No need to hold every final in Croke Park

[Eamonnca1]

This "great honour to play in Croke Park" thing is getting out of hand.  It seems like every all Ireland Final whether it's ladies football or camogie or the Christy Ring Cup has to be played there even if only two men and a dog show up to watch. 

How the hell does it help these competitions to have their flagship day held in a mostly empty stadium with a small round of applause echoing round the place?  It's terrible looking and I shudder to think what the atmosphere must be like at those games.  Watching it on TV the empty stands just glare at you as if to say "nobody gives a toss about this game." 

Put the games in a stadium that has a chance of being filled, FFS. 16,000 people in the Armagh Athletic Grounds would make a far better atmosphere than 16,000 in Croke.

[BennyCake]

I've no problem with finals being at Croke Park, especially for Junior and Internediate clubs who might never get the chance again in their careers.

The ladies deserve their day out in HQ too. However, it's not the small crowd that's the problem at Ladies finals, it's the deafening sound of screams of small girls. Even on the TV it's annoying.

[Syferus]

Club Junior/Inter/Senior, Intercounty Senior/Minor and the Ladies' should all stay put. On top of the emotional reasons for wanting the finals to be at the most storied ground in our island's history, Dublin is serviced from all corners of the island by efficient (if long, in a few cases) public transport. I know plenty of people don't think twice about going to Croker but if the match was somewhere nearer but only accessible by road they'd be far less willing to go.

[Croí na hÉireann]

I've no problem with finals being at Croke Park, especially for Junior and Internediate clubs who might never get the chance again in their careers.

The ladies deserve their day out in HQ too. However, it's not the small crowd that's the problem at Ladies finals, it's the deafening sound of screams of small girls. Even on the TV it's annoying.

Don't forget the wimin as well. Had the misfortune to sit in front of a gaggle of them in Cusack Park on Sunday, my ears are still ringing.

No problem with the finals being played there either, I'd much rather play in front of 8k in Croke Park than 8k in Parnell Park or any other park.

[brokencrossbar1]

Why would anyone burst their bollocks for a day out in a provincial stadium.  It is the only chance that a lot of players will ever get to play there so what odds if there are only 8 odd thousand there.  It's a great honour and privilege and shuld be cherished and nurtured. 

[Ard-Rí]

Community games, the community shares. Simple as, really. Whether some of the finals played at Croker are at the elite standard or not doesn't matter, it's not what the GAA is about. I'd love to play in Croker even if it was only the dog that showed up, minus his owner. So let 'em at it.

[ziggysego]

My wee club Greencastle played in Croke Park for the All-Ireland Junior Final back in 2007. It wouldn't have mattered how many were there on the night to see the game, the atmosphere was electric and it would have been an insult to the lads to say that their game wasn't important enough for Croke Park.

[Two Hands FFS]

The Junior & Intermediate AI Club series is one of the biggest success stories in the GAA in recent years. All these clubs have as much right to play in Croke Park as Cross, Portumna, Kilkenny or Donegal.