Munster Council madness!

grenache

The Munster Council, in their wisdom, have decided to stick with Thurles as the venue for the Munster Hurling Semi Final clash between neighbours Limerick and Clare. This is despite repeated requests from both county boards to have the game switched to the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. This is absolute lunacy on the Munster Council's part. The most sensible thing course of action is to have the game moved to Limerick, it suits both teams and their sets of supporters much better. Both teams are happy to play there.
Not content in making Waterford fans travel 40 miles out of their way to Limerick and not Thurles last Sunday, the clowns that run GAA in Munster now see no problem is making Clare and Limerick supporters travel the extra 40 miles to Thurles! The Gaelic Grounds was only one third full last week, no doubt due to the fact that many Deise fans simply wouldn't travel, and who could blame them with the ludicrious choice of venue! Likewise, for the semi in two weeks time, expect to see a half full Semple Stadium. Do the people running the GAA not realise the expense involved on a match day?! The current price of fuel alone is enough to put anyone off travelling!

So well done Munster Council, keep promoting our games by picking incredibly stupid venues and having players playing infront of 15,000 fans. :rolleyes:

Kristopherus

Agreed wholeheartedly. Both set of supporters will be travelling the same road, leading to wholesale delays. Having said that, listening to Limerick folk leaving the Gaelic grounds last Sunday, they were all saying the game would be in Thurles.

Mossy Monk

Agreed. The Munster Council are idiots.

MrJoeSoap

Sigh.

Will they ever learn? Absolutely no logic in this decision whatsoever. Meanwhile, in Leinster, Laois and Wicklow play in Carlow whilst Celine Dion packs out Croker.

Pathetic.

Flukey

Oh no, not another travel moan.:rolleyes: The match is only in Thurles, not Timbuktu. You'd think this was Russia or the USA, spread across several time zones, with your home at one end and the venue at the other. In the scheme of things, Malin Head to Mizen Head is a short journey, and we have people complaining about having to go to a neighbouring county. If the Clare v Limerick game was in Casement Park, even that would be very convenient for anyone in the two competing counties. Just a couple of weeks ago, I don't think there would have been too many people in Munster complaining about going to Cardiff, yet now suddenly Clare or Limerick to Thurles is considered a journey too far. There'll be people willingly flying home from different countries, and only too delighted to do so, to see this and other matches throughout the summer, while we constantly have those relatively close by complaining about going to see them.

As for Laois and Wicklow playing in Carlow, that was just as handy for them as Croke Park would have been, if not more so. So while agreeing with the first moan Mr JoeSoap, you were actually making a very good case for Clare and Limerick going to a neighbouring county, like Laois and Wicklow did.

Look everybody, if you don't want to travel to see your county play, then stay at home and watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio, and don't come in here moaning about journeys as if they were like walking to the Antarctic or something. Also, be sure to hope that your county loses so that you won't have to do any more travelling to see them. Wouldn't it be absolutely awful to have to travel all the way to Dublin in September to see them play in an All-Ireland Final? No one here would want to do that, now would they? Here's what you should do: Get onto the Munster Council first thing, and tell them you have a field out the back of your house and that they could play all the rest of the Munster Championships there and although it might be a bit much for you, that you may even be prepared to drive the whole 10 yards to it yourself!

Mossy Monk

Yawn.

grenache

Flukey wrote: »

and we have people complaining about having to go to a neighbouring county

I have no problem going to another county to watch my team, however given that it is Limerick and Clare involved, it would not have taken a genius to figure out that the Gaelic Grounds on the Ennis Road was the logical venue.

Flukey wrote: »

Just a couple of weeks ago, I don't think there would have been too many people in Munster complaining about going to Cardiff, yet now suddenly Clare or Limerick to Thurles is considered a journey too far.

Totally different context. Limerick V Clare is a Munster championship semi final between two bordering counties - Limerick City as a venue is the most suitable venue. The Heineken Cup final is a European Competition, you would hardly expect the final to be 'down the road' from you.

Flukey wrote: »

Look everybody, if you don't want to travel to see your county play, then stay at home and watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio, and don't come in here moaning about journeys as if they were like walking to the Antarctic or something..

This smacks of me of a typical Dublin fan who never has to travel outside the greater Dublin area to see his team, or indeed to see anything. Why should genuine supporters have to pay to fill up the tank for a 90 mile round trip when the powers that be could have saved everyone a lot of un-necessary expense by playing the game in Limerick?

