller.
#RoyKeane at the launch of the Liam Miller tribute events which take place on September 25th. Tickets for the match will go on sale Friday @TicketmasterIre @mickfinn01 @CorkCityFC @RyanGiggs_cc @rioferdy5 @paulscholes pic.twitter.com/JoD7R8buZr
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) July 18, 2018
“The Miller family suffered a devastating loss with Liam’s tragic passing earlier this year, and it is fantastic to see how the football community has responded so magnificently to this tribute match.
“I am sure that the people of Cork, and indeed the country, will also come out in force to support this great initiative. It promises to be a unique sporting event with so many greats of football set to take part.”
Tickets for the match will go on sale on Friday morning at 10am. For more information visit liammillertribute.com.
