Nowlan Park poised to host All-Ireland under-20 final

After being out of action for the last few weeks, UPMC Nowlan Park is gearing itself up for a very busy few months.

The Kilkenny City venue has been given the green light to play host to this year’s All-Ireland under-20 hurling final to mark the 100 year anniversary of the death of James Nowlan.

Kilkenny’s home ground is named after Nowlan as well as the under-20 cup since 2016 so in the centenary year of his death, it’s a decision that makes a lot of sense.

Nowlan was a former GAA president as well as a Central Council delegate and Leinster Chairman and with his death occurring in the same month as the scheduled final, the move was granted.

It’s a competition that Cork are the current holders of. The final is down to take place on the June Bank Holiday Weekend.

Incidentally, the 27,000 capacity ground was also in use on the same weekend in 2023 after Dublin and Kildare met in an All-Ireland senior football championship clash.

The last three under-20 championship deciders have been played in FBD Semple Stadium but UPMC Nowlan Park held the delayed 2020 decider in the summer of 2021 where Cork beat Dublin in front of a restricted attendance.

Playing host to the final at this grade is not a new development as they have previously held five finals including one Kilkenny success in 2004 when a James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick captained team beat Tipperary on a 3-12 to 1-6 scoreline.

As well as the under 20 final, there is the small matter of the meeting of St Kieran’s and Kilkenny CBS in the Corn Ui Dhúill Leinster Senior A Hurling Final next Wednesday afternoon at 2.30pm which is bound to spark huge local intrigue.

It will be the first all-Kilkenny Leinster Final since 2017 as Kilkenny CBS look to win their first crown in a decade and Kieran’s aim for title number 57.

The Kilkenny senior hurlers will then have two home ties in the round-robin of the Leinster Championship against Antrim on April 21 and Wexford on May 25 as they kick off and end the five game series on home soil.

Away from the sporting front, the venue will also play host to Bruce Springsteen for the second time on Sunday May 12 where tickets sold out within minutes of going on sale.

The action in the ground all kicks off this Sunday as Kilkenny entertain Wexford in the opening round of the Allianz Hurling League and a big crowd is expected for a clash that throws-in at 1.45pm.

Tickets for Sunday’s encounter which, like last year’s championship meeting, is not been screened on television, cost €20 for adults and €15 for students/OAPs and are available online at www.kilkennygaa.ie or from selected stores.