Replying To Greengrass: "In all fairness the crowd wasn't big. The stand on the far side of the field was far from full. The seated area at one of the ground was less than half full and the terraced end of the ground was empty. Given that the match was played in Nowlan Park the attendance was disappointing to say the least and it was a far, far cry from the attendance and the atmosphere at the U20 hurling final at the same ground. I have no doubt that the young players will never forget the experience but to describe minor finals in Croke Park as "a warm up" is as inaccurate as your assertion about there being "a big crowd" in Nowlan Park last Saturday."
Again, your post makes no sense. The crowd at nowlan park for the minor final would have been no bigger had it been played in croke park (unless the counties senior teams were involved in which case there might have been a few more coming in towards the end of the game). The only difference is that in a smaller stadium like nowlan park the atmosphere was way better than had it been played in front of c. 75 000 empty seats.
Describing it as a warm up game to the senior final might have sounded a bit harsh, fair enough,curtain raiser is probably more politically correct, but playing it as a stand alone fixture adds more value to the occasion imo and absolutely counts more as the players having their day in the sun.
Replying To Greengrass: "In all fairness the crowd wasn't big. The stand on the far side of the field was far from full. The seated area at one of the ground was less than half full and the terraced end of the ground was empty. Given that the match was played in Nowlan Park the attendance was disappointing to say the least and it was a far, far cry from the attendance and the atmosphere at the U20 hurling final at the same ground. I have no doubt that the young players will never forget the experience but to describe minor finals in Croke Park as "a warm up" is as inaccurate as your assertion about there being "a big crowd" in Nowlan Park last Saturday."
Just under 13,000 for a Minor final, and you say that's not 'big' and 'disappointing'?
The minor final was great, a good crowd and one of the few recent decisions the GAA got right. The only problem, I have been to several All-Ireland hurling finals in recent years in hurling and the day is lacking something to build the atmosphere slowly to a crescendo at 3.30. The big winner of the lack of atmosphere is the pubs and for me that is a shame. I don't have any ready answer for what can fill the void.
On the general topic, I still think the championship should only be playing provincial finals this weekend and then quarter and semi finals through July. It is just not sitting right that we have 3 big hurling matches left this year. Yes there are club matches and I know why it was done this way but could weekends all summer not be freed up for clubs?
GAA has an open window in July (the Euros I know are on) and it was the only show in town for years. And we've turned our nose at it?
I still would love to see groups of 5 or 6 after knock-out provincials and the best teams in the country into quarter and semi finals. I think that would do more for hurling and also ensure we don't get dead rubber quarter finals like we had 2 weeks ago. A lot of the same match ups as happen at the moment would happen at some stage in the year so its hardly an armageddon if Wexford and Kilkenny or Tipp and Limerick is in an All-Ireland round robin rather than a provincial one. I say this knowing full well Dublin and my adopted Wexford might lose out but it'd be better than the current structure, while also providing development opportunities for the other counties.
I think skill levels have never been higher but I still preferred the game in the 10's when players were honest, the game was let flow and diving was neither tolerated or rewarded.
Replying To Cockney_Cat: "Just under 13,000 for a Minor final, and you say that's not 'big' and 'disappointing'?"
The capacity is 24,000. Kilkenny were literally playing at home on a Saturday evening in an All Ireland minor final. 13,000 is disappointing. Offaly and Tipp fans packed Nowlan Park out for the U20 a few weeks previously.
Replying To Galway9801: "Again, your post makes no sense. The crowd at nowlan park for the minor final would have been no bigger had it been played in croke park (unless the counties senior teams were involved in which case there might have been a few more coming in towards the end of the game). The only difference is that in a smaller stadium like nowlan park the atmosphere was way better than had it been played in front of c. 75 000 empty seats.
Describing it as a warm up game to the senior final might have sounded a bit harsh, fair enough,curtain raiser is probably more politically correct, but playing it as a stand alone fixture adds more value to the occasion imo and absolutely counts more as the players having their day in the sun."
We'll agree to disagree on where it should be played. The players themselves are best placed to answer that. Looking forward to the weekend's hurling. I'm going to Limerick and Cork. I think Cork might suffer a backlash here. Clare and Kilkenny is anyone's game. I'll be at Galway v Donegal too. Galway will need all their men fit and ready to go for that one.