I'm not 100% sure. I defiantly went to 1984 Leinster final (remember all the talk of Mick Lyons being injured before the game and then losing a close game and the disappointment afterwards of my father). I may have went before that as Meath won the centenary cup in 84 also and played Dublin in a drawn and replayed game in 1983 in Croke Park but if I did the memories of each game are all mixed up. The delight in Meath when they won Leinster in 1986 on a terrible rainy day is a strong early memory from Croke Park.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1349 - 05/10/2018 21:54:04    2145320

12th August 2007 Monaghan v Kerry, Limerick were playing Waterford in the hurling before it

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 05/10/2018 22:32:17    2145324

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 05/10/2018 23:44:01    2145327

Good man Ollie . I have very clear memories of Tommy Joe Gilmore signing an autograph for me after the 1971 All Ireland semi final . My father was a very proud Galway man . I remember asking him on the day of the final thstcyear to take me to the match . He pretended to ring Croke Park and told me that they had no room but that he'd bring the following year . He was as good as his word and better . He bought ten year tickets for the hurling and football finals . He paid £30 pounds for each ten year ticket . £3 pounds per final ticket . That was the start of a journey I'm still on.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 06/10/2018 11:18:23    2145338

2 September 2001, All-Ireland Semi-Final: Kerry 0-5 - Meath 2-14. Good God what a way to start and the parents had bought me a brand new blue away Kerry jersey and all :(
We must have been the only Kerry supporters left in Croker at full time.
Ah well, on balance we've had plenty more good days than bad up there since, still hate Meath though and that accursed Kerry white jersey!!

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 06/10/2018 11:51:51    2145343

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2842 - 06/10/2018 12:28:45    2145349

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 06/10/2018 13:32:22    2145358

One of the Kilkenny-Cork camogie finals from the late 80s, can't remember which one. Can't remember anything about the match apart from Kilkenny winning. Looking back now I think my father took us as the camogie was cheaper and less crowded than the hurling finals (plus Kilkenny didn't reach too many hurling finals back then).

I remember we were in the Hogan and I remember the old stand being cold and dark. The new Hogan is a lot brighter but it's still a fecking ice box, the sun never shines on it.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 06/10/2018 23:18:11    2145396

Donegal vs Meath, All-Ireland semi-final 1990. Me and me brother were staying up in Donegal with the uncle, and he was going to the game. Don't remember any of the game. Meath won, and also defeated Derry in the minor semi-final.

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1032 - 07/10/2018 11:21:19    2145414

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 07/10/2018 12:00:24    2145416

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 07/10/2018 12:18:56    2145419

The 1980 hurling final between Galway and Limerick. I was 11, surrounded by adults in the canal end and couldn't see a bloody thing, but it was still an unforgettable day.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 996 - 07/10/2018 17:07:03    2145432

On The Hill for Tyrone v Kerry 1986. Local papers had us believe our car would be stolen; so we parked in St Margarets and got a lift in. Everyone amazed to be there. Innocent and giddy we were, cheering everything from umpires to passing aeroplanes. In a state of shock to be well in front with 1/4 to go. Didn't know how to close out the game and probably never expected to be in that position. Pat Spillane led the comeback for Kerry in the last quarter, there seemed to be 2 of him, flying down the right wing. He had immense resilience, energy and will to win in that last quarter and in my memory is the main reason why Kerry won. Probably the most gutted I've ever been after a county match; it'd have been more bearable if we'd have been beaten out the gate from the start. Remember also how DIY the flags were and thinking I'd never seen so many Tyrone people in the same place before.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 07/10/2018 20:48:23    2145466

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 07/10/2018 21:18:00    2145476

1982 Leinster Final, Offaly v Dublin. I can still recall walking into the Hogan for the first time and seeing the lush green pitch in front of me. The great Offaly team beat Dublin easy that day, Dublin minors went on to win the All Ireland.

bubba83 (Dublin) - Posts: 333 - 08/10/2018 09:45:15    2145523

1988 All Ireland semi final Meath v Mayo, was too young to appreciate the whole buzz, wasn't until 1996 replay between Mayo and Meath that I attended again and got the fire in the belly but honestly I usually have a habit of going into Croke Park early and you don't get the same impact as going in when it's nearly full, it was the 2013 All Ireland quarter final between Mayo and Donegal I went in just before throw in and the roar and thunder building up as you got nearer the area you were sitting in, that moment when you leave the shop area and climb the last few steps to see the gladiator arena where 80 odd thousand people are roaring their team on, it gives you goosebumps, puts the hair on your arms sticking up, nothing compares with the impact of that wall of sound that nearly flattens you. My advice to anybody attending Croke Park for the 1st time, take your time entering the ground, get your bearings correct so you know where you are, when you climb the steps and see the pitch stop for a moment and look around all the stands and pitch, notice the crowd and take in the whole atmosphere, if that doesn't put fire in the belly nothing will, then take your seat and roar your team on until you are hoarse

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 08/10/2018 12:44:15    2145563

First day in Croke Park hopped on the Tipp band wagon of 1989 AI Final. Missed every other game that year but my dad went to all games and he got myself aged 6 my brother aged 7 and my mother from Limerick into Canal end with one ticket.
Those were the days.
I've missed about 4 championship games since!!

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 08/10/2018 22:06:06    2145686

1981: Mayo played the great Kerry team going for their 4-in-a-row in the semi-final. Like today, Mayo supporters outnumbered the Kerry following by at least 4 to 1. It was a game of two halves with Mayo doing quite well and playing some good football in the first half: our FB Anthony Egan was doing a good job on The Bomber and midfield with Willie Nally and a young Will Joe Padden were holding their own. The game turned completely just before half-time when Egan went up for a high ball and one of the Kerry forwards (not The Bomber, and I don't think there was malice intended) came through at speed from behind when he was at full stretch... Egan caught the ball but ended up doing almost 360 in the air before coming down and breaking a leg on landing. He was lucky it wasn't 180! WJP went out of the game in the second half (which happened a lot before he had surgery to fix a breathing problem) and it was all one way traffic, with Adrian Garvey (5'10) trying to do what he could against Liston (6'4), who for the full second half basically ran amok. I think the margin in the end was 16 points, but it was Mayo's first outing in Croker since the 60's and the start of a long journey for the county and supporters we're still on to this day!

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 10/10/2018 19:11:03    2145986

1975 NFL 1/4 Monaghan (div2) v Tyrone (div1)...... Tyrone won by 4 pts I think. Remeber was a great thrill to eventually get to HQ.

Monaghan Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 442 - 11/10/2018 15:31:04    2146096

First visit. 1976 NFL final Dublin beat Derry by a point.

First time to see my native Monaghan. 1979 AI semi. Lost to Kerry 5-14 to 0-7. Being told (by local 'neutrals') to get back over the border! Seamie McAleer was nearby. On my next visit, Seamie was on the pitch as we beat Dublin in the Ceannaras semi final. Victory over Roscommon followed in the final.

First hurling final. 1979. Kilkenny beat Galway. Brilliant goal by Noel Lane not enough to overcome two soft goals conceded. Cork (Ger. Cunningham Kevin Hennessy) won minor. Att. 53,000.

First football final. 1979. Easy win for Kerry over Dublin. Dublin (Rock, Duff) won the minor against Kerry. Att. 73,000. Tighter squeeze.

tommy58 (Dublin) - Posts: 169 - 11/10/2018 18:50:29    2146113