The announcement of the Walsh Cup fixtures for Kilkenny may have raised a few eyebrows this month when their game with Wexford in the third round was revealed as an evening throw-in.
In the summer that would be no problem but in the height of January weather you would imagine some extra lighting may be required.
Well, as it happens, the clash between Derek Lyng and Darragh Egan’s sides will be used as the first game under floodlights at Chadwicks Wexford Park, a fixture originally floated by Wexford GAA chair Micheál Martin back in November.
Per the report from Mícheál ÓhAonghusa Cuilín, runaí CLG Loch Garman at this year’s convention, “works on installing floodlights began in early November, it is expected that the light poles will be erected in December. The lights will be commissioned, and concourse lighting installed, the first game under floodlights in Chadwicks Wexford Park will be a Walsh Cup game on 21 January 2023 and will include a host of significant events to mark the occasion.”
Planning for the project was submitted in 2020 and approved in 2021. It is estimated that the addition of floodlighting to Chadwicks Wexford Park will come at a cost to Wexford GAA in the region of €850,000 to €900,000.
The addition of floodlights to the main county ground in Wexford opens the door for evening hurling, football and camogie in the county, something which Carlow have used to great advantage in Netwatch Cullen Park since 2016.
You can see it in the flesh yourself and be part of the occasion with tickets for the away fixture on sale now via WexfordGAA.ie. The Cats will no doubt be without the services of TJ Reid, Adrian Mullen and anyone else connected to the Ballyhale camp as the Shamrocks are expected to take on Dunloy in the senior club All-Ireland hurling final the following afternoon at Croke Park.
If you can’t make it, fear not, we’ll have you covered with full live commentary from 6pm on Saturday 21 January.
