The Sunday Game

[Tubberman]

The ever-excellent Keith Duggan sums up the situation very well

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/gaa-has-fumbled-the-ball-and-is-jerking-both-kerry-and-mayo-players-around-1.1907613?page=1



A headline posted recently on the bleacherreport.com warned that next Saturday's NCAA football opener between Penn State and Central Florida scheduled for Croke Park is "Threatened by Potential Volcanic Eruption".

It was too much to hope that the good people at Bleacher had somehow pre-empted the unholy reaction of David Brady and other Mayo stalwarts to news that that Mayo and Kerry's All-Ireland semi-final replay was being shifted to Limerick to facilitate a game of American football.

Alas no, they were merely referring to the smoke emanating from Iceland. In keeping with the general theme, the county teams and fans weren't on the agenda.

Mayo manager James Horan chose the perfect word is his post-match reaction to news of Kerry and Mayo's being bumped to an off-Broadway venue. "Bizarre" just about sums up a situation which has Aidan O'Shea and Declan O'Sullivan running through their warm-ups for a huge championship match in a provincial ground while, on the same afternoon, Christian Hackenberg will be seeking to enhance his pass-completion record for the Nittany Lions in the GAA's theatre of dreams. It is bizarre and unprecedented.

Television viewers still reeling from the truly brilliant drawn match on Sunday must have assumed they misheard Michael Lyster declare that the replay would go ahead on Limerick on Saturday. Limerick! On Saturday? Why? At 5?

Within minutes the reason became clear. Speaking from Croke Park on RTÉ radio less than an hour after the match, former Kerry player Michael Quirke noted that cheerleaders from Penn State had taken the field to go through a practice routine. His tone was lighthearted but the observation contained a highly relevant point. Once the full-time whistle went on Sunday, American football was the only game in town as far as Croke Park was concerned.

The Croke Park Classic is a heavyweight money spinner. Sixteen thousand Americans flying in, 4,000 gridiron fans from around Europe and an estimated €30 million for the economy: what's not to love? Speaking on Today FM recently, Croke Park commercial director Peter McKenna emphasised the razzmatazz- the tailgating, the cheerleaders, the parachutist landing with the match ball, the Dublin Gospel Choir. It sounded great. Meanwhile, in the Gaelic Grounds, there's a fair chance the immersion will be switched on for the local lads.

The GAA has already lined up another American football classic for 2017 and hopes to host one every other year. Because it must be scheduled as a season opener in August, the busiest month of the GAA calendar in Croke Park, the GAA limited its options for replays in the All-Ireland championship. They must have silently hoped that this situation wouldn't come to pass. And fingers-crossed is not good enough. Main fault It could be argued that the main fault lies in the overall All-Ireland season scheduling. Mayo started their championship quest in the Bronx on May 4th. Their next match was on June 8th. They then played and won the Connacht final on July 13th. Three games, three months. Kerry, meanwhile, finished their league programme on April 6th and waited until June 22nd for their next competitive match, a Munster semi-final against Clare. They won their provincial final against Cork on July 4th. So an All-Ireland championship which begins with huge gaps between games demands that two of its last four teams prepare for a season-defining match with just a six-day turnaround. There is no reason why this stage of the season needs to be so congested.

Even within the existing framework, there is no reason why Mayo versus Kerry can't take place on Saturday, September 6th. The official explanation – that the GAA had to take into account the possibility of a draw between Dublin and Donegal next Sunday – is flawed. It inadvertently suggests – or perhaps betrays- the sense that the Dublin/Donegal fixture is somehow pre-eminent in the minds of those who run these matters. On Sunday evening, a Dublin/Donegal replay was a relatively faint possibility. A Kerry/Mayo replay had become a reality. Why not give that replay the September 6th slot and release a statement clarifying that should the Dublin/Donegal semi-final finish in a draw it would (a) take place in Croke Park as part of an All-Ireland semi-final double header with preference given to ticket-holders from the drawn match or that (b) both matches would take place in Croke Park at 2pm and 6pm, allowing the stadium to be cleared after the first match or (c) that the Dublin/Donegal replay would take place at an alternative venue, with all the attendant romance/novelty that comes with the rarity of Dublin playing championship matches on the road.

