The Waterford County board chairman says they intend to stage both of next year's Munster hurling championship games at Walsh Park before starting redevelopment work at the city venue.
Paddy Joe Ryan informed club delegates at last night's meeting in Dungarvan that the board are currently considering plans for an 18,000 capacity stadium.
He says they have been speaking to Croke Park for the last two and a half years and they are now waiting for the final plans to come.
Those plans will then go before Waterford City and County Council and the Chairman says that they are hoping that with agreement with residents they will get a 16 to 18 thousand capacity stadium for Walsh Park.
He says the newly developed Walsh Park would only be filled to capacity twice a year. Paddy Joe Ryan said the problem is that there are four big stadiums in Munster at the moment and only two are needed , Semple Stadium and Pairc Ui Caoimh. He cited the example of Killarney and Limerick who might not get any game in a year.
