Footballers on the move as pitch resurfacing begins
The Cork footballers’ upcoming Super 8's clash with Roscommon has been moved to Páirc Uí Rinn to allow for the pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to be re-laid.
The announcement came this week when the Board of Directors of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the Cork County Board confirmed that an agreement has been reached with SIS Pitches Ltd to completely replace the pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh with a new reinforced pitch.
The new pitch will incorporate rootzone and surface reinforcement, bringing it in line with the most up-to-date pitch construction technology and performance.
Earlier this year the pitch surface at Páirc Uí Chaoimh came under heavy fire and was labelled “unacceptable” by the board following a league doubleheader in February which left the surface in very poor condition.
The cost of laying the new surface has fallen within the €95.8 million estimated cost for the overall building of the stadium.
A number of experts involved in the re-surfacing have indicated that any delay in commencement of works could compromise the possibility of a successful January 2020 opening.
Commenting on the announcement, Cork County Board Chairperson Tracey Kennedy said: “I acknowledge and share the disappointment of many that our Senior Footballers cannot play their home All-Ireland Quarter-Final Phase 3 game against Roscommon in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
“If there was any way in which the match could have been accommodated without risk to the future success of the new pitch, it would have been done.
“However, our focus has to be on safeguarding our pitch for all our teams far into the future. We look forward to welcoming our own and our visiting supporters to Páirc Uí Rinn for the game.”
Works are due to begin on the project next week and the contractor has indicated that this start date is critical to achieving maximum grass growth and ensuring the availability of the pitch for all of Cork's home Allianz League games in 2020.
From when the seeds are sewn, a minimum of four weeks is required, followed by an optimum grow-in of eight to twelve weeks in normal grass-growing conditions.