For neutrals, there is something tantalising about the pure novelty of a Saturday evening All-Ireland semi-final in Limerick. It is something unexpected – and less of a hike for both sets of supporters. Isn't fair But that is not the point. The situation isn't fair on either team. It means Mayo must travel and play in a venue which Kerry are well used to.

This is not to suggest it gives Kerry an advantage, necessarily: few teams respond to the liberation of playing in Croke Park as consistently as Kerry. There is no question that they would prefer to be going back to the Jones Road.

When teams reach the All-Ireland series, they are mentally locked into the idea of playing in Croke Park for the remainder of the season. It is a sacred place: playing there has always been regarded as something a reward in itself. To tamper with that is unfair on teams and managers. They work too hard, put too many hours in and get so little in recompense. They shouldn't be jerked around.

This latest embarrassment leaves the GAA more open than ever to accusations that money is the first and last consideration in its reasoning.

The bottom line is that Kerry and Mayo are playing in Limerick this Saturday to safeguard the possibility of a Dublin/Donegal draw and another full house in Croke Park on September 6th.

So a championship season which began with the controversy over the Sky broadcasting rights deal and had the Garth Brooks fiasco for its half-time entertainment is finishing by rewarding two teams which thrilled the country with the match of the summer with a take-it-or-leave it replay in Mick Mackey's old stomping ground.

The American visitors would recognise this for what it is. The GAA has fumbled the ball.

[muppet]

From the above:

Within minutes the reason became clear. Speaking from Croke Park on RTÉ radio less than an hour after the match, former Kerry player Michael Quirke noted that cheerleaders from Penn State had taken the field to go through a practice routine. His tone was lighthearted but the observation contained a highly relevant point. Once the full-time whistle went on Sunday, American football was the only game in town as far as Croke Park was concerned.

That says it all.

Cheerleaders from a US college get an opportunity to practice what Emyln Mulligan won't get to do for real.

Another annoying aspect is for Premium seat holders. You'd reasonably expect to get to see the semi-finals. God forbid they take this attitude with an All-Ireland Final due to a netball conference.

[Sidney]

Of course you do. You, from Dublin, would have more local knowledge of Castlebar to Galway than any Castlebar man.

What makes you think I wouldn't? Contrary to the you belief, some Dublin people do actually regularly travel out of Dublin, you know, and can actually be very familiar with such roads.

You on the other hand, appear to believe that Castlebar is nearer to Dublin than it is to Limerick.

Local knowledge, eh?

Show me where I said that and you win. Gold medal and world record all in one.

Given that you've spent the last three or four pages moaning about getting to the significantly nearer Limerick, but appear to think getting to the significantly further away Dublin to be a breeze, one can draw logical conclusions.

Best of luck finding Limerick on Saturday. By the sounds of it, you'll need it.

[muppet]

Of course you do. You, from Dublin, would have more local knowledge of Castlebar to Galway than any Castlebar man.

What makes you think I wouldn't? Contrary to the you belief, some Dublin people do actually regularly travel out of Dublin, you know, and can actually be very familiar with such roads.

You on the other hand, appear to believe that Castlebar is nearer to Dublin than it is to Limerick.

Local knowledge, eh?

Show me where I said that and you win. Gold medal and world record all in one.

Given that you've spent the last three or four pages moaning about getting to the significantly nearer Limerick, but appear to think getting to the significantly further away Dublin to be a breeze, one can draw logical conclusions.

Best of luck finding Limerick on Saturday. By the sounds of it, you'll need it.

Caught out spoofing again then.

[Sidney]

Cheerleaders from a US college get an opportunity to practice what Emyln Mulligan won't get to do for real.

