Armagh and Galway not allowed to play their quarter final in Croke Park

[Will Hunting]

The biggest joke, as others have said, is asking teams to play games on 4 consecutive weeks. We've been playing championship football since May, and now they are jamming the biggest games of the year into one single month! Senseless.

The lesson to be learned from that is not to loose your early games, if any. There has to be some motivation and advantage for winning the provincial championships...

I agree that there should be a motivation for winning the prov c'ship, but I certainly don't think the GAA meant this fixture congestion as some sort of punishment to all 32 teams in the country bar the 8 who didn't make the prov finals. This has arisen as a result of some chronic short-sightedness in Croke Park. We've had plenty of time this summer to play these games (and still do, if they have the gumption to use the weekend of Aug 16 for q-final games).

[Aghdavoyle]

I don't see why Armagh would need to press for their quarter final to be in croke park.

A possible quarter final against mayo, tyrone, kildare, kerry, etc would all be preferable in clones surely?

[David McKeown]

What I dont understand is why the GAA was so keen to put out a press statement saying all final round qualifiers would be in Croke Park in case the qualifers didnt get to play there in the quarter finals.  Did nobody stop and think that if that happened then provincial champions may not get to play there this year.  The GAA should have put at the bottom oh btw we think winning in the final round of qualifiers is more important than winning your province.

[armaghniac]

A possible quarter final against mayo, tyrone, kildare, kerry, etc would all be preferable in clones surely?

There is no guarantee that a game against Kerry, Mayo, Wexford or Kildare would be in Clones. It didn't work for the Sligo game. Unless someone can point to where something has changed in the how game locations are decided.

Against Tyrone, Down or Monaghan the location is OK, but tickets would be very hard to get hold of. Will they give more tickets to Armagh on the basis that few enough Tyrone people have been at earlier games?

[Tankie]

Tankie - Armagh v Cavan - full house in Breffni

Armagh v Down - full house in Clones

Armagh v Fermanagh - full house in Clones
Armagh v Fermanagh replay - 95% capacity, excellent for a replay.

Dublin have not filled Croke Park yet, it should be a double header.

there was 81k at the last Dublin game and it is just stupid to say that it should be a double header.

Where were the 81k for the other matches, just ruins your argument that the fans who have been going all along should be rewarded.

How? there was 70k plus at every dublin game. if its a double head Dublin would only get 30k which would leave alot of people disappointed!

i would say there would be lot more Armagh and Galway fans disappointed they couldn't get a ticket for their counties QF match cause they were moved to a smaller stadium, than there would be disappointed Dublin fans!!

that would not be correct as it the games were played as a double header the countie would probably get a smaller amount of tickets. Also if the games are played outside Croker are you really expecting 40k+? that would be some bandwagon is you are thinking that!

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

First of all, I would detach the decision to have the qualifiers in Croke Park this week from the decision on the quarter finals. With no hurling on Sunday, Croke Park was free for the entire weekend so why not make use of it, regardless of what stage of the AI series we are at.

There is no perfect solution but to me, the "least bad" option is to have an Armagh / Galway double header on the 9th and Dublin on their own on the 16th. I realise this only gives Dublin 2 weeks before their (potential) semi final but that's the same as the winners of Galway and Cork's quarter finals.

Dublin should either have a game as part of a double header on the 9th or a stand alone fixture on the 16th. They can't have it every way.

I don't think there's anything that states that provincial champions should have a "home" advnatge (or in Armagh's case Clones) and since Sligo were fit to successful overturn a Clones fixture, I'd say any non-Ulster side would be fit to do the same.

I agree that there should be a motivation for winning the prov c'ship, but I certainly don't think the GAA meant this fixture congestion as some sort of punishment to all 32 teams in the country bar the 8 who didn't make the prov finals. This has arisen as a result of some chronic short-sightedness in Croke Park. We've had plenty of time this summer to play these games (and still do, if they have the gumption to use the weekend of Aug 16 for q-final games).

The qualifiers were scheduled the way they were to allow counties who were out of the provincial championships early an opportunity to play club championship in June. A laudable enough concept. I'm not sure how many counties took up this opportunity however.

[Onion Bag]

I heard on the radio last week after Corks great win against Clare that their semi final aginst the cats was fixed for sun 17th, why is this changed?

[GaillimhIarthair]

I heard on the radio last week after Corks great win against Clare that their semi final aginst the cats was fixed for sun 17th, why is this changed?

Cork requested that the hurling and football be played on the samer day in Croker in the interest of the travelling supporters.

[Stevie Nicks]

I heard on the radio last week after Corks great win against Clare that their semi final aginst the cats was fixed for sun 17th, why is this changed?

Cork requested that the hurling and football be played on the samer day in Croker in the interest of the travelling supporters.

That is sweet from a county who refused to play any games at the start of the league, now there are dictating fixtures!! 

[paddypastit]

What a shower.

Either all QF's at Croker or none - it should be the same for all counties

Presumably this 'decision' is made by the same fools as downgrade3d their own 'second most important' hurling competition to having its final in Croke Park on a Friday evening??

Surely logic dictates that one each of the Ring and Rackard finals shpould take place as curtain raisers top the two AI hurling semis - allowing the hurling folk in thoise counties to share their occasion with their counterparts in the stronger counties... they would likley get more attending from other hurling counties that will attend either game this weekend.

Agree completely also with the comment earlier about teams playing three / four games on the trot having been idle for six - eight weeks.

Fear not though... all of this madness is justified in the name of tradition!!

[INDIANA]

just to put the issue to bed, the dublin county board has told clubs they are 95% certain they are playing a double header on the 9th with another quarter final. only getting 15k tickets.

[Onion Bag]

dont really care where the quarter is as long as the result is right, yes it would have been nice to get down to croker, but at the end of the day its not the end of the world. I think that Cork are just right to request playing both together, its a good move, more support for both the footballers and hurlers.
Ard Mhaca abu

[heffo]

just to put the issue to bed, the dublin county board has told clubs they are 95% certain they are playing a double header on the 9th with another quarter final. only getting 15k tickets.

I don't think Costello has heard that officially - I don't know if he's just playing games...it'd be unlike him but I wouldn't be surprised..

[INDIANA]

memo from Parnell pk today . "The Central Competitions Control Committee have indicated to us this afternoon that two Football Quarter-Finals will be held in Croke Park on Saturday 9th August. Dublin will receive a maximum of 15,000 tickets to be divided between Players, Sponsors, Parnell Park Ticket Scheme Members and Clubs.
Accordingly allocations to clubs will be significantly less than received for previous games. Family Tickets will be limited."

hard to see him flying a kite on the strength of that. well hopefully he is!

[heffo]

memo from Parnell pk today . "The Central Competitions Control Committee have indicated to us this afternoon that two Football Quarter-Finals will be held in Croke Park on Saturday 9th August. Dublin will receive a maximum of 15,000 tickets to be divided between Players, Sponsors, Parnell Park Ticket Scheme Members and Clubs.
Accordingly allocations to clubs will be significantly less than received for previous games. Family Tickets will be limited."

hard to see him flying a kite on the strength of that. well hopefully he is!

I seen the same myself - I'll just hold off until I see it officially!