I don't think Sligo will accept the money, unless K.Walsh and the team agree. Too much of a gamble:-

Financially it may make sense; the Connacht Council, Sligo, and of course the financially-strapped Mayo County Board all gain. If Sligo win then it would be sweet for them - Connacht title and getting paid to beat Mayo in McHale Park!

If they lose (particularly if they were to lose narrowly) then the accusations of selling a Connacht Championship would surface and the image of being the poor or greedy relation who put themselves at a disadvantage for a few bob wouldn't sit well with the supporters.

Overall, probably not worth it.

Solo Run (None) - Posts: 317 - 27/06/2012 17:21:06    1203744

Maybe not, it will be a fair scramble for tickets if it's the hyde, 18k. If ross beat Galway in the minors they will bring 4-5k alone, it will be like an AI ticket i reckon if it goes that road.

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 27/06/2012 17:46:26    1203759

Can't see it being in Hyde Park - given these new limitations in capacity. It's Salthill or Castlebar, looks like anyway.

There is a wider issue, does this mean all Connacht Finals would have to be in Salthill or Castlebar? Ros would be forced to undo home/away arrangements for finals as well? Maybe the capacity issue at Hyde Park is solvable in the short term, not sure.

Solo Run (None) - Posts: 317 - 27/06/2012 17:57:15    1203770

Capacity for a Connacht final has to be 20,000 or over. Was over 25,000 at the Hyde park final last year & it wasn't full i don't expect Sligo v Mayo to attract a bigger crowd.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3993 - 27/06/2012 18:07:22    1203785

The Connacht Final is one game I am really looking forward to , Mayo who's aspirations lie far beyond Connacht titles against a team who'd view the Connacht title as the be all and end all for them , huge game in prospect with two teams who are good defensively but play nice brands of football and regularly wrack up big scores

stekhli (Dublin) - Posts: 3121 - 27/06/2012 18:10:03    1203789

it was a terrible last year for the connacht final so that did affect the crowd in my opinion. I think mayo/sligo would attract a sizeable crowd and you would have a few thousand for the minor game aswel. Is it true that the capacity in hyde park will be reduced to 18,000?

mayoaresavage (Mayo) - Posts: 313 - 27/06/2012 19:43:17    1203849

The last Mayo v Sligo game in Mchale park (2008 semi final) only attracted 12,000 i think this final will be no more than 20-23,000.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3993 - 27/06/2012 20:41:29    1203908

If McHale Park and weather good........Mayo...15k
Sligo.....11k

Roscommon minors (if win)....3k (minimum, great fans to follow their underage teams)

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 27/06/2012 21:08:19    1203927

Gaa_lover
County: USA
Posts: 757

1203908
The last Mayo v Sligo game in Mchale park (2008 semi final) only attracted 12,000 i think this final will be no more than 20-23,000.

I was at that game and it was not a connacht final and was a terrible day weather wise. The connacht final will attract more than the 18,000 hyde park can currently hold as per health and safety rules so the final will either be in castlebar or galway. We will all know tomorrow night anyway.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12122 - 27/06/2012 21:33:54    1203946

27/06/2012 21:08:19
51longago
County: Mayo
Posts: 1562

1203927
If McHale Park and weather good........Mayo...15k
Sligo.....11k

Roscommon minors (if win)....3k (minimum, great fans to follow their underage teams)

____________________________________

I think your a bit optimistic with the crowd figures. Our Irish summers are getting worse, the price of Connacht final tickets turns people away plus it's on TV so some "supporters" choose to stay at home.

Mchale park was also hit in the Slattery Report it can only hold 28,000 now unless work has been carried out?

ispeakwisdom (Roscommon) - Posts: 2487 - 28/06/2012 15:57:22    1204300

I think you are underselling sligo stekhli. To say a connacht title is the be-all and end-all of their aspirations isnt true. Yes they would love to win connacht, but I think they would fancy themselves to get a stage further. I mean mayo were in the semis last year and the league final already this year and I dont believe they fear us. So if they think they can beat us then why not a few more? On their day they are a dangerous side. They have some excellent defenders, some sharp forwards and they work really hard as a unit. They are the type of side that can catch a bigger team on the hop. I have no doubt that with a bit of luck on the day they could clip the wings of teams like down, tyrone, kildare or ourselves. I mean look at the zero respect they showed to galway, and many (including a certain mr spillane) fancied them to win connacht. In all honesty, they battered them. Personally I would like to see them put a good run of form together and get to a quarter final, because they are as good as some teams who have featured there in the past. As long as they do it through the qualifiers of course...

I actually expect, weather permitting, a big draw at this years connacht final. Sligo fully believe that can do it and left one behind them against the rossie a few years ago, and we are waiting all year to get a real full-blooded championship game and believe we are capable of reaching a semi-final this year. We knew we would have too much for leitrim but this is a big one, against a side who are going well and fancy themselves against us. This is going to be a good game.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/06/2012 16:47:47    1204339

Winner of the Connacht final will be likely up against the like's of Kildare,Armagh,Kerry or Tyrone I wouldn't fancy the Connacht team v any of them. Same goes for the loser of Connacht.

If Sligo win Connacht they will give it their best shot but if they fail i'm sure they will be happy a Connacht title. For Mayo the target is a semi final (at least) if it's not achieved they have fallen back from last year would they be happy enough with just a Connacht title?

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3993 - 28/06/2012 18:34:46    1204445

Connacht final set for Hyde Park.

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 28/06/2012 20:34:11    1204526

Hyde confirmed as final venue.. I wonder will it be a scramble for tickets?

unclegerry (Mayo) - Posts: 1223 - 28/06/2012 20:35:09    1204528

Hyde park it is and its a 2:00pm throw in. Wouldn't be my favourite venue, but we won there last year. I wonder what the capacity is?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12122 - 28/06/2012 20:49:57    1204548

25,000 & it's unlikely to sell out. I'm also told Mchale park was never option.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4397 - 28/06/2012 21:20:27    1204581

Ah well thats life, not to worry, we'll still win no matter where its held.

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 28/06/2012 21:35:36    1204602

Last time Sligo lost a championship game in Hyde Park was 15 years ago in the 1997 Connacht final against Mayo

muscles (Sligo) - Posts: 491 - 29/06/2012 17:21:23    1205131

Last time Mayo lost a Connacht final in Hyde park was v Roscommon in 2001 & they also lost in Hyde park v Leitrim in 1994. Of course they won in Hyde park last year & that has to count for something.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3993 - 29/06/2012 18:55:22    1205187