Get onto Croke Park to get them to fix the first round of next year's Connacht championship for Croke Park.

And also get onto them to scrap Cumman na mBunscoil matches while you're at it. Why should 12 year olds, some of whom probably prefer soccer, be allowed play there when Emlyn Mulligan can't?

Did Dublin supporters moan when Hill 16 was closed for the game against Laois in 2003 because the stage for the Special Olympics opening ceremony was being constructed? Did we fook. Going by your logic, why should Dublin supporters (and Laois supporter if so inclined  ) not have been allowed stand on the Hill instead of making way for Bono and people from Africa and Asia? Thankfully we didn't take the Mayo approach of moaning and bitching about nothing.

[AZOffaly]

From the above:

Within minutes the reason became clear. Speaking from Croke Park on RTÉ radio less than an hour after the match, former Kerry player Michael Quirke noted that cheerleaders from Penn State had taken the field to go through a practice routine. His tone was lighthearted but the observation contained a highly relevant point. Once the full-time whistle went on Sunday, American football was the only game in town as far as Croke Park was concerned.

That says it all.

Cheerleaders from a US college get an opportunity to practice what Emyln Mulligan won't get to do for real.

Another annoying aspect is for Premium seat holders. You'd reasonably expect to get to see the semi-finals. God forbid they take this attitude with an All-Ireland Final due to a netball conference.

Emlyn wants to be a cheerleader?

[Sidney]

Caught out spoofing again then.

No need to be posting up pictures of yourself, now. I've already had enough of vain attention seekers on social media for one week.

It was Mayo that Craggy Island was set in, wasn't it?

[Sidney]

From the above:

Within minutes the reason became clear. Speaking from Croke Park on RTÉ radio less than an hour after the match, former Kerry player Michael Quirke noted that cheerleaders from Penn State had taken the field to go through a practice routine. His tone was lighthearted but the observation contained a highly relevant point. Once the full-time whistle went on Sunday, American football was the only game in town as far as Croke Park was concerned.

That says it all.

Cheerleaders from a US college get an opportunity to practice what Emyln Mulligan won't get to do for real.

Another annoying aspect is for Premium seat holders. You'd reasonably expect to get to see the semi-finals. God forbid they take this attitude with an All-Ireland Final due to a netball conference.

Emlyn wants to be a cheerleader?

We have a lesbian Rose of Tralee so I see no problem with this. I'm all for equality.

[muppet]

Cheerleaders from a US college get an opportunity to practice what Emyln Mulligan won't get to do for real.

Get onto Croke Park to get them to fix the first round of next year's Connacht championship for Croke Park.

And also get onto them to scrap Cumman na mBunscoil matches while you're at it. Why should 12 year olds, some of whom probably prefer soccer, be allowed play there when Emlyn Mulligan can't?

Did Dublin supporters moan when Hill 16 was closed for the game against Laois in 2003 because the stage for the Special Olympics opening ceremony was being constructed? Did we fook. Going by your logic, why should Dublin supporters (and Laois supporter if so inclined  ) not have been allowed stand on the Hill instead of making way for Bono and people from Africa and Asia? Thankfully we didn't take the Mayo approach of moaning and bitching about nothing.

Do you understand that I am arguing for Croke Park to be used for Gaa? Is it that difficult to see?

Laois v Dublin 2003 was in Croke Park. God, imagine if the Dubs were booted out to the sticks, how you would react if you are upset over a terrace being closed in 2003.

And you are the one bitching and moaning. We are the ones who are actually affected and you have taken it upon yourself to whinge and argue the toss about something that has nothing to do with you and that you clearly know nothing about. 'Clare to Thurles is comparable with Mayo to Limerick'. 

[muppet]

From the above:

Within minutes the reason became clear. Speaking from Croke Park on RTÉ radio less than an hour after the match, former Kerry player Michael Quirke noted that cheerleaders from Penn State had taken the field to go through a practice routine. His tone was lighthearted but the observation contained a highly relevant point. Once the full-time whistle went on Sunday, American football was the only game in town as far as Croke Park was concerned.

