The home of hurling is widely renowned for having the best pitch surface in the whole of the country.
Generally like playing on a carpet, Semple Stadium is perfect for hurling. The sliotar rarely if ever takes a stray hop and it leaves hurlers with no excuse for taking a bad first touch.
It really is a testament to the stadium’s groundsmen Pa Bourke and Dave Hanley and their professionalism. Former Tipperary hurler and free-taker Bourke hails from the the local Thurles Sarsfields club and he’s been minding the famous grounds over the last few years.
Final preparations done and dusted!!! Ready for action 2nit!!! #tippvslimerick U21!!! pic.twitter.com/Cxfbi2N1rB
— pabourke (@pabourke) June 21, 2018
So when Semple Stadium isn’t in immaculate nick, you know there’s something strange going on.
Bourke and Hanley endured an extremely tough week this week in the lead up to the Munster senior hurling final between Cork and Clare. With a heatwave sweeping the whole country, the turf didn’t receive a drop of rain over the last week while the sun has been beating down to the highs of 33 degrees.
Given the circumstances, it was hardly surprising that Semple Stadium wasn’t pitch perfect for the Munster decider. We saw it in Newbridge on Saturday and in other grounds that the usually green grass had been suffered under the sun.
Semple Stadium was no different and you can view the extent of the damage done here.
It didn’t affect the quality of the hurling much with the Banner and the Rebels serving up a serious spectacle in Tipperary.
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