Flukey wrote: »

Get onto the Munster Council first thing, and tell them you have a field out the back of your house and that they could play all the rest of the Munster Championships there and although it might be a bit much for you, that you may even be prepared to drive the whole 10 yards to it yourself!

Everything is obviously a joke to you.

blackbelt

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Yawn.

I concur.:(:(:(:(:(:(

MrJoeSoap

My point about the Laois Wicklow game had nothing to do with distance. It had to do with the fact that the GAA is depriving two panels of players a Championship game in Croke Park for the sake of a Canadian Diva Cash-Cow extravaganza.

If you haven't read it already, have a look at the book Last Man Standing, to see how much some players from the "lesser counties" want to play in Croker.

blackbelt

To be honest I can see why Clare and Limerick supporters would be frustrated.For me,it would be the equivalent of putting Dublin-Meath on in Wexford.Poor form by the Munster Council if both teams expressed no problem with the Gaelic Grounds.

The Munster council must have been trying to be objective for both sides when it is the fans that suffer.The Munster Council is a joke anyway.That seeding system in the MFC should have been over-ruled.

future_plans

Does seem ridiculous. However, I think the GAA are trying to spread the cash around a bit. The host counties now receive €30,000 per match for putting the 3 main sponsors on stadium advertising boards.

patmac

Flukey wrote: »

Oh no, not another travel moan.:rolleyes: The match is only in Thurles, not Timbuktu. You'd think this was Russia or the USA, spread across several time zones, with your home at one end and the venue at the other. In the scheme of things, Malin Head to Mizen Head is a short journey, and we have people complaining about having to go to a neighbouring county. If the Clare v Limerick game was in Casement Park, even that would be very convenient for anyone in the two competing counties. Just a couple of weeks ago, I don't think there would have been too many people in Munster complaining about going to Cardiff, yet now suddenly Clare or Limerick to Thurles is considered a journey too far. There'll be people willingly flying home from different countries, and only too delighted to do so, to see this and other matches throughout the summer, while we constantly have those relatively close by complaining about going to see them.

As for Laois and Wicklow playing in Carlow, that was just as handy for them as Croke Park would have been, if not more so. So while agreeing with the first moan Mr JoeSoap, you were actually making a very good case for Clare and Limerick going to a neighbouring county, like Laois and Wicklow did.

Look everybody, if you don't want to travel to see your county play, then stay at home and watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio, and don't come in here moaning about journeys as if they were like walking to the Antarctic or something. Also, be sure to hope that your county loses so that you won't have to do any more travelling to see them. Wouldn't it be absolutely awful to have to travel all the way to Dublin in September to see them play in an All-Ireland Final? No one here would want to do that, now would they? Here's what you should do: Get onto the Munster Council first thing, and tell them you have a field out the back of your house and that they could play all the rest of the Munster Championships there and although it might be a bit much for you, that you may even be prepared to drive the whole 10 yards to it yourself!

Says the man who follows Dublin, lives in Dublin and where Dublin play all their games bar the odd sojourn to Thurles or Longford;)
Personally I thought the fact that last weeks 'neutral' venue was a joke and unfair on Waterford and definitely affected the attendance 8000 down on last year (cost €200000), surely an professionally run organisation would try and maximise it's revenue potential by getting as many people to attend the game as possible especially with both sides in agreement and the fact it is on the telly, the not so committed supporter will watch it on the telly rather than travel the extra 40 miles to watch the game live. More money wasted or is the GAA so awash with money that it doesn't care anymore.

popebenny16

patmac wrote: »

Says the man who follows Dublin, lives in Dublin and where Dublin play all their games bar the odd sojourn to Thurles or Longford;)
Personally I thought the fact that last weeks 'neutral' venue was a joke and unfair on Waterford and definitely affected the attendance 8000 down on last year (cost €200000), surely an professionally run organisation would try and maximise it's revenue potential by getting as many people to attend the game as possible especially with both sides in agreement and the fact it is on the telly, the not so committed supporter will watch it on the telly rather than travel the extra 40 miles to watch the game live. More money wasted or is the GAA so awash with money that it doesn't care anymore.

