Down Club Hurling & Football

[ardtole]

Yeah, and the Supervalu stores are sold out too. I can't believe they didn't leave the Dublin game until the Sunday and have our game as the curtain raiser to Kerry v Derry.

[Mourne Red]

Is ticketmaster sold out for Tailtean Cup final already?

Apparently so, seen few people on Twitter showing the stadium all greyed out. I thought £45 was a bit steep to be charging too, Monaghan supporters always travel well so probably bought up a good few too.

[Walter Cronc]

Yeah, and the Supervalu stores are sold out too. I can't believe they didn't leave the Dublin game until the Sunday and have our game as the curtain raiser to Kerry v Derry.

Even play Down Meath on the Sunday before us. Very strange.

[PAULD123]

Apparently there was some rational that Kerry fans had been made to travel on a Saturday to a game for the quarter final and the top brass didn't think they should have to travel on a Saturday for two games in a row. Some vague idea that people might have to give up work to travel on Saturday but not necessarily on a Sunday.

I know, before anyone starts on me, I'm am not defending this decision. There is next to no sensible thinking here. We could have played our game on the Sunday and just switched with the junior championship final.

For by that, even playing the final at all alongside a semi final of the Sam is a further failure of the GAA to make this a seriously respected competition. I think we should have a finals weekend, over two days. Saturday play the Tailteann cup and Minor all-Ireland finals, maybe a third one if you need it to fill the stadium (perhaps the ladies final because that deserves to be promoted too). Sunday just let it be the Sam all-Ireland on it's own.

The reason for playing the big final on it's own is that there are always far more fans from both finalists than ever get tickets partly because some tickets are being given to two other counties who are in the minor final. And because of the very small allocation the fans of the minor finalists often miss out. 

So let every minor finalist fan see the match, let every Tailteann cup finalist see the match, and let both those finals be the prelude to the big match the next day. And if there is third match (to fill the stadium) then let the ladies game be promoted in front of a decent crowd.

The GAA say they want the Tailteann to be a respected tournament but then they treat it as a throwaway event.

[meatsy86]

Apparently there was some rational that Kerry fans had been made to travel on a Saturday to a game for the quarter final and the top brass didn't think they should have to travel on a Saturday for two games in a row. Some vague idea that people might have to give up work to travel on Saturday but not necessarily on a Sunday.

I know, before anyone starts on me, I'm am not defending this decision. There is next to no sensible thinking here. We could have played our game on the Sunday and just switched with the junior championship final.

For by that, even playing the final at all alongside a semi final of the Sam is a further failure of the GAA to make this a seriously respected competition. I think we should have a finals weekend, over two days. Saturday play the Tailteann cup and Minor all-Ireland finals, maybe a third one if you need it to fill the stadium (perhaps the ladies final because that deserves to be promoted too). Sunday just let it be the Sam all-Ireland on it's own.

The reason for playing the big final on it's own is that there are always far more fans from both finalists than ever get tickets partly because some tickets are being given to two other counties who are in the minor final. And because of the very small allocation the fans of the minor finalists often miss out. 

So let every minor finalist fan see the match, let every Tailteann cup finalist see the match, and let both those finals be the prelude to the big match the next day. And if there is third match (to fill the stadium) then let the ladies game be promoted in front of a decent crowd.

The GAA say they want the Tailteann to be a respected tournament but then they treat it as a throwaway event.

Ladies Finals Day is always a triple header in Croke Park, Senior, Intermediate and Junior. Junior Mens Final is the Sunday because both semi-finals are played two days before on the Friday. Agree though in regard to Minor Final it should be played in Croke Park in front of a big crowd.

[PAULD123]

Apparently there was some rational that Kerry fans had been made to travel on a Saturday to a game for the quarter final and the top brass didn't think they should have to travel on a Saturday for two games in a row. Some vague idea that people might have to give up work to travel on Saturday but not necessarily on a Sunday.

I know, before anyone starts on me, I'm am not defending this decision. There is next to no sensible thinking here. We could have played our game on the Sunday and just switched with the junior championship final.

For by that, even playing the final at all alongside a semi final of the Sam is a further failure of the GAA to make this a seriously respected competition. I think we should have a finals weekend, over two days. Saturday play the Tailteann cup and Minor all-Ireland finals, maybe a third one if you need it to fill the stadium (perhaps the ladies final because that deserves to be promoted too). Sunday just let it be the Sam all-Ireland on it's own.

The reason for playing the big final on it's own is that there are always far more fans from both finalists than ever get tickets partly because some tickets are being given to two other counties who are in the minor final. And because of the very small allocation the fans of the minor finalists often miss out. 

So let every minor finalist fan see the match, let every Tailteann cup finalist see the match, and let both those finals be the prelude to the big match the next day. And if there is third match (to fill the stadium) then let the ladies game be promoted in front of a decent crowd.

The GAA say they want the Tailteann to be a respected tournament but then they treat it as a throwaway event.

