Taoiseach: Decision to put Cork and Limerick clash behind GAAGO paywall 'wrong'

The game is only available to subscribers to the GAAGO service, the association’s joint premium streaming platform with RTÉ.

Mr Harris, who plans to attend the game, said during a doorstep in Fermoy on Friday: “The Government supports the GAA and sees huge value in the GAA. Communities right across Ireland do, but they have gotten this wrong.” 

He said many will want to view Saturday’s game. “It being behind a paywall isn’t what people who support the GAA in every community want to see. They really need to reflect on that.” 

Calling the GAA “an incredible organisation”, he said tens of thousands of young people across the country “will go out and kick a ball and they will play camogie and they will play hurling and football” on Saturday.

He continued: “It has always been a grassroots organisation. And I think the grassroots are really angry, disappointed and frustrated that matches that the kids want to watch and the family want to watch are put behind a paywall.

The GAA really needs to listen to this. They need to listen to their grassroots. That has always been their strength from the bottom up and I think they have got this wrong and I think they need to reflect. 

Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard has invited GAA president Jarlath Burns to the Seanad to discuss concerns about the number of hurling games being shown on GAAGO.

Mr Harris said such a move was “entirely appropriate” to do so “to tease through and discuss this issue”.

GAAGO has previously come under fire from Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who said all GAA matches should be free to air.

The Tánaiste said last May his "personal view" for a "long, long time" had been that fans should not be subjected to extra charges to watch GAA matches online.

Meanwhile, Saturday's game between Cork and Limerick is set to have a crowd in excess of 42,000 people. 

That figure would mark a record for a GAA fixture at the venue since the redeveloped Páirc was reopened in 2017.