The GAA will turn their attention towards outlawing pitch invasions after provincial finals following the success in keeping the crowd off the field after Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final.

In thanking the Tipperary and Kilkenny fans for their cooperation, GAA president Christy Cooney said the priority now is to end the practice of fans encroaching onto pitches at provincial venues next summer.

Critical to the success on Sunday was the newly-erected 2.8-metre barrier in front of Hill 16, which prevented fans from entering the field.

"The fans were brilliant and the atmosphere was tremendous," Cooney said.

"We asked them to stay off the pitch and they honoured that. That is great credit to them and I think it made the occasion of the presentations even better.

"The Kilkenny team were able to stand and watch in comfort the presentation to Tipperary, and to acknowledge in a special way the victory over Tipperary. You ask any of the players, and they enjoyed having the freedom to get around the pitch and do their lap of honour. The Kilkenny players had the freedom to get off the field with dignity having lost.

"We will be looking now at the provincial grounds and how we can manage that, to move it forward. That's a challenge that we're going to look at, for provincial finals." Tweet

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