Well, as a man who follows Dublin and will be going from Tipp and back to do so on Sunday I have to agree 100% with the OP. (and patmac, when my train pulls in form Limerick on Siunday there will be plenty of other exiles on in, including a lad from Kilkee) The Gaelic Ground in Limerick has not had one full house since it was re-developed. The policy that the Munster Council have of rotating matches to try and give every ground a dig out is commendable if it was worked properly.

Last weeks game should have been in Thurles, this weeks should have been in Limerick.

Fact is that there are too many large grounds in Munster as it is. Given that there is a big push on to redelop Semple (again) and increase capacity it seems that is why this fixture has been put there. The decision to have this fixture here is bizzare and careless.

As for driving, apart from the costs involved, there is a little matter of the Nenagh by-pass and the road works for the new motorway there. The alternative is to peel off at Silvermines, Nenagh, Newport and come in the less main roads. As for that, there are re-surfacing works on the Nenagh Thurles road as well. Be a loong hot day for them.

Amazing fact is that the main stand in Limerick is a disaster as its not steep enough to see over anyone's head. Maybe that's why they're doing it lol.

premierstone

I genuinely dont see what the problem is here, its thurles ffs not mars any ''fan'' that refuses to travel maybe should consider a new hobby, dont see any tipp fans complaining about travelling to cork on sunday( a round trip of at least 7 hours from north Tipp) but worth it cos this is the munster championship!!

kevmy

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

Sigh.

Will they ever learn? Absolutely no logic in this decision whatsoever. Meanwhile, in Leinster, Laois and Wicklow play in Carlow whilst Celine Dion packs out Croker.

Pathetic.

Don't make me laugh. Laois and Wicklow at best would have got 25,000 in Croker. It would have been a total waste to put it on in Croker. As part of a double header maybe but I'm still not convinced. As some from down the country I think it a absolutely ridiculous argument to put a game on in Croker so teams "can get to play there". Why not put Clare and Waterford footballers on there as they'll never get there?
County boards in Carlow, Laois and Meath have put good work in there grounds over the last few years it's only fair that a few Championship games are played there. It's the Leinster Championship, not the St Jones Road Championship

premierstone

kevmy wrote: »

Don't make me laugh. Laois and Wicklow at best would have got 25,000 in Croker. It would have been a total waste to put it on in Croker. As part of a double header maybe but I'm still not convinced. As some from down the country I think it a absolutely ridiculous argument to put a game on in Croker so teams "can get to play there". Why not put Clare and Waterford footballers on there as they'll never get there?
County boards in Carlow, Laois and Meath have put good work in there grounds over the last few years it's only fair that a few Championship games are played there. It's the Leinster Championship, not the St Jones Road Championship

Precisely, someone here put the argument forward about how much it means to a player to play in croker, will by puttin on games like this just because it involves two leinster counties in croke park, does this not dilute the whole significance of playing there, playing in croke park is something that should be earned not given based on geography

popebenny16

premierstone wrote: »

I genuinely dont see what the problem is here, its thurles ffs not mars any ''fan'' that refuses to travel maybe should consider a new hobby, dont see any tipp fans complaining about travelling to cork on sunday( a round trip of at least 7 hours from north Tipp) but worth it cos this is the munster championship!!

Yes but thats by way of agreement between Cork and Tipp, isnt it? And there isnt a venue in like Mallow that would be the same. By the way, I know several lads who still moan about having to go to Killarney and that was 20 years ago!!

The problem is that the Clare fans will be driving right past the Gaelic Grounds to to to the match and the Limerick fans like wise.

To say its worth it just because its the championship is a bit much. Given the skyrocketing costs of going to a match the GAA, with a big empty stadium in Limerick, should be bending over backwards to accomodate its supporters.

premierstone

popebenny16 wrote: »

Yes but thats by way of agreement between Cork and Tipp, isnt it? And there isnt a venue in like Mallow that would be the same. By the way, I know several lads who still moan about having to go to Killarney and that was 20 years ago!!

The problem is that the Clare fans will be driving right past the Gaelic Grounds to to to the match and the Limerick fans like wise.

To say its worth it just because its the championship is a bit much. Given the skyrocketing costs of going to a match the GAA, with a big empty stadium in Limerick, should be bending over backwards to accomodate its supporters.

