Hi all,

We will all recall when Mayo took to the field first and both Mayo and Dublin teams ended up warming up down at hill16.
I am curious how the timetable for a Croke park game is decided?

Do Dublin enter first despite the "neutral" ground status on such occasions?

roadrunner7 (Meath) - Posts: 4 - 08/09/2016 00:44:51    1911595

Team's are now told which end they have. Whenever Dublin are playing they are allocated the hill 16 end and always given the same dressing room.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 08/09/2016 09:38:53    1911630

I don't think it matters.I very much doubt we will get a repeat of the shenanigans we got in 06.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 08/09/2016 09:39:33    1911631

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 08/09/2016 09:48:07    1911635

gavin would never entertain that it wont happen

heresam (Dublin) - Posts: 156 - 08/09/2016 09:51:00    1911638

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 08/09/2016 09:59:50    1911646

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 08/09/2016 10:02:57    1911651

The dressing rooms are designated in alphabetical order, Átha Cliath, so Dublin will get the Hill 16 end dressing room in all cases unless playing Armagh. so there is no "Home" dressing room or "Away" dressing room in Croker.

BillyD1983 (Dublin) - Posts: 1 - 08/09/2016 10:22:12    1911659

I always maintain that Dublin should never have tried to 'compete' with Mayo and warm up at the Hill end.
They should have left them there and gone straight to Canal End.
Usually backroom team are out preparing for the warm up a good 20 minutes before the teams. If Mayo manage to establish themselves at Hill End let them off. We have no God given right to warm up there. Think this Dublin team are too focussed about the job at hand to get caught up in that nonsense. If Mayo set up these, don't let that upset our preparations.

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1974 - 08/09/2016 10:23:05    1911660

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 08/09/2016 10:25:21    1911662

Everyone is equal in the Gaa but some are more equal than others. Four legs good two legs bad. So one team with the greatest population base & greatest access to sponsorship also gets the highest percentage of funding from the Gaa, play 99% of their C'ship games in Croke park where they get the same dressing room & end for warming up every time, have easiest access to the new centre in Abbotstown & the rest get the seconds. It's laughable, but in Gaa nothing is surprising any more. As for O Fearghaíl stating that the centre in Abbotstown is for all, if we left the West coast of Ireland it would take us 3 to 4 hours to get there & the same back, plus the cost of transport, meals etc. It's obvious who are going to be the main users & already we see Bryan Cullen having a role in its layout. Gaa policy based on the politics of Animal Farm.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 08/09/2016 10:28:29    1911665

You know the trumpet music when a team is announced onto the pitch. Is that Johnny Carroll ?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 08/09/2016 10:28:52    1911666

Its done Alphabetically. Nothing to do with favouritism but sure it makes a decent story.

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 08/09/2016 10:29:51    1911668

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 08/09/2016 10:45:40    1911677

Kickoff...

m_the_d (None) - Posts: 1099 - 08/09/2016 10:49:52    1911682

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 08/09/2016 10:55:47    1911686

Avonali hindsight is great but if we lost and didn't go to the Hill they'd of been slated for not going , Mayo laid down the challenge Dublin accepted it and in the end lost, but with 7 points up in the 2nd half going to the Hill or not had absolutely nothing to do with going With that result. Come on all the big teams have played big games in Croker now it makes no difference at this stage Mayo players are more use to croke park than Mchale park. Why would teams want to warm up the hill end anyway where it's full of Dubs and if you kick the balls over the back netting you ain't getting them back haha.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 08/09/2016 10:59:02    1911689

Is it true that the referee and linesmen rooms adjoin the 'Dublin' dressing room? I've also heard that the Showers in the Dublin dressing room are warmer and luxury soap products and shampoos are made available to the players.

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1974 - 08/09/2016 11:02:02    1911690

Yes, it is true and they each have a personal assistant to help them tog out and ensure they have the right colour m&ms so they don't get unduly stressed before each match. Proper order it is too.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 08/09/2016 11:10:33    1911694

If i am being honest i dont think its a neutral venue, i know its not offical, but in essence its Dublins home ground. What are you going to do its in Dublin and without Dublin its a big white elephant used for bit and bobs throughout the year. Dublins fanbase and team are very comfortable in Croke Park. Sure its grand and handy.

I often consider what it must be like for other counties and fans when they visit, wonder does it have that mystiuqe and added pressure. Teams and fans seem very wound up on their visit and i often wonder does it effect performence and make victory or defeat that little bit sweeter or bitter. I would be interested to hear other fans thoughts?

I would be open to far more away games have had some great days out in the league and down in Kilkeeny this year, the atmosphere in Croke park for league games or early championship games can be stillted so i would also have a preference for Dublin to build a 50k stadium somewhere in the county, the atmosphere in Kilkenny is electric if we could harness that i thin Dublin would be far better.

I would also be open to just giving Croke park to Dublin and building a national stadium somewhere like Athlone, sure that would be grand for everyone and mean you wouldnt have haldf a county desending on Dublin for matches causing trvel chaos, not that we dont enjoy other fans visiting, its like when distant relatives come to visit!!

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 08/09/2016 11:11:25    1911695