Clare secretary Pat Fitzgerald has admitted that Cusack Park in Ennis is "not up to scratch" and that major improvements need to be carried out.

In his report to last night's county convention, the Sixmilebridge man said: "A couple of years ago a mooted move to a greenfield site at Doora, away from our spiritual home of Cusack Park, fell through.

"In hindsight it was probably a blessing in disguise, given the property market has crumbled and how companies have since developed toxic debts.

"The alternative for the board was to invest substantially in refurbishing Cusack Park and, after incurring expense in doing so, we now find that the county ground isn't up to scratch. Our flagship pitch has been reported to be downgraded to a capacity of 14,684 following a recent audit.

"However, no final decision was made on the capacity issue at this time. It goes without saying that we have to invest further if Cusack Park is to be recognised as a top flight county ground. This means that our capacity to generate additional revenue from gates from marquee games isn't going to happen. Neither can we rely on the normal avenues for generating finances."

Fitzgerald also took the opportunity to call for a resolution to the club-versus-county problem in the Banner County.

"For a county bereft of success, it's entirely understandable that no obstacles should be placed in the way of possible All-Ireland glory. But the flip side is that it all falls back on the clubs. The grassroots non-county playing members are the ones that suffer most and, in truth, some acceptable solution will have to be found," he added. Tweet

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