GAA: Tipp GAA secretary recommends Thurles for major games
The secretary of the Tipperary GAA county board has said all major provincial games should be played in Thurles's Semple Stadium.
Michael O'Brien made the recommendation in a report to convention which takes place on Sunday in Thurles.
The Silvermines-man said: "Semple Stadium has the finest playing surface in Ireland.
"It's capacity is only surpassed by Croke Park. The quest for tickets for big match days is a headache for county officials and a game in Thurles would see 10,000 more tickets in circulation than in any other venue outside of Dublin.
"The atmosphere in the Square on big match days is usually top-class and yet in this age, when value for money is so important, no major games were arranged for the stadium this year by the provincial council.
"It makes sense to host the capacity in Semple Stadium", he said.
Thurles lost out to Pairc Ui Chaoimh in 2001 for provincial games in hurling and football. The only games it hosted were the meetings of Dublin and Kerry in football.
There are plans afoot to carry out further major improvements in Semple Stadium in 2002.
