National Forum

Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Well, Tyrone chooses to rush its championship into little more than a month because you choose to run a straight knock-out after what most would consider an over-extended league. A league that really only takes on significance for clubs because you choose not to run what most counties would consider a "proper" championship, and one where literally half the clubs only get one game. And of course, you barely have to bother with a hurling championship at all. Realistically, could play just one game between Eoghan Ruadh and Eire Og, because they're the two teams in the final every year anyway.

But that's up to yourselves. What I'm curious about is your gripe about a 12-month season.

Say the inter-county championships did still run into August or even September, with club matches in between the county ones. County finals still wouldn't be complete until October, winners would be in provincial and/or All-Ireland club competition until November, December, or January, and inter-county training for the following year would still commence around late November. Wouldn't that still be basically a 12-month season?

I genuinely fail to see your point here. What exactly is it, or what exactly do you propose should be done differently as regards when inter-county and club competitions are played to shorten the overall playing season for those involved in both?"
Tyrone championship has always been this way and I would hate to see it changing. No round robin games with no meaning where the underdogs have no chance. That's why it's the best club championship in Ireland. 13 different winners in little over 20 years with no back to backs in 25 years.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2934 - 13/08/2026 15:42:23    2689728

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Well how many times do we fill it every year... So why not fill it when its available and get a Kings ransom.

But to your other question. I still say this split season is fundamentally wrong and I've said it from Day 1

ponger (Cavan) - Posts: 613 - 13/08/2026 15:44:17    2689729

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The 2nd Wednesday in August used to be all about the All Ireland final. Now they're playing soccer in Croke Park instead.

Is this what the men of 1916 died for?

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1756 - 13/08/2026 15:51:36    2689730

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Replying To Brummiejoe:  "My first post did not get past the sensors.
What do posters think about opening Croke
Park up. Is there a line that should be drawn or
does anything go as long as the price is
right?"
It's played after the men and women's finals so I've no issue. That stadium won't pay for itself.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 184 - 13/08/2026 16:04:57    2689731

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "The young lad here is a big Man United fan so I brought him to the match last night. My own view on soccer is I can take it or leave it.

My ticket cost €72 and his was €42. Upper Cusack, not too far from the halfway line.

Last month I paid €200 for two tickets, also for Upper Cusack, to bring him to an All-Ireland Final. Please tell me where I'd have got these All-Ireland tickets cheaper???"
200 for 2 tickets for the Pinnacle of the Gaelic football season was great value.
Yesterday evening you gave over half that to see basically 2 junior teams playing. Neither side was at full strength and there was nothing at stake

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2560 - 13/08/2026 16:57:50    2689741

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Well sure, aren't dirty Leeds basically as dirty as the most rough hurling teams?

eoghan6688 (Galway) - Posts: 171 - 13/08/2026 16:58:06    2689742

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Where do you think the money Leitrim gets from the GAA every year comes from?"
Same place as it did when finals were in September.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2934 - 13/08/2026 17:15:39    2689750

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "The 2nd Wednesday in August used to be all about the All Ireland final. Now they're playing soccer in Croke Park instead.

Is this what the men of 1916 died for?"
The spilt season debate has been done to death. The players prefer it and it ain't going back to September. Stretching it into August may happen though.

GAA making big bucks from the soccer crowd yesterday and most of that works its way back into grassroots games, local club developments and coaching. It's win win as the GAA continues to grow and thrive in every community across this Island.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12244 - 13/08/2026 17:26:36    2689755

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Sorry, don't know.

I had one pint of Guinness in the ground before both matches. Honestly couldn't tell you if there was any difference in the price, but wouldn't have been any more than a few cent either way anyway.

I never buy food in Croke Park or even look at the menus - not because I don't trust it or think it's poor, but purely because I prefer to eat before getting to the ground at all."
I really didn't see this coming, an insignificant game of no worth kicking off to a packed house as in Croke Park, unbelievable. The last bit of mystique that has kept our hearts thumping and bloods flowing is well and truly gone. Perhaps that in itself is a good thing as in less stress.

