Emmet Moloney writes for the 'The Irish Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

Another bumper weekend of sport and another two full houses in Dublin and Limerick. Not for the hurling of course, but for the rugby, writes Emmet Moloney…

T here’s another great weekend of sport upon us and plenty of live action to choose from. A quick look on the Ticketmaster website offers tickets for the “senior” hurling final at €25. Compared to the rugby this is great value, as Leinster start their tickets for Saturday’s semi-final against Toulouse at €60, with €50 and €40 tickets also on offer. Of course, these are all sold out, so supply hasn’t even come close to meeting demand. Munster are a little more realistic with their tickets for Saturday’s Amlin semi-final against Harlequins ranging from €40, €30 and €20.

At the the time of writing this, it appears the Clare versus Limerick Saturday night match in Ennis was a secret as no official website offered a ticket price. Something around the €15 would probably be the tariff.

It is here we need to cop ourselves on. Do we want big crowds and great atmospheres at our GAA matches or do we simply want the money? Now that’s a tricky question to answer because we need the money!

Take last Sunday and the official attendance of 36,000 in Croke Park for the Dublin footballers, All-Ireland champions Cork as well as Laois and Donegal. On a fine day, in the middle of a beautiful week weather-wise and on a bank holiday weekend, that figure should frighten the GAA because it had plenty in its favour last Sunday - yet the turnout was very weak considering the protagonists on view.

The GAA have taken a naked gamble with the hurling finals, separating the Division 1 and 2 finals for the benefit of the Dublin hurlers who have reached their first national final in 50 years. Long before these pairings were known the assumption was made that Thurles would be the venue for the double-header: Clare V Limerick and Kilkenny versus whoever made it through. Four hurling counties and Semple Stadium the obvious and traditional place for such contests. Instead, the GAA in their wisdom have tried to cash in by splitting the games and the gate receipts. I hope it works out for them but what a pity supporters were deprived the opportunity of seeing both matches in Thurles – a nice appetiser for what’s to come in a few short weeks.

What a pity, too, that the marketing impetus that brought us the “Spring Series” in Croke Park couldn’t have stayed imaginative when it came it the finals. Looking for €25 for a match that is also live on the box will put some fans in front of their television. If ever there was an opportunity to be creative with the admission price, then this was it – particularly when the switch was made to Croke Park.

Why not sell tickets for the match for €10 up to the day of the game, then €25 on the day? Why not encourage people to go to the match? Why not make them think about it at least? We’ll see perhaps eight or nine thousand in Ennis and hopefully above 20,000 in Croke Park but that will be it. A small bit of imagination could easily have brought many more to Thurles or more to Croke Park.

The national leagues have a role to play in the GAA calendar but it should be a bit more beyond a decent tune-up for the championship. That’s what they’ve become. The cup is received almost embarrassingly and the team are back at training on Tuesday night with managers and players falling over themselves to say this is nice, but matters not a jot if they don’t do anything in the championship. The supporters have fallen into line with this thinking and that’s why the Dubs could only pull 36,000 into Croker on a gorgeous Sunday with the All-Ireland champions the opposition and a cup at the end of the match for the winners. If that is how the biggest supported team in the land fare out, then what hope have their hurlers?

It’s time to make the leagues matter again. Enough with this talk of stepping stones, give a proper prize to the winners, be it money, seeding in the championship or a car a man. Something, just get our interest rekindled.

There are compelling story lines with both finals this weekend. Dublin are the story and thank God for the new name in the final. Their progress this year has been eye-catching as they have added hurling savvy to their obvious hurling strengths. Already this spring they have out-muscled Tipperary and let the Cats off the hook in a drawn match. They can beat Kilkenny this Sunday. It is in them and a mere tightening up in front of goal and they would beat Kilkenny.

But it’s never that easy in a final against the Cats. They want to win and despite the fact that their players are falling like flies to injury, they’re favourites for a reason. The hurling romantics, and I’m one of them, are praying for a Dublin win, but I suspect a Dublin ‘performance’ is what we will get.

This is bonus territory for Anthony Daly’s team; almost a free championship match. They will approach it with the right attitude and they will rattle their storied opposition. They should have beaten Kilkenny a few weeks ago and it is rare you get that chance again so soon. Dublin are good enough but as a developing team they mightn’t be old enough. In April that is, I wouldn’t be one for ruling them out if the two teams met again in July or August. Good luck to them no matter, we need their likes in games like this.

It’s not Brian Cody’s job to be encouraging them, but let’s hope the Kilkenny big match killer instinct isn’t on show too early on Sunday. The upset might be too much to hope for but we need this to be close.

I’d like if Saturday night was close too. By the time Munster and Leinster have registered exciting semi-final wins in their European competitions, the Clare versus Limerick match might be an afterthought. Not to hurling folk down there, of course.

The Banner side are babes at the moment and Limerick have the guile that gets teams like them over the line against teams like that. For now. This is the confidence that is in Clare hurling now but it must be tempered with patience. If the championship was a strict U-23 affair then we’d be close to favourites, as it is widely acknowledged that we have the best of young talent coming through but all at the one time and without the veteran spine to hold their hands on nights like this. No matter. It will stand to us.

For Donal O’Grady and his squad, a victory on Saturday will go another step in the redemption road. Quietly they have been putting the pieces back together again after Justin McCarthy (remember him) led them down into the chicken and chip circuit that is Division 2. O’Grady has Waterford in his sights come June, but a decent crowd in Ennis against the old enemy is preparation you couldn’t buy. Tune in if you can’t make it, TG4 will do the honours and there will be skin and hair flying.To catch Emmet's latest column, get 'The Irish Farmers' Journal' every Thursday...
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