Tipperary legend Nicky English has questioned the suitability of Parnell Park for top class hurling matches.
English says the venue is a huge advantage for Dublin in the upcoming Leinster Championship, with Mattie Kenny’s side set to welcome Wexford and Galway to the ground on May 19 and June 16 respectively.
Elaborating, the Sky Sports pundit said that playing in a tight venue like that wouldn’t help Dublin in the long run, despite Dublin’s record generally being good at home over the past decade or so.
They also won all three of their Allianz League games there this year.
“Teams won’t like going to Parnell Park,” said English. “For me, I’m not sure. From an inter-county hurling perspective for Championship matches it’s a very difficult place to go.
"Like, you could argue if you were the opposition whether it’s fair to actually play in Parnell Park, because it’s very tight.
“For senior inter-county hurling matches I think it’s too tight. Ultimately, to win you have to go to Croke Park to win anyway.
“The team that’s going to prosper in the close confines of Parnell Park is unlikely to prosper in Croke Park; where ultimately to win anything, you have to go.
“But at the same time, if you want to create a fortress, then no better place to create it than Parnell Park because the confines are conducive to that.
“I don’t know the measurements, but certainly it feels tight in the corners. As a one-time corner forward, Parnell Park wouldn’t have been one of my favourites now."
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