Former Limerick All-Ireland winner Tom Condon has called it a ‘gutsy decision’ by Clare to request to play the Munster final in Limerick’s back yard.
It was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Sunday week’s Munster final will take place in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Páirc Uí Chaoimh was the Munster council’s preferred destination but with Thurles off the cards, Clare plumped for the Shannonside venue. The trek to Cork didn’t appeal to the Clare management, or supporters for that matter, and, given that the stadium is on the Ennis Road, you would expect a thrilling atmosphere in Limerick.
None-the-less, Limerick know that stadium and that pitch like the back of their hands so it is a bold call from Clare.
“I just thought yeah, it was a massive gutsy decision from Clare to put it forward,” says the former corner back in his role as an Electric Ireland ambassador.
“I know they had looked for Semple Stadium and Limerick had proposed Cork but as I say, what better way, if Clare were to win it, than to beat Limerick in their home patch.
I think it will be one for the ages. It looks like the weather will stick around, plenty of sun-cream at hand. Clare are the in-form team, Limerick are coming good so it’s a massive game,” he added.
“It was a massive call for them to make. Some people might think it’s unfair, but Clare agreed to it, they put it forward. There’d be (some people) giving out about traffic and so on, but the fact it’s on in the Ennis Road, on the Gaelic Grounds, it’s going to be a massive occasion, and there’ll be a huge buzz in the Gaelic Grounds that day.”
Condon is now two years out of the scene, having retired in 2021, but he says that, as a spectator, he’s still struggling.
“I don’t think (wife) Sarah will go to a match with me again! I tend to get very involved in it, you can’t help but live it.
“Even when I was on the bench, I just hated it because you’re stuck in a constant knot. You’d prefer to be out there playing because you wouldn’t be as nervous! I’m still adjusting to it, still trying to calm down a small bit.
“I was up the back of the stand the last day with my young fella and all he wanted to do was get down onto the pitch. But the lads (Limerick players) are so down-to-earth and so sound and they don’t mind giving time back to the fans.”