You just said urself that its a terrible stadium to watch a game from and we all know that Thurles has the best playing surface, im sorry but i think this whole argument is completely futile if anyone doesnt want to go then fine dont stop whinging and dont come on here later in the year crying that they cant get tickets for a game in croke park - dont mind the extra travel then!!

smashey

I've been to Ulster finals that weren't held in Ulster.

popebenny16

premierstone wrote: »

You just said urself that its a terrible stadium to watch a game from and we all know that Thurles has the best playing surface, im sorry but i think this whole argument is completely futile if anyone doesnt want to go then fine dont stop whinging and dont come on here later in the year crying that they cant get tickets for a game in croke park - dont mind the extra travel then!!

No I didnt, I said the view in the stand is terrible.

As for not going to Croker.... how many Tipp supporters were there at the Hurling Quater Finals last year?

premierstone

popebenny16 wrote: »

No I didnt, I said the view in the stand is terrible.

As for not going to Croker.... how many Tipp supporters were there at the Hurling Quater Finals last year?

Sorry but i dont see the difference between saying the view from the stand is terrible and saying its a terrible stadium to watch a game from??? Iknow there are three other sides to the stadium but the terraces are a joke and the other stand is well below standard.

Good point on the tipp support last year it was embarrassing been there and outnumbered by wexford but in fairness it was Tipps 7th game in about 10 weeks

Mossy Monk

premierstone wrote: »

in fairness it was Tipps 7th game in about 10 weeks

Surely that shouldn't matter for any real supporters out there.

Pigletlover

premierstone wrote: »

Good point on the tipp support last year it was embarrassing been there and outnumbered by wexford but in fairness it was Tipps 7th game in about 10 weeks

Not making excuses because it was embarrassing, but it was actually 7 games in 8 weeks, expensive for any supporter.

I can see why Limerick and Clare are a bit peed off having to travel when the Gaelic Grounds is convenient for both, but as pointed out, it's only Thurles. Clare got to play in Limerick last week and if they were up against any other team Limerick would more than likely be playing in Thurles anyway.

Flukey

Grenache wrote:

Limerick V Clare is a Munster championship semi final between two bordering counties - Limerick City as a venue is the most suitable venue. The Heineken Cup final is a European Competition, you would hardly expect the final to be 'down the road' from you.

Limerick and Clare is indeed a Munster championship match, and the venue happens to be in Munster. Nothing wrong with that. They didn't have that European final in Bangkok. Limerick and Clare are neighbouring counties, and Tipperary is a neighbouring county to both, so no problem there either.

Grenache wrote:

This smacks of me of a typical Dublin fan who never has to travel outside the greater Dublin area to see his team, or indeed to see anything.

Oh here we go again, attack the Dub. This Dub does indeed travel to matches and has done for years, to all parts of the country and not just to see Dublin. Although having said that I do remember travelling to see Dublin in championship action twice in short succession to the same venue. Hmm, let me see, where was it? Oh, yes, Thurles, in 2001! It was great and as far as I know, it wasn't a neighbouring county to Dublin then. It is not the only time I've travelled to see Dublin play in the championship, and I've seen them play in different venues in the league too. For the record, you do know that Dublin never gets to play a championship match at home. I've been going to Dublin matches in the championship for years and not one of them has ever been a home game for us. That's fact.

Grenache wrote:

Everything is obviously a joke to you.

No, but moaning about travelling to see your team play is a bit of one. As I said before, nowhere in Ireland is far from anywhere else. Some of the best parts of going to matches is the journeys and being to different or new venues. A good long trip to another part of the country, rather than a short bus ride, can really make a day of it. Of course it is convenient and cheaper to have a match closer to you, but travelling to different places is great too. It's part of being a fan. I love home games, but I love away games and neutral venues and going to matches in other parts of the country that don't even involve Dublin. Sure there is a bit of expense, but as I said you can always stay at home and save yourself the bother and money. If you really want to see your team play and you want to support them, you'll travel. You get plenty of opportunities to see them in local venues too, so it all balances out in the long run.

A number of people in the thread so far have been saying that teams like to play in Croke Park. Well then, there you go, don't play the match in Thurles, play it in Croke Park. Croke Park won't be a sellout this Sunday, so it will easily be able to accommodate the low attendance that is being predicted in this thread for the Limerick v Clare match.

premierstone

Flukey wrote: »

For the record, you do know that Dublin never gets to play a championship match at home. I've been going to Dublin matches in the championship for years and not one of them has ever been a home game for us. That's fact.

