AfricanGael - Have you ever been to Croke Park? I doubt it. There are no barb wire fencing - no fencing at all around the pitch - bar hill 16 which has perplex sheeting with doors in it.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11697 - 17/09/2012 16:27:45    1267736

If they are gonna keep the fans off the pitch the would the GAA stop using scenes and pictures of pitch invasions in their marketing, reeks of hypocrisy!! Personally I love being on the pitch, the last two years being in a sea of Donegal folk and watching as our captain raises the trophy above all of us is memories I'll treasure forever!

However I have come to realize that the players do want time to embrace eachother, too celebrate with those they have soldiered with through thick and thin and those who know exactly the sacrifices they have made to be successful. And also as mentioned it's important that the losers can leave the field in dignity and have the chance to congratulate their opponents and have the winners a chance to commiserate with the losing team.

I feel a compromise can be made, tell the fans that they will be allowed on the pitch, this will stop the mad crush and scramble to get on the pitch. From my own experience that is the most dangerous as people try to push past eachother etc. Let the players celebrate and when their ready to receive the trophy and proper safety precautions have been put up along the tunnel to make space for the players then open the gates and let the fans on SAFELY! I can only speak for my self but if it were me I would much rather lift Sam aloft in front of 20,000 of delirious people than an empty pitch.

Antifa (Donegal) - Posts: 143 - 17/09/2012 16:40:43    1267754

I don't see why not, the celebrations at the ulster final were grand and almost every other pitch except croke park gets invaded after finals. this lark of not selling the first 3 rows in croke park for the matches prior to the final is a load of rubbish. there are a few thousand people sitting in the upper tiers who could be in the front rows for those games and there isn't even a risk of invasion. the leinster final is the only game you can justify doing that unless it sells out.

BettystownRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 3353 - 17/09/2012 16:52:30    1267767

Antifa
The H&S would have a major problem with what you mention. Firstly you could have 20,000 people on the pitch and then deciding all to leave via the Hogan Stand, this on top of all the other patrons previously sitting on the Hogan Stand would mean too many exiting onto Jones Road albeit that most of the losing fans and neutrals would leave at the final whistle from the Hogan. I had thought on the same lines as yourself but the GAA could never allow this to happen however if it does happen PLAN B and lets hope we never have PLAN C

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 17/09/2012 16:55:08    1267774

We'll take it down ;)

whiterbannnas (Mayo) - Posts: 2441 - 17/09/2012 19:00:11    1267866

BettystownRoyal
I don't see why not, the celebrations at the ulster final were grand and almost every other pitch except croke park gets invaded after finals. this lark of not selling the first 3 rows in croke park for the matches prior to the final is a load of rubbish. there are a few thousand people sitting in the upper tiers who could be in the front rows for those games and there isn't even a risk of invasion. the leinster final is the only game you can justify doing that unless it sells out.
Fans dont need to be on the pitch. Its better for the players(mainly those who lose in games) for the supporters to stay in their seats and not enter the pitch at the final whistle. I know its traditional for pitch invasions to happen but the damage to pitches after pitch iinvasions and the potential of crushes etc when supporters leave a much smaller number of exits means they should be outlawed.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 17/09/2012 19:23:36    1267881

Barriers should never have been put up and fans should be allowed to celebrate in orderly fashion on the field afterwards.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4125 - 17/09/2012 19:43:35    1267896

No.For 2 reasons

1.Its Dangerous (potentially)

2.Take a look at it from a players point of view.The first thing the players want to do is celebrate with the rest of the panel.With the boys they have slogged with winter after winter running through sh*t and mud,being covered in mud puke sweat and blood.The last thing they want to be doing is walking through a mob looking for the lads they want to share that moment with most.

Take_em_off (Mayo) - Posts: 212 - 17/09/2012 20:16:26    1267920

There will be no supporters on the pitch on Sunday and rightly so...the players come first and foremost...it is their day...all this bravado talk about they'll never keep us off the pitch if we win is just that - bravado talk...there's not a hope in hell of one supporter gracing the Croke Park surface after the game..!

