Cusack Park to host Munster football final for first time since 1919

Clare win toss for home advantage for the game against Kerry on Sunday, May 5th

Cusack Park in Ennis will host the Munster SFC final between Clare and Kerry on Sunday, May 5th. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Cusack Park in Ennis will host the Munster SFC final between Clare and Kerry on Sunday, May 5th. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho

Cusack Park in Ennis will host a Munster senior football final for the first time since 1919 after a coin toss was used to determine the venue for the May 5th showdown between Clare and Kerry.

It will only be the third occasion the ground has hosted the provincial senior football decider, having done so for the first time in 1912. Both of those games ended with Kerry beating Clare.

It will be the first time since 1927 that Clare has hosted a senior provincial football final, as Kerry beat the Banner in the decider that year which was played at the Cricket Field in Kilrush.

Clare have gained home advantage for this season’s final after the counties agreed to a coin toss, which took place on Tuesday evening.

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The sides met at the Gaelic Grounds in last year’s Munster decider, but that venue is not available for the May 5th fixture as the Great Limerick Run is taking place in the city on the same date.

Kerry hammered Clare 5-14 to 0-14 in last year’s decider and the Banner’s last provincial senior football final triumph was in 1992 when they shocked Kerry at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Cusack Park was sold out for last Sunday’s Munster SHC clash between Clare and Limerick, a match played in front of 20,055 spectators.

On Tuesday, Munster Council stated: “Following a toss for venue this evening, the Munster Senior Football Championship Final between Clare and Kerry will take place in Cusack Park Ennis on Sunday May 5th at 1:45pm.”

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning is a sports journalist, specialising in Gaelic games, with The Irish Times