All-Ireland QFs: Armagh/Roscommon, Dublin/Galway, Donegal/Louth, Kerry/Derry

[AustinPowers]

I was told they expect around 60 on Saturday and 45 Sunday.

Fair play, didn't expect as many on Sunday.

There might be 60k on Sat and 45k on Sun but there'll only be a short window where they are all there at the same time. That's why there is a definite argument about these quarter-finals being played in neutral venues around the country. Donegal will probably bring the biggest crowd of the 4 and I'd imagine a fair chunk of them will hit the road after their game. Same with Louth. It'll be the same story on Saturday. I can't see too many Kerry people travelling as they generally don't at this stage and most see the game against us as a formality. They expect us to give them a bit of game but that's it.

Yeah I would agree.  With numerous events/concerts on  in Dublin, travel disruptions,  and the price of hotels , it made  sense for  the QFs in different grounds.

You would have four packed stadiums  and great atmospheres. Everything is Dublin-centric in Ireland , and the prices are  astronomical. People could have made a weekend  of it in the likes of Cavan, Thurles, Castlebar etc ,  and been more affordable than doing similar in Dublin.

[tbrick18]

I was told they expect around 60 on Saturday and 45 Sunday.

Fair play, didn't expect as many on Sunday.

There might be 60k on Sat and 45k on Sun but there'll only be a short window where they are all there at the same time. That's why there is a definite argument about these quarter-finals being played in neutral venues around the country. Donegal will probably bring the biggest crowd of the 4 and I'd imagine a fair chunk of them will hit the road after their game. Same with Louth. It'll be the same story on Saturday. I can't see too many Kerry people travelling as they generally don't at this stage and most see the game against us as a formality. They expect us to give them a bit of game but that's it.

There's also Taylor Swift in dublin Sat/Sun night. So the traffic will be mental.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

There's been a lot of talk about packing out 4 provincial grounds for these matches but I'm not convinced it stacks up. The Croke Park factor and availability of good seating etc for families helps attracts more people. And the double headers generate plenty of interest.

Does anyone really think Derry Kerry would get 25,000 into a provincial ground like Portlaois. Given the distance from Derry I'd imagine 15,000 might be all you'd get. Similarly Dublin v Galway might attract around 20,000 in Roscommon or somewhere but neither county are great travellers so even that might be a stretch.

I could see an argument for maybe playing one good double header in Croke Park and then two standalone matches. But it would depend on the fixture and distances etc involved.

[Armagh18]

Dublin should be put out of Croker regardless for quarters. We need a 50k stadium somewhere in the midlands

[Rossfan]

If Provincial venues were used...
Ros v Armagh Breffni 15k
Galway v Dublin Hyde or Tullamore 18k
Kerry v Derry Portlaoise 12k
Louth v Donegal Clones 15k.

You won't get the one big day 1 match a year types in those venues.

The long term ticket holders, Corporates etc no doubt dictate that the QFs will continue to be in Croke Park.

[Spiderlegs]

Regarding the draw from a few posts back:
With a bit of working out and considering the repeat pairing constraints there appeared to be only 4 or 5 possible versions of who could play who. It would be near as handy to put these versions up on the screen so people knew what they were and then draw one of them out the hat.

Anyway hardly worth worrying about at this stage.

Neutral venues, Dublin being jam packed etc etc. We'll all be sitting here on Monday morning regardless. Some of us happy, some not. The big day out in Croke Park isn't a given for a lot of our counties. This is where it needs to be.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

If Provincial venues were used...
Ros v Armagh Breffni 15k
Galway v Dublin Hyde or Tullamore 18k
Kerry v Derry Portlaoise 12k
Louth v Donegal Clones 15k.

You won't get the one big day 1 match a year types in those venues.

The long term ticket holders, Corporates etc no doubt dictate that the QFs will continue to be in Croke Park.

That's 60,000 in total. That's a right drop from the 90/100,000 that'll be in Croke Park this weekend (in previous years that was as high as 120/130,000 at times).

[naka]

If Provincial venues were used...
Ros v Armagh Breffni 15k
Galway v Dublin Hyde or Tullamore 18k
Kerry v Derry Portlaoise 12k
Louth v Donegal Clones 15k.

You won't get the one big day 1 match a year types in those venues.

The long term ticket holders, Corporates etc no doubt dictate that the QFs will continue to be in Croke Park.

That's 60,000 in total. That's a right drop from the 90/100,000 that'll be in Croke Park this weekend (in previous years that was as high as 120/130,000 at times).

There should be close to  60k on Saturday alone at €45

[Orior]

I'm looking forward to Croke Park on Saturday. Lower Hogan, section 336

[Champion The Wonder Horse]

329 available now.

[screenexile]

329, 333 and 324 all available for Lower Hogan now

[bennydorano]

Jack Grugan getting married on Saturday wonder was Rory meant to have a job at it?

[imtommygunn]

Conor mccluskey should be marking Paudie Clifford. Perfect man for the job and half the reason Derry were so close to Kerry was the job done there. Paudie Clifford massively influential for Kerry.

[seanyb]

Conor mccluskey should be marking Paudie Clifford. Perfect man for the job and half the reason Derry were so close to Kerry was the job done there. Paudie Clifford massively influential for Kerry.

+1 and I would have his club mate McEvoy on David Clifford

[cornerback]

https://x.com/doiregaa/status/1806417495294722277?s=46&t=F_sQ_3viFZ6zidQYNagDEA

Eunan Mulholland in for Emmett Bradley
Niall Laughlin back in the squad