Not true Flukey i was at a championship game myself last year and it was a home game for Dublin - Fact!!

grenache

Flukey wrote: »

Limerick and Clare is indeed a Munster championship match, and the venue happens to be in Munster.

That's irrelevant. The fact that the Munster Council are not choosing the logical venue i.e. Limerick, is the relevant point here.

Flukey wrote: »

Limerick and Clare are neighbouring counties, and Tipperary is a neighbouring county to both, so no problem there either.

You're quite right, Limerick and Clare are indeed neighbouring counties, therefore would it not be more sensible to play the match at a ground that is right on the Limerick-Clare border?? If you had the choice of having to travel 15 miles or 50 miles, which would you choose? When Cork and Kerry meet every year in the Munster Football Championship, do they play the match in Limerick?! Of course they don't, they have a home-away agreement which suits both counties much better and ensures greater match attendances.

Flukey wrote: »

Although having said that I do remember travelling to see Dublin in championship action twice in short succession to the same venue. Hmm, let me see, where was it? Oh, yes, Thurles, in 2001!

During which, if i remember, the first game was delayed by 15-20 mins because a large proportion of the Dublin fans were late arriving - probably couldn't find Thurles, must have been their first championship trip outside the big smoke.

Flukey wrote: »

For the record, you do know that Dublin never gets to play a championship match at home. I've been going to Dublin matches in the championship for years and not one of them has ever been a home game for us. That's fact.

Its also a fact that Dublin gets to play in Croke Park several times in the Championship every year. Remind me where Croke Park is again?

Flukey wrote: »

No, but moaning about travelling to see your team play is a bit of one. As I said before, nowhere in Ireland is far from anywhere else. Some of the best parts of going to matches is the journeys and being to different or new venues. A good long trip to another part of the country, rather than a short bus ride, can really make a day of it. Of course it is convenient and cheaper to have a match closer to you, but travelling to different places is great too. It's part of being a fan.

I am not moaning about having to travel! I am moaning about having to travel a longer distance, needlessly and the fact that the Munster Council didn't use their little brains when choosing a suitable match venue. Its not a lot to ask for a group of individuals to look at the bigger picture and apply a little bit of common sense. I enjoy the long match journeys as much as any other fan, i have been going to GAA matches every year since the age of 5, the camaradarie is great and the tension and excitement are palpable. I still however maintain the right to complain when very poor decision-making is evident. I will be in Thurles on June 22, but i should not have had to be.

marco_polo

To those accusing the supporters of moaning I take it you have never had the pleasure of travelling from Clare to Thurles on a match day. I am from Ennis and instead of a 40 minute trip down to the Gaelic Grounds you are looking at at least a 2 - 2.5 hour trip there and the same back again with traffic. It wouldn't as bad if we were playing cork or Waterford as half the traffic would be comming from another direction.

When there is a perfectly good ground much nearer that both counties are willing to use tell me how that makes sense .

Flukey

Premierstone wrote:

Not true Flukey i was at a championship game myself last year and it was a home game for Dublin - Fact!!

grenache wrote:

Its also a fact that Dublin gets to play in Croke Park several times in the Championship every year. Remind me where Croke Park is again?

Lads, contrary to popular belief by many, Croke Park is not Dublin's home ground. Parnell Park is. Croke Park is a neutral venue for Dublin. There are lots of other counties that feel just as comfortable there as Dublin do. Every county has lots of grounds, but only one in each county is the home ground for the county team. For Dublin, it is Parnell Park. It may be in Dublin, but Croke Park is not Dublin's home ground. Dublin did not play any of their championship games in Parnell Park last year, so Dublin did not have a home championship match last year and it is a long time since they did. - Fact!!!

Grenache wrote:

I will be in Thurles on June 22

Good. Enjoy the match.

Flukey

I know it costs, but that is part of being a fan. Last summer in here it got completely ridiculous with the moaning about it, particularly from the Cork lads. It seemed that if Cork won a match they'd all be in tears at the end and wailing "Oh no lads, we won. This is terrible. We are going to have to pay more money now for another match." If they lost they must have been dancing round in delight cheering "We're out, no more expense, Woo hoo!" The way they were giving out all summer every time they had another match, they must have been disgusted to have reached the All-Ireland Football Final, but at least relieved that they didn't reach the Hurling Semi-Final, which saved them the expense of two more matches. They are probably disgusted that the strike was settled, as if it hadn't they wouldn't have had to spend anything going to matches all summer!!!

