Gus McCarthy during a Leinster Rugby squad training session
Leinster’s URC clash with Munster this week will welcome more people than witnessed Dublin’s three-game Leinster SFC title-winning campaign.
As ticket sales soar towards 80,000, it will also best the two attendances as Dublin’s Sam Maguire defence faltered in the All-Ireland Series.
The three Leinster SFC games en route to a 14th successive title mustered less than 65,000 in total.
However, ticket sales for Saturday’s Croker clash have already hit the 75k mark, which will be 15,000 more than the number at both Dublin’s group game against Roscommon and the quarter-final defeat to Galway in the All-Ireland Series.
Although accurate attendances were not provided for the 2024 League campaign, Dublin would not have exceeded the 75k mark, were it not for the fact that they reached the final, where over 33,000 watched Derry’s title win.
The last time Munster and Leinster met in Croke Park, they set a world record for attendance at a club fixture when 82,208 watched their 2009 European semi-final.
This Saturday’s clash will smash the URC record of 56,344 who watched Munster lift the title two years ago against Stormers in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Emerging Ireland have soothed emerging injury crises for Leinster and Munster ahead of this week’s Croke Park spectacular after Simon Easterby allowed two of his players to return home.
Hooker Gus McCarthy will ease some Leinster concerns after a weekend injury for Ronan Kelleher (ankle) compounded the long-term absence of Dan Sheehan.
Meanwhile, Seán O’Brien’s return to Munster will help shore up their devastated three-quarters after more problems surfaced in last weekend’s Ospreys win when Mike Haley and Calvin Nash were prematurely scratched.
Jude Postlethwaite will also link up for Ulster’s interpro with Connacht this weekend, thus missing Wednesday’s final fixture against the Cheetahs.