Ladies Finals Day is always a triple header in Croke Park, Senior, Intermediate and Junior. Junior Mens Final is the Sunday because both semi-finals are played two days before on the Friday. Agree though in regard to Minor Final it should be played in Croke Park in front of a big crowd.

I get the theory of the three ladies finals together. To pull the senior ladies one out would promote that but then denigrate the others. It was just a thought on how to promote the ladies game, but obviously not if it meant reducing the resect for the other levels. 

But definitely a finals day for Tailteann, Minor and then another, perhaps the junior final. Or maybe a third match could be the Masters final. That would be a bit of craic, seeing stars of the last generation giving it another bash. And again, would promote that competition.

Wouldn't this all create a lovely lead up to the big match the next day on the Sunday.

Plus the format could be replicated for the Hurling.

[Mikhailov]

Apparently there was some rational that Kerry fans had been made to travel on a Saturday to a game for the quarter final and the top brass didn't think they should have to travel on a Saturday for two games in a row. Some vague idea that people might have to give up work to travel on Saturday but not necessarily on a Sunday.

I know, before anyone starts on me, I'm am not defending this decision. There is next to no sensible thinking here. We could have played our game on the Sunday and just switched with the junior championship final.

For by that, even playing the final at all alongside a semi final of the Sam is a further failure of the GAA to make this a seriously respected competition. I think we should have a finals weekend, over two days. Saturday play the Tailteann cup and Minor all-Ireland finals, maybe a third one if you need it to fill the stadium (perhaps the ladies final because that deserves to be promoted too). Sunday just let it be the Sam all-Ireland on it's own.

The reason for playing the big final on it's own is that there are always far more fans from both finalists than ever get tickets partly because some tickets are being given to two other counties who are in the minor final. And because of the very small allocation the fans of the minor finalists often miss out. 

So let every minor finalist fan see the match, let every Tailteann cup finalist see the match, and let both those finals be the prelude to the big match the next day. And if there is third match (to fill the stadium) then let the ladies game be promoted in front of a decent crowd.

The GAA say they want the Tailteann to be a respected tournament but then they treat it as a throwaway event.

Ladies Finals Day is always a triple header in Croke Park, Senior, Intermediate and Junior. Junior Mens Final is the Sunday because both semi-finals are played two days before on the Friday. Agree though in regard to Minor Final it should be played in Croke Park in front of a big crowd.

I get the theory of the three ladies finals together. To pull the senior ladies one out would promote that but then denigrate the others. It was just a thought on how to promote the ladies game, but obviously not if it meant reducing the resect for the other levels. 

But definitely a finals day for Tailteann, Minor and then another, perhaps the junior final. Or maybe a third match could be the Masters final. That would be a bit of craic, seeing stars of the last generation giving it another bash. And again, would promote that competition.

Wouldn't this all create a lovely lead up to the big match the next day on the Sunday.

Plus the format could be replicated for the Hurling.

A lot of the points you make are good and would make sense but the GAA hierarchy don't do 'common sense' so we have to expect irrational thinking.

The minor final should always be a showcase event on AI final day but as far as I know the last time that happened was 2018 - the most recent AI minor finals have been stand alone fixtures in provincial grounds. For eg; this Sunday the AI minor final is in Armagh AG

Secondly, the Masters is not a GAA affiliated competition for some reason unless that has changed in the last 12 months. It has never got the publicity it deserved, never pushed hard by the head honchos at Croke Park.  As you say, it could be part of finals weekend but obviously the GAA don't think so.

The fixture scheduling for the AI semi finals, the Tailteann Cup and the Junior final is another disaster by the GAA but they will have an obscure reason why they fixed it the way it has been done despite common sense dictating otherwise.

[sdg]

Apparently there was some rational that Kerry fans had been made to travel on a Saturday to a game for the quarter final and the top brass didn't think they should have to travel on a Saturday for two games in a row. Some vague idea that people might have to give up work to travel on Saturday but not necessarily on a Sunday.

I know, before anyone starts on me, I'm am not defending this decision. There is next to no sensible thinking here. We could have played our game on the Sunday and just switched with the junior championship final.

For by that, even playing the final at all alongside a semi final of the Sam is a further failure of the GAA to make this a seriously respected competition. I think we should have a finals weekend, over two days. Saturday play the Tailteann cup and Minor all-Ireland finals, maybe a third one if you need it to fill the stadium (perhaps the ladies final because that deserves to be promoted too). Sunday just let it be the Sam all-Ireland on it's own.

The reason for playing the big final on it's own is that there are always far more fans from both finalists than ever get tickets partly because some tickets are being given to two other counties who are in the minor final. And because of the very small allocation the fans of the minor finalists often miss out. 

So let every minor finalist fan see the match, let every Tailteann cup finalist see the match, and let both those finals be the prelude to the big match the next day. And if there is third match (to fill the stadium) then let the ladies game be promoted in front of a decent crowd.