The reality is, when the final whistle blows, if your team is the winner, you won't be too worried about the expense of the day, and you'll probably go off and spend even more money in celebrating. This is the GAA forum, and while that does connect to the expense of matches, it is more intended for talking about games and teams etc. Complaints? Reserve those for referees and they way other teams and players go about their business. If your main concern is the cost, find a cost of living forum for this kind of thread.

Now, if you don't mind, I am off to see the Dubs play. My ticket has in effect cost me €200, and no it is not from a tout, but from the county board itself. I am not complaining. I am glad of it and I look forward to enjoying my day. I've more than a 40 minute journey and I know some Dublin people that will be there that will have travelled a lot further than me, at great expense, but they'll be delighted to have done so. Enjoy your day lads, wherever you may be.

Mossy Monk

Flukey wrote: »

I know it costs, but that is part of being a fan.

That is a ridiculous thing to say. Nobody is asking for free tickets to games. I still find it incredible that you cannot see Semple Stadium is the wrong choice of venue for this game. Extra expense and for what. It is a shame as this could all be avoided.

Sherifu

It makes as much sense as having the champions league final in Moscow.

Daysha

Flukey, I can understand to an extent where you're coming from. Every fan will have to make sacrifices from time to time.

The fact is though, considering both teams wanted Limerick as the venue, the decision is just extremely illogical.

I don't think this can be compared to the Champions League final. In that case, the venue was chosen 18 months - 2 years before the two finalist were even known. In the Munster Councils case they have the leeway of deciding on a venue that suits both parties.

Now if both teams wanted Limerick, then why the hell could the Council put the priorities of both the fans and the players top of the agenda and give them what they want?

I'm sure if UEFA had the time, they would've chosen a more viable location to suit two English teams. The Munster Council do have the time, and if both parties can agree on a suitable venue, surely the Gaelic Grounds can only be one and only logical outcome no?

Sherifu

kaimera

Overcrowding today at the game I hear?

Sherifu

kaimera wrote: »

Overcrowding today at the game I hear?

Caught it on the six one news. Looked pretty bad. Heaps of people pitch side. The tickets for different stands were similar colours apparently.

kaimera

Sherifu wrote: »

Caught it on the six one news. Looked pretty bad. Heaps of people pitch side. The tickets for different stands were similar colours apparently.

+1 for the organisational skills of the Munster Council.

ffs

Amazotheamazing

Silly decision, it's not the fans don't want to travel, but that there's no point in forcing them to travel when there's a perfect stadium right where it suits both teams perfectly. Can you imagine the traffic trying to get through Limerick after the game? Insane.

Of course, playing it in Limerick would allow the GAA make more money from fairweather fans, the GAA is turning down thousands of euro for absolutely no reason.

Daysha

Just like they lost thousands of euro from the Clare Waterford match by not deciding to play it where it should have been played, Thurles.

Sometimes I wonder about them lot...

thecoolfreak

Sherifu wrote: »

Caught it on the six one news. Looked pretty bad. Heaps of people pitch side. The tickets for different stands were similar colours apparently.

How did the stewards not cop what was going on and send people to the right terrace?

grenache

Flukey wrote: »

Lads, contrary to popular belief by many, Croke Park is not Dublin's home ground. Parnell Park is. Croke Park is a neutral venue for Dublin.

I'm well aware that Croke Park is technically a ''neutral'' venue for Dublin, and that Parnell is their proper home. But you still get to play in your own back yard, several times a year in front of 80,000 people - 70% of them Dubs fans. Therefore Croke Park may not technically be 'home' for the Dubs, but in reality it is very much a home ground for them.

Flukey wrote: »

There are lots of other counties that feel just as comfortable there as Dublin do.

I would assume that most counties feel quite intimadated at playing Dublin in their own back yard, backed by 60,000 Dubs fans.

popebenny16

grenache wrote: »

I would assume that most counties feel quite intimadated at playing Dublin in their own back yard, backed by 60,000 Dubs fans.

Dosnt always work out like that. For example, it has never stopped the likes of Meath, Laois, Westmeath, Armagh, Tyrone, Kildare, Kerry and, indeed, Mayo from winning against us. Many players tell you straight up that they dont really notice the crowd at a big match. The only times you hear of counties feigning intimiation is when they lose against Dublin, and usually from teams (hello there Wexford) who were never going to win anyway.

