Cats' Delaney wants more games outside of HQ
Kilkenny hurler JJ Delaney says more Championship games should be played at provincial venues.
The Cats face Tipperary on home soil this Sunday, with an Allianz Hurling League Division 1 title up for grabs at Nowlan Park.
It is part of a home and away agreement between the counties - Semple Stadium hosted the last final meeting of the hurling heavyweights in 2009.
"It's ideal for everyone (having the league final in Nowlan Park)," he said.
"Even if the final was at Semple Stadium you would have no qualms with it. Kilkenny supporters love going up to Thurles as well.
"It's only over the road, maybe 30 or 40 minutes away at most. It leads itself to a great atmosphere as well.
"23,000 is the capacity of Nowlan Park and if you put 23,000 inside Croke Park it just wouldn't fill the place at all. It would feel empty."
Delaney reckons it would be brilliant to have more Championship games played at more intimate grounds.
"I think it should be looked at more, that Championship games should be played in venues like that," he added.
"We played Wexford at Wexford Park a couple of years ago and there was a massive atmosphere down there.
"It'd bring money in around those places as well. It's a Bank Holiday Monday this weekend and hopefully everyone gets to Nowlan Park and supports the teams and Kilkenny city will be full."