That says it all.

Cheerleaders from a US college get an opportunity to practice what Emyln Mulligan won't get to do for real.

Another annoying aspect is for Premium seat holders. You'd reasonably expect to get to see the semi-finals. God forbid they take this attitude with an All-Ireland Final due to a netball conference.

Emlyn wants to be a cheerleader?

If he wants to get onto the hallowed ground he may need to consider this.

[AZOffaly]

Or transfer to Dublin. Sure they are never off it.

[Bord na Mona man]

I don't understand the fuss about playing the replay in Limerick.
The Dubs still fondly remember playing 'down the country' in 1983. Tipp's breakthrough in Munster in 1987 has an extra bit of novelty as it happened off the beaten path in Killarney.

Several media reports have been incorrect, the last All Ireland semi final to be played outside of Croke Park was in 1998, when Offaly played Clare in a re-fixture.

Mayo should also note that Thurles was an unfamiliar venue to Offaly and a second home to Clare. The reason Thurles was picked was a sop to Clare after their misfortune in having Jimmy Cooney blow  full time 5 minutes early. In the build up, there was little complaint from Clare over the Jimmy Cooney incident, as the consensus was they going to scorch Offaly's aging team on the bigger Thurles pitch with their legendary fitness. They'd let a 10 point lead shrink to 3 points when Cooney intervened and weren't going to be as charitable this time.

My own opinion and that of many others was that Offaly's semi-final win over Clare in Thurles was a more memorable occasion than subsequent the All Ireland win over Kilkenny. The tension and atmosphere was electric and better than any of the games in Croke Park.

Down in Limerick you'll have a terrace behind the goals allocated to each county leading to a better sense of theatre. Anyone who is there will have made the effort, as opposed to waking up covered in last night's curry in their Drumcondra flat, an hour before throw in, and stumbling down to Croke Park.

If Mayo win the All Ireland, they'll be talking about the pilgrimage to Limerick for decades.

[muppet]

Or transfer to Dublin. Sure they are never off it.

That would be tearing D'arse out of it. 

[muppet]

I don't understand the fuss about playing the replay in Limerick.
The Dubs still fondly remember playing 'down the country' in 1983. Tipp's breakthrough in Munster in 1987 has an extra bit of novelty as it happened off the beaten path in Killarney.

Several media reports have been incorrect, the last All Ireland semi final to be played outside of Croke Park was in 1998, when Offaly played Clare in a re-fixture.

Mayo should also note that Thurles was an unfamiliar venue to Offaly and a second home to Clare. The reason Thurles was picked was a sop to Clare after their misfortune in having Jimmy Cooney blow  full time 5 minutes early. In the build up, there was little complaint from Clare over the Jimmy Cooney incident, as the consensus was they going to scorch Offaly's aging team on the bigger Thurles pitch with their legendary fitness. They'd let a 10 point lead shrink to 3 points when Cooney intervened and weren't going to be as charitable this time.

My own opinion and that of many others was that Offaly's semi-final win over Clare in Thurles was a more memorable occasion than subsequent the All Ireland win over Kilkenny. The tension atmosphere was electric and better than any of the games in Croke Park.

Down in Limerick you'll have a terrace behind the goals allocated to each county leading to a better sense of theatre. Anyone who is there will have made the effort, as opposed to waking up covered in last night's curry in their Drumcondra flat, an hour before throw in, and stumbling down to Croke Park.

If Mayo win the All Ireland, they'll be talking about the pilgrimage to Limerick for decades.

BNMM The tickets are available online to anyone.

As for the bold, that would be true regardless of what happens. But I am still expecting a mess at 1700 on saturday. I am hoping that the trains are running.

[armaghniac]

I am hoping that the trains are running.

They are running a test train from Claremorris to Tuam as we speak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mPbrRjCnhmk#t=64