Tomthepost

Flukey wrote: »

Oh no, not another travel moan.:rolleyes: The match is only in Thurles, not Timbuktu. You'd think this was Russia or the USA, spread across several time zones, with your home at one end and the venue at the other. In the scheme of things, Malin Head to Mizen Head is a short journey, and we have people complaining about having to go to a neighbouring county. If the Clare v Limerick game was in Casement Park, even that would be very convenient for anyone in the two competing counties. Just a couple of weeks ago, I don't think there would have been too many people in Munster complaining about going to Cardiff, yet now suddenly Clare or Limerick to Thurles is considered a journey too far. There'll be people willingly flying home from different countries, and only too delighted to do so, to see this and other matches throughout the summer, while we constantly have those relatively close by complaining about going to see them.

As for Laois and Wicklow playing in Carlow, that was just as handy for them as Croke Park would have been, if not more so. So while agreeing with the first moan Mr JoeSoap, you were actually making a very good case for Clare and Limerick going to a neighbouring county, like Laois and Wicklow did.

Look everybody, if you don't want to travel to see your county play, then stay at home and watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio, and don't come in here moaning about journeys as if they were like walking to the Antarctic or something. Also, be sure to hope that your county loses so that you won't have to do any more travelling to see them. Wouldn't it be absolutely awful to have to travel all the way to Dublin in September to see them play in an All-Ireland Final? No one here would want to do that, now would they? Here's what you should do: Get onto the Munster Council first thing, and tell them you have a field out the back of your house and that they could play all the rest of the Munster Championships there and although it might be a bit much for you, that you may even be prepared to drive the whole 10 yards to it yourself!

God man In my opinion you have serious issues. BOTH teams want to play in Limerick so why not let them and thus ensure a full stadium and a great atmosphere???

IMO people don't want or need to boast about how great a fan they are!!!

IMO you got way too much time on your hands when it comes to

1: Sending long long posts that most people don't have time to read.

2: Travelling to games. Try a 450 mile round trip from Kerry to Dublin with a car load of screaming kids not something most people want to do very often.

premierstone

Flukey wrote: »

Lads, contrary to popular belief by many, Croke Park is not Dublin's home ground. Parnell Park is. Croke Park is a neutral venue for Dublin. There are lots of other counties that feel just as comfortable there as Dublin do. Every county has lots of grounds, but only one in each county is the home ground for the county team. For Dublin, it is Parnell Park. It may be in Dublin, but Croke Park is not Dublin's home ground. Dublin did not play any of their championship games in Parnell Park last year, so Dublin did not have a home championship match last year and it is a long time since they did. - Fact!!!

Im well aware of where dublins home ground is flukey and dublin played two championship games in parnell park last year!!

Tomthepost

premierstone wrote: »

Im well aware of where dublins home ground is flukey and dublin played two championship games in parnell park last year!!

Now that I think of it I was at Parnell Park for the Cork V Dublin hurling match last year and me from kerry!!!
I am a great GAA fan

deisedevil

premierstone wrote: »

Im well aware of where dublins home ground is flukey and dublin played two championship games in parnell park last year!!

busted!

It should be on in Limerick and Clare v Waterford should have been on in Thurles. Why make it more awkward for your fans, why not do everything possible to make it easier for them? A fan will go anywhere to watch his team but if he's being sent on long trips when there is no need then any intelligent person would question why the prefered venue choice wasn't selected.
Flukey, your trying to say people should put up and shut up because some people travel from different countries for matches, everyones situation is different and for the vast majority (especially families) the closer the venue to both sets of fans the better.

paulocon

My ticket has in effect cost me €200

Flukey, where the hell were you sat? right in the centre of the pitch?

Sherifu

thecoolfreak wrote: »

How did the stewards not cop what was going on and send people to the right terrace?

I wondered the same.

Flukey

Grenache wrote:

I would assume that most counties feel quite intimadated at playing Dublin in their own back yard, backed by 60,000 Dubs fans.

It hasn't done us much good, as Popebenny16 said. We've won two All-Irelands in the last 25 years, and on the other occasions we were knocked out in Croke Park. Anyway, what I mean by saying that other counties are comfortable there, doesn't necessarily relate to when those teams are playing Dublin. Counties like Kerry, Meath Tyrone, Armagh etc. feel very at home when they play a match in Croke Park, as do many of the Hurling counties. Even when a county is playing Dublin, they use the atmosphere as a motivation for themselves rather than being intimidated by it.