The GAA say they want the Tailteann to be a respected tournament but then they treat it as a throwaway event.

Ladies Finals Day is always a triple header in Croke Park, Senior, Intermediate and Junior. Junior Mens Final is the Sunday because both semi-finals are played two days before on the Friday. Agree though in regard to Minor Final it should be played in Croke Park in front of a big crowd.

I get the theory of the three ladies finals together. To pull the senior ladies one out would promote that but then denigrate the others. It was just a thought on how to promote the ladies game, but obviously not if it meant reducing the resect for the other levels. 

But definitely a finals day for Tailteann, Minor and then another, perhaps the junior final. Or maybe a third match could be the Masters final. That would be a bit of craic, seeing stars of the last generation giving it another bash. And again, would promote that competition.

Wouldn't this all create a lovely lead up to the big match the next day on the Sunday.

Plus the format could be replicated for the Hurling.

A lot of the points you make are good and would make sense but the GAA hierarchy don't do 'common sense' so we have to expect irrational thinking.

The minor final should always be a showcase event on AI final day but as far as I know the last time that happened was 2018 - the most recent AI minor finals have been stand alone fixtures in provincial grounds. For eg; this Sunday the AI minor final is in Armagh AG

Secondly, the Masters is not a GAA affiliated competition for some reason unless that has changed in the last 12 months. It has never got the publicity it deserved, never pushed hard by the head honchos at Croke Park.  As you say, it could be part of finals weekend but obviously the GAA don't think so.

The fixture scheduling for the AI semi finals, the Tailteann Cup and the Junior final is another disaster by the GAA but they will have an obscure reason why they fixed it the way it has been done despite common sense dictating otherwise.

..


Have to laugh at all these posters worried about the scheduling of the TC final, and the importance of it. Its on a Saturday at 3, cause nobody outside the 2 finalist cares about it, viewing figures will be poor  and 80% of the crowd for the AISF won't be in for it with over a  hour between games.

[downtothecore]

But 80% of the crowd have the tickets that a lot of us want and cant get for the TC

[supersub]

Lots of reason for the scheduling. Footballing and non footballing. As hard as it may be to fathom for some. The 'top brass' aren't out to get us or put us down.

[ardtole]

Lots of reason for the scheduling. Footballing and non footballing. As hard as it may be to fathom for some. The 'top brass' aren't out to get us or put us down.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that  the top brass are out to get us. But they have made a foolish error in their scheduling of this fixture.

The kerry v Derry game will be shown all over the world with barely 30,000 at it, if even that. Games in an empty Croke Park lack atmosphere and for an all ireland semi final that is not what you want to be showcasing.

Meath and Down would have brought a sizeable crowd to Croke Park for their final game of the season, both counties are reasonably close to Dublin, particularly
Meath and would have added considerably to the crowd for Derry and Kerry. I'd imagine the majority would have stayed on for the second game, if only to see Clifford up close, particularly if you had kids with you because he is the most box office player in Gaelic games at present.

Anyway the most important thing is we get the win, and qualify for the Sam Maguire round robin series next season. We were very impressive v Laois and Cavan, and the fact Meath beat Down already this year should avoid any complacency setting in after such a landslide victory.

[supersub]

Lots of reason for the scheduling. Footballing and non footballing. As hard as it may be to fathom for some. The 'top brass' aren't out to get us or put us down.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that  the top brass are out to get us. But they have made a foolish error in their scheduling of this fixture.

The kerry v Derry game will be shown all over the world with barely 30,000 at it, if even that. Games in an empty Croke Park lack atmosphere and for an all ireland semi final that is not what you want to be showcasing.

Meath and Down would have brought a sizeable crowd to Croke Park for their final game of the season, both counties are reasonably close to Dublin, particularly
Meath and would have added considerably to the crowd for Derry and Kerry. I'd imagine the majority would have stayed on for the second game, if only to see Clifford up close, particularly if you had kids with you because he is the most box office player in Gaelic games at present.

Anyway the most important thing is we get the win, and qualify for the Sam Maguire round robin series next season. We were very impressive v Laois and Cavan, and the fact Meath beat Down already this year should avoid any complacency setting in after such a landslide victory.

You are completely missing my point. There are other things to take into consideration when fixing games with such expected crowds. Non football or sport related things. Perhaps they were forced into this scheduling scenario. There's more to life (and Dublin) than the gaa!

[ardtole]

If there was an international rugby game on at the Aviva on Sunday, or a major event at the 3 arena on Sunday I'd agree, but Dublin is likelier to be more busy when the Dubs are playing on  Saturday evening than if they were playing on Sunday afternoon.

[sdg]

But 80% of the crowd have the tickets that a lot of us want and cant get for the TC

I Every one who asked for a ticket through the clubs got one.

[snoopdog]

How many have final tickets and haven't been to a game all year. I wonder did they get an allocation or were they just sent a link like I was the day before.