wexico15
County: Wexford
Posts: 270

1756606
Having a qualifier double header in croke park involving 3 counties on the western seaboard in complete madness,surely provincial venues would have sufficed,Tyrone,sligo and Galway combined will probably bring less than 10,000 so the gaa are depending on Donegals increased support in recent years to break the 20,000 mark,bizarre stuff to say the least


Couldn't have put it better myself!

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 21/07/2015 11:50:55    1756849

Most of the people who think Croke Park is a good venue for these qualifiers seem to be from counties that aren't involved. They also, like the GAA establishment, seem to have no consideration for the travelling supporters.

Of course the players will love it but they aren't the ones shelling out for tickets, meals, fuel and spending a day travelling there and back.
If Tyrone v Sligo were in Enniskillen they might have got 6-7000 to it. In Croke Park Sligo supporters will be scarce and Tyrone suporters equaly so.
Re Galway v Donegal: Galway people will be caught up with race week and have not been getting behind this team anyway so their suport is unlikely to top 2-3000.
And its a long spin from Malin especially after Donegal being a bit deflated after last Sunday.
I see Sligo/Tyrone/Galway bringing 5-6000 between them.
Donegal may being more than that total combined all right but if its bad weather again then maybe not.
Whatever happens the atmosphere in Croke Park will be non-existent.

Ormond is very good at correcting others but should have a good think before he prononces... I have a feeling he is only a lad.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 21/07/2015 11:58:02    1756857

They are probably hoping the Galway and Donegal people living in Dublin come out to watch

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1890 - 21/07/2015 12:04:06    1756861

Naysayer
County: Antrim
Posts: 1469

1756832 I remember the good old days of terrible roads, border checkpoints and the subsequent need to stop for food going to Croke for a Sunday afternoon game and not getting home to the early hours of the morning provided the car did not overheat in the long tailbacks at every town on the road.
_____________________
We used to get the football special trains organised by a pub in Dungannon, coached to Portadown train station under RUC 'protection', run the gauntlet of bricks and bottles thrown at the train as it left and then greeted by a hail of missiles in Dublin before reaching Connolly station, in the words of Sam McAughtry, "great days, great days"!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 21/07/2015 12:07:43    1756863

Cork and Kildare in Thurles is ridiculous. There will be about 100 cork supporters and those who bother to go from Kildare,so less than 5000 for sure. An empty stadium that size, no atmosphere etc. A lot more Kildare people would have went if it was in portlaoise.

jonno (Kildare) - Posts: 260 - 21/07/2015 12:20:39    1756871

A train to Dublin brend - you must be from the posh part of Tyrone.... ;-)

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 21/07/2015 12:21:17    1756872

Am I the only one that has copped the reason the 4B games are in Croker is because Sky are covering them, their money, their call. They couldn't give a monkeys about the distance or expense fans face, Sligo supporters won't travel, Nordies should/might, Galway likewise, so all told you'll do well to get 15,000 in for that double header. BTW only for Ed Sheeran the 4A games would be there too

dontlookback (Galway) - Posts: 267 - 21/07/2015 12:27:30    1756876

Ha Offside, I didn't realise there was a posh side!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 21/07/2015 12:29:50    1756881

dublin v antrim in the minor hurling is in cavan - newry would make more sense!!!!

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1676 - 21/07/2015 12:51:51    1756898

ormond
The bigger issue with Donegal Galway is not the venue but the throw in time which possibly should be earlier
I don't see too much of an iaaue with fans potentially only arriving home at 11.30 at night. Yes its late but is that really a major problem??
21/07/2015 11:27:30 s goldrick
ormond you are just arguing for the sake of arguing. you made 2 contradictory statements in relation to the original post.
in your first reply you say the late throw in is a big issue yet in your second you see it as not much of an "iaaue" (SIC)That isn't actually a contradiction certainly isn't arguing for the sake of it.
The throw in time is more of an issue than the venue however I don't see any problem with the throw in time others might have an issue with it. I don't have any problem with evening or night games and regularly travel to games w/ late kickoffs/throw ins.
21/07/2015 12:27:30 dontlookback
Am I the only one that has copped the reason the 4B games are in Croker is because Sky are covering them, their money, their call. They couldn't give a monkeys about the distance or expense fans face, Sligo supporters won't travel, Nordies should/might, Galway likewise, so all told you'll do well to get 15,000 in for that double header. BTW only for Ed Sheeran the 4A games would be there too Or perhaps the games are in Croke Park as they are games involving the last 12 so are being played in the principal stadium in the country

