Would Club all ireland finals get better attendance

[Milltown Row2]

Semi Finals early December, Finals in mid January.

Why a 5 or 6 week gap. Crazy. Semi early December, final 2 weeks later max. Mid December all finished in time for Christmas.

So explain why it should be done before Xmas? If four club teams upset the thousand other clubs and 32 county teams there's something seriously wrong!

[Eamonnca1]

There's no reason why Croke Park shouldn't be filled on St Paddy's Day.

Croke Park will never fill on St Patrick's Day, no matter what you put on. Too many competing attractions in every town in the land.

That's defeatism talking. The GAA could do far more to attract tourists to the games. There's more to the country than pubs and the Guinness storehouse.

I'm convinced the GAA is leaving a serious chunk of easy money on the table in relation to getting tourists to games.

11.2 million tourists visited Ireland last year according to Tourism Ireland - I would say that out of that 11 million the number who attended a GAA match was tiny.

Somebody once told me that the problem is in Tourism Ireland. They don't see the tourist potential of Gaelic games and are more interested in promoting Rugby and Soccer as tourist draws as far as sport is concerned. The last time I looked at a tourist brochure for the country, the GAA barely got a mention anywhere. You could travel to Ireland, spend a week there, and come home as unaware of the existence of hurling and Gaelic football as when you set off.

[lenny]

Its grand as it is, the tv coverage and build up to these games are great, if you've been involved with a club that has had the chance to play at Croker on St Patricks day you'll understand then what it does to a club and its future.

For a county like ours to have limited success at county level to having a club represent its county and province in Croke park is some achievment, Loughgiel, Rossa Cushendall and the great Dunloy teams have all graced the pitch on St Patricks day, ourselves and the Johnnies also had that opportunity in football.

The GAA calendar year is packed out, the break to play the semi finals  and finals in Feb and March is of no hinderance to anyone

The provincial finals are played in late november. An example was slaughtneil a couple of years ago had to wait 10 weeks from ulster final to all ireland semi. Then another 4 week gap to the final. That is ridiculous. You say it's of no hindrance to anyone but 7 of those players were lost to derry for their division 3 campaign and it was no surprise that they were relegated. Players don't need huge gaps between games. There is really no issue with having one week gap between games which would mean getting club finals completed in the calendar year.

[five points]

There's no reason why Croke Park shouldn't be filled on St Paddy's Day.

Croke Park will never fill on St Patrick's Day, no matter what you put on. Too many competing attractions in every town in the land.

That's defeatism talking. The GAA could do far more to attract tourists to the games. There's more to the country than pubs and the Guinness storehouse.

Not defeatism but reality. St Patrick's Day parades are very, very popular, especially with families. It's not like All Ireland Football Final Sunday when there's nothing else on anywhere.

And most tourists don't know Gaelic games exist, let alone care a jot about them on a day when there's always plenty else to do.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Theres showcasing/educating Tourists about the GAA and then theres trying to to get them to sit in Croke Park for three hours ball freezing on St Patricks wondering what they are watching when the rest of Ireland is jumping.
Club finals in March might not be the best option for tourism.

[Milltown Row2]

Its grand as it is, the tv coverage and build up to these games are great, if you've been involved with a club that has had the chance to play at Croker on St Patricks day you'll understand then what it does to a club and its future.

For a county like ours to have limited success at county level to having a club represent its county and province in Croke park is some achievment, Loughgiel, Rossa Cushendall and the great Dunloy teams have all graced the pitch on St Patricks day, ourselves and the Johnnies also had that opportunity in football.

The GAA calendar year is packed out, the break to play the semi finals  and finals in Feb and March is of no hinderance to anyone

The provincial finals are played in late november. An example was slaughtneil a couple of years ago had to wait 10 weeks from ulster final to all ireland semi. Then another 4 week gap to the final. That is ridiculous. You say it's of no hindrance to anyone but 7 of those players were lost to derry for their division 3 campaign and it was no surprise that they were relegated. Players don't need huge gaps between games. There is really no issue with having one week gap between games which would mean getting club finals completed in the calendar year.

County teams should not be doing anything other than strength and conditioning work, the same as the lads on the S'niell team would have been doing anyways, was there not a ban on players doing county training and games during December? and a brilliant opportunity for other players to step up in the squad and get selected. leagues are playing in, championships are for winning.

It wasnt as if the lads at S'neil were sitting on their hands to be fair

[OgraAnDun]

Its grand as it is, the tv coverage and build up to these games are great, if you've been involved with a club that has had the chance to play at Croker on St Patricks day you'll understand then what it does to a club and its future.

For a county like ours to have limited success at county level to having a club represent its county and province in Croke park is some achievment, Loughgiel, Rossa Cushendall and the great Dunloy teams have all graced the pitch on St Patricks day, ourselves and the Johnnies also had that opportunity in football.

The GAA calendar year is packed out, the break to play the semi finals  and finals in Feb and March is of no hinderance to anyone

The provincial finals are played in late november. An example was slaughtneil a couple of years ago had to wait 10 weeks from ulster final to all ireland semi. Then another 4 week gap to the final. That is ridiculous. You say it's of no hindrance to anyone but 7 of those players were lost to derry for their division 3 campaign and it was no surprise that they were relegated. Players don't need huge gaps between games. There is really no issue with having one week gap between games which would mean getting club finals completed in the calendar year.

County teams should not be doing anything other than strength and conditioning work, the same as the lads on the S'niell team would have been doing anyways, was there not a ban on players doing county training and games during December? and a brilliant opportunity for other players to step up in the squad and get selected. leagues are playing in, championships are for winning.

It wasnt as if the lads at S'neil were sitting on their hands to be fair

What about from Janauary to the end of March? Sit in the gym the whole time?

[Milltown Row2]

Its grand as it is, the tv coverage and build up to these games are great, if you've been involved with a club that has had the chance to play at Croker on St Patricks day you'll understand then what it does to a club and its future.

For a county like ours to have limited success at county level to having a club represent its county and province in Croke park is some achievment, Loughgiel, Rossa Cushendall and the great Dunloy teams have all graced the pitch on St Patricks day, ourselves and the Johnnies also had that opportunity in football.

The GAA calendar year is packed out, the break to play the semi finals  and finals in Feb and March is of no hinderance to anyone

The provincial finals are played in late november. An example was slaughtneil a couple of years ago had to wait 10 weeks from ulster final to all ireland semi. Then another 4 week gap to the final. That is ridiculous. You say it's of no hindrance to anyone but 7 of those players were lost to derry for their division 3 campaign and it was no surprise that they were relegated. Players don't need huge gaps between games. There is really no issue with having one week gap between games which would mean getting club finals completed in the calendar year.

County teams should not be doing anything other than strength and conditioning work, the same as the lads on the S'niell team would have been doing anyways, was there not a ban on players doing county training and games during December? and a brilliant opportunity for other players to step up in the squad and get selected. leagues are playing in, championships are for winning.

It wasnt as if the lads at S'neil were sitting on their hands to be fair

What about from Janauary to the end of March? Sit in the gym the whole time?

What about it?