PS.
At the Dublin / Kerry I paid 15-40 euro for two pints of Lager;

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3407 - 13/08/2026 17:41:09    2689758

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I was there, great occasion

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 337 - 13/08/2026 18:13:29    2689762

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I see Bruno Fernandes joined the pantheon of greats to have the great honour of walking up the steps of the Hogan to lift the trophy after the presentation, except he didn't even bother lifting he just walked back down with it (not to mention no speech out of him with a few pre-rehearsed words of Gaelige!). I'm joking about the lat bit but I'm glad he didn't lift it tbh. It was all a bit much for me but l'm old fashioned I know. We should reserve these privileges for our own in my opinion.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1893 - 13/08/2026 18:15:02    2689763

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Replying To Seniorleague:  "Some of those injuries would be a result of overtaining,managers,sometimes several mangers at once,demanding their time and energy,,and players fitness programmes not being monitored properly.

League of ireland players for example would play weekly games for months on end afaik. Premier league players almost double that. GAA intercounty players would often play just a game every two weeks,the odd games on consecutive weekends,but thats just one or two weekends between April and July,and thats just the teams who go far in the championship."
There's a world of difference between playing Gaelic Football or Hurling compared to Loi or Premier league. The physicality involved is like chalk and cheese.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2667 - 13/08/2026 20:37:11    2689775

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Replying To 2maroonjerseys:  "It's played after the men and women's finals so I've no issue. That stadium won't pay for itself."
I have no issue with it either. The inter-county GAA season is over and Croke Park would just be sitting idle for many months if this soccer game did not take place. This event is not interfering with or displacing any GAA activities. Anyone who does not like soccer can just ignore it.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 1061 - 13/08/2026 20:57:39    2689777

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Tyrone championship has always been this way and I would hate to see it changing. No round robin games with no meaning where the underdogs have no chance. That's why it's the best club championship in Ireland. 13 different winners in little over 20 years with no back to backs in 25 years."
Doesn't make it a great championship.
A lot of close games,but mediocre quality. Two Ulster titles in 60 years.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1207 - 13/08/2026 23:43:02    2689783

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Replying To ohwow:  "Shouldn't happen. But not surprised it did with the way the organisation is going"
Why should it not happen? Money goes back into our games.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1207 - 13/08/2026 23:50:20    2689786

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Where do you think the money Leitrim gets from the GAA every year comes from?"
A better question, what are they doing with it in Leitrim?

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1207 - 13/08/2026 23:51:54    2689787

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "The 2nd Wednesday in August used to be all about the All Ireland final. Now they're playing soccer in Croke Park instead.

Is this what the men of 1916 died for?"
embarrasing going on about 1916 in relation to this.

this game, the katie taylor fight and the concerts bring in huge revenue to the GAA.
The more condensed inter county season is better for inter county players, and club players.
club players have better structure to their season. get to play more top level championship games in the better months of the year and can plan their year and lives better.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3996 - 14/08/2026 00:29:38    2689789

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Replying To eoinog:  "200 for 2 tickets for the Pinnacle of the Gaelic football season was great value.
Yesterday evening you gave over half that to see basically 2 junior teams playing. Neither side was at full strength and there was nothing at stake"
Ive a feeling hes talking about the hurling final.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20471 - 14/08/2026 07:05:48    2689793

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "The 2nd Wednesday in August used to be all about the All Ireland final. Now they're playing soccer in Croke Park instead.

Is this what the men of 1916 died for?"
They didnt die for any sports ground. Sadly we still dont all have what they died for.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20471 - 14/08/2026 07:07:45    2689794

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Tyrone championship has always been this way and I would hate to see it changing. No round robin games with no meaning where the underdogs have no chance. That's why it's the best club championship in Ireland. 13 different winners in little over 20 years with no back to backs in 25 years."
Its better than ours.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20471 - 14/08/2026 07:08:35    2689795

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