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 21/07/2015 12:55:40    1756899

Initially I thought maybe 25k. On reflection I think be lucky to get 20k. Donegal maybe 6/7k. Galway 4/5k (based on then fact we brought this number to a match against Cork in 2013 at the same stage of the qualifiers and we have a better team now). Tyrone 4/5k. Sligo 2/3k. Race week in Galway plus the hurlers are out next Sun and if they win dual supporters will pick Aug 16th against Tipp as their day in HQ. Bizarre choice. Those saying this was fixed months ago well I saw no master schedule indicating this. All I saw from the outset was venue TBC.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1949 - 21/07/2015 13:07:12    1756909

Ha Offside, I didn't realise there was a posh side!

lol - neither did I until I read that youse trained it down then I thought there must be a posh side I was unaware of.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 21/07/2015 13:09:53    1756912

Yes the GAA have done it again and ensured we will see swathes of empty blue and grey seats in Croker, I fail to see what they hope to achieve by this type of fixture planning, for what's it's worth it should be;

Galway v Donegal - Markievicz Park, Sligo
Tyrone v Sligo - Brewster Park, Enniskillen
Cork v Kildare - Nowlan Park/Wexford Park/O'Moore Park
Dublin/Kerry Quarter Finals - Semple Stadium, Thurles

Once again a total failure to recognise that we have suitable venues in provincial towns that would love the boost that a big championship game brings to town, the potential for supporters making a weekend out of it and giving a further boost to local economies, it's really time an explanation, a proper explanation, was given for this nonsense

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 21/07/2015 13:11:54    1756914

Am I the only one that has copped the reason the 4B games are in Croker is because Sky are covering them, their money, their call.


Three of the four round qualifiers in 2013 were held at Croke Park; Sky deal only began the following year. I travelled over for the London game and the attendance was woeful, even though it was a triple header.

Not sure Sky make the call on venues. Surely they wouldn't have chosen Thurles for Kildare v Cork after seeing the terrible crowd there last Saturday?

scruff (UK) - Posts: 467 - 21/07/2015 13:54:21    1756953

dublin v antrim in the minor hurling is in cavan - newry would make more sense!!!!

A lot more Dubs in Cavan than in Newry.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 21/07/2015 14:03:31    1756964

dublin v antrim in the minor hurling is in cavan - newry would make more sense!!!!

A lot more Dubs in Cavan than in Newry.


Unfortunately.

rising1916 (Cavan) - Posts: 187 - 21/07/2015 14:11:20    1756975

GAA made a big mistake picking Croke Park for the 4 b qualifiers, I'm afraid most supporters won't travel to Croke Park 2 Saturdays in a row, wouldn't surprise me if both Monaghan v whoever and Mayo v whoever matches are not played in Croke Park, in fact Galway supporters could be asked to travel long distances 4 times in 21 days, the hurling in Thurles next weekend, then Croker on sat 1st for football and if they win then the following Saturday Aug 8th and the 9th for hurling semi

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 21/07/2015 14:42:40    1757009

Ironically Mayo did not want to play in Limerick last August mind you

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1197 - 21/07/2015 15:15:10    1757028

Personally, I don't believe these Qualifiers should be in Croker. Don't the "money-grabbing" GAA need 30K attendance to justify opening it? Oh wait, it's all SKY's fault!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 21/07/2015 15:39:57    1757046

G Plifer when you are homes for these matches you can arrange to show me where I was wrong. At least I am sticking with the sinking ship.

hoppy7 (Dublin) - Posts: 3 - 21/07/2015 16:00:37    1757062