Flukey, your trying to say people should put up and shut up because some people travel from different countries for matches, everyones situation is different and for the vast majority (especially families) the closer the venue to both sets of fans the better.

I said it would be better if they played it in a more convenient venue, but putting it in Thurles is not exactly a major inconvenience. It may not be as close as the Gaelic Grounds, but it is still a close venue to both counties.

Flukey, where the hell were you sat? right in the centre of the pitch?

Obviously not. The referee gets in for free. I was in section 306. I am a member of the Parnell Pass scheme, which costs €175, plus the €25 for my ticket, makes €200. The Parnell Pass guarantees me tickets for Dublin games, but I have to pay for the tickets themselves. The Parnell Pass gives other benefits, like free admission to club championship games in Dublin.

Premierstone wrote:

Im well aware of where dublins home ground is flukey and dublin played two championship games in parnell park last year!!

The Dublin hurlers may get to play in Parnell Park for Championship games, but the footballers certainly never do. That in itself brings us onto another issue, which is the way county boards and provincial councils promote and market games. The Dublin county board does a bad job for our hurlers in that regard. They completely cocked up for the U21 final last year, which was played in Croke Park, but had much of the ground closed. On the same day there was major congestion problems due to a ticketing system failure which meant a lot of people were late getting into the games.

Thurles may not be full for the Limerick v Clare match, but with a bit of proper marketing at this time of year, before the sunshine fans start coming out, the GAA could get bigger crowds at matches. Even Croke Park yesterday only had about 56,000. It's on days like that where the GAA know the grounds won't be full and even deliberately keep sections closed in anticipation of that, that they could market it to tourists or schoolkids to get bigger crowds. They could have put in the Dublin v Wexford hurling semi-final there yesterday, as a way of getting more in. Alternatively the Dublin v Wexford Hurling semi-final could also have been put on with the Laois v Wexford Football semi-final somewhere next weekend, instead of playing them separately in two different venues over the coming two weekends. Croke Park is unavailable due to Prince, but there would be places that could have taken the crowd, not least Thurles. In many ways not marketing games better and not putting certain complimentary fixtures together is a bigger madness than choices of venues.

TomthePost wrote:

IMO you got way too much time on your hands when it comes to

1: Sending long long posts that most people don't have time to read.

2: Travelling to games. Try a 450 mile round trip from Kerry to Dublin with a car load of screaming kids not something most people want to do very often.

It doesn't take that long for me to type those posts. It's just a case that I can type fast, as I am not just a two-fingered typist. Since I entered the thread, people seem to be reading everything I've posted in great detail, given the responses that have been prompted. As to having too much time on my hands enabling me to travel to games, sure what else would us GAA fans want to be doing on a summer Sunday afternoon, and on many other days of the year when there is not much else to be done, but there is a game available to go to?

Erin Go Brath

marco_polo wrote: »

To those accusing the supporters of moaning I take it you have never had the pleasure of travelling from Clare to Thurles on a match day. I am from Ennis and instead of a 40 minute trip down to the Gaelic Grounds you are looking at at least a 2 - 2.5 hour trip there and the same back again with traffic. It wouldn't as bad if we were playing cork or Waterford as half the traffic would be comming from another direction.

When there is a perfectly good ground much nearer that both counties are willing to use tell me how that makes sense .

Thats a good example of how many fans are being put out by this decision. I think the Munster Council have really dropped the ball on this one. If both teams, and sets of fans have a preference for Limerick then they are the ones who should be accomodated. The decision to go for Thurles in this instance will backfire.

Flukey

Despite the Leinster Council madness of not having the Dublin v Wexford match in Wicklow, which is between the two counties, but instead putting it in Kilkenny, I will be going and will not be complaining about doing so. Up the Dubs.

Tomthepost

Flukey wrote: »

Despite the Leinster Council madness of not having the Dublin v Wexford match in Wicklow, which is between the two counties, but instead putting it in Kilkenny, I will be going and will not be complaining about doing so. Up the Dubs.

I didn't read anywhere that 'both counties want the game to go ahead Wicklow'
Still for once!
Up the Dubs:D