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 17/09/2012 21:17:21    1267985

yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 3908

1267736
AfricanGael - Have you ever been to Croke Park? I doubt it. There are no barb wire fencing - no fencing at all around the pitch - bar hill 16 which has perplex sheeting with doors in it.

Yes, played in it actually, have you? Who mentioned barbed wire?? Google barrier and learn.

AfricanGael (UK) - Posts: 1947 - 17/09/2012 21:27:26    1267996

Well there was at least one supporter on the field after the mayo dublin game Lifford Gael. Truth is, it isnt that hard to get on the pitch from the stands if someone wants to. Is there not a chance that the barrier could actually be quite dangerous on sunday? There is gonna be unreal excitement no matter which team wins. All it takes is for a few idiots to start pushing. I hope not of course but i could see this "come on, no one is gonna keep us off the field" thing kicking off

redandgreen (None) - Posts: 691 - 17/09/2012 21:32:39    1268002

To be honest enjoyed the after match celebrations last year when there was no pitch invasion.

Great to see players allowed to enjoy the victory.

Comments of the players backed this up as well.

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 18/09/2012 08:30:12    1268048

They should never have gone up in the first place. That said we've had no pitch invasions last two years - it will be sorely tested with Donegal and Mayo - who can blame them wanting toget onto the pitch. But as Charles de Gaulle famousily said of the ill-fated Maginot Line - "its a gate without a fench" same deal here - with three sides exposed I can see the famous Plan B flashing in Croker Again.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4957 - 18/09/2012 09:36:30    1268081

The fans should be allowed on the pitch. The GAA is a grassroots, community sport where the fans are part of the organization. The fans have been rooting for the Mayo and Donegal players since they first picked up a ball all the way through many levels of underage, minors, seniors up to the AI Final.
I hope this is changed. Fans going on the pitch is not the end of the world.

mikeyjoe (USA) - Posts: 415 - 18/09/2012 10:53:26    1268136

I didn't think they should have went up in the first place as I think the fans running onto the pitch at the end of the game to celebrate with the players was a great thing which was unique to us.

Rookied (Louth) - Posts: 24 - 18/09/2012 14:50:29    1268382

09/2012 10:53:26
mikeyjoe
The fans should be allowed on the pitch. The GAA is a grassroots, community sport where the fans are part of the organization. The fans have been rooting for the Mayo and Donegal players since they first picked up a ball all the way through many levels of underage, minors, seniors up to the AI Final.
I hope this is changed. Fans going on the pitch is not the end of the world.

The GAA is a grassroots, community sport where the fans are a major part of the organisation but that isnt good enough a reason for fans to invade the pitch after games. Their is potential for dangerous situations to develop if the pitch is invaded. The fans have been rooting for the players through all the many levels of play but that still isnt enough of a reason for fans to enter the pitch.
The time after the final whistle should be left to the players, both those on the winning and losing sides.
No pitch invasions means the players on the winning sides can celebrate with their teammates directly after the final whistle. The players on the losing side dont have to worry about thousands of supporters from the winning county running through them maybe giving them abuse or worse.
The supporters have plenty of time to celebrate with the players(the next 12 months). the time directly after the final whistle should be left to the 15 players on the pitch, the other 15-20 squad members and all the backroom staff who helped the team get into the position to win the game

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 18/09/2012 15:09:20    1268403

No...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 18/09/2012 15:47:22    1268438

I can see both sides of this and enjoyed being on the pitch in Clones but on balance I would leave it the way it is.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5029 - 18/09/2012 21:17:17    1268687

Yes

mayoboy1 (Mayo) - Posts: 1654 - 18/09/2012 21:24:26    1268694

If they're planning on leaving that perspex wall up at the hill end could they at least put some wipers on it. Spent a rainy day behind it was worse than looking at a fuzzy telly

BelieveinMeath (Meath) - Posts: 121 - 18/09/2012 21:40:18    1268705