What are the best rivalries in the GAA?

Daysha

This stems from the draw topic. After seeing so many great clashes coming up next year, what does everyone think is the most fierce rivalry in the GAA today?

It's hard to tell in hurling. If we look back on the decade so far, Cork and Waterford have met way more times than any other pair of counties, and the quality of hurling they produce is something else, so that has to be up there, but the two counties still share a mutual respect for one another, much more so than say Waterford and Kilkenny.

Their rivalry stems from location alone, with so much to do with the bridge across the Suir, Waterford peoples perception that all Kilkenny people work in Waterford and that kinda stuff. But they very irregularly meet in the Championship nowadays, so do you think that makes their rivalry more or less fierce and intense?

Cork and Tipp have a more historical rivalry, as do Cork and Kilkenny, but do they really stand out far more than any other matches in the Championship? One very good way of analysing rivalries over in the PL is the atmosphere. The noise at Arsenal/Tottenham or Man Utd/Liverpool is far and away greater than you're average PL match. But for some reason, that doesn't quite exist to the same degree over here. Tbh I'd find a Munster final atmosphere between Cork/Tipp to be around the same as a Munster final featuring two teams who don't share such a rivalry, like Waterford vs Clare/Limerick.

But then again, a Man Utd/Liverpool FA Cup final would have a much better atmosphere than a Chelsea/Portsmouth final or something. Why is that the case over there and not here?

Thats why I want to ask the Dublin fans something. Every Championship match you play, it's played in front of a 82,000 capacity. But would you notice a stronger atmosphere when playing Meath compared to your regular Leinster counterparts like Laois or Wexford? I've never been to a Dublin football match so I'd actually like to know is there a major difference?

Getting onto the football, Dublin/Meath, Dublin/Kerry, possibly Cork/Kerry and Meath/Westmeath would stand out for me. Do you think Armagh/Tyrone fit in that catagory. Like I said I don't get to many football matches so I honestly don't know. Is there any other footballing teams you'd consider to have a strong rivalry with?

Personally I'd have to go with Cork/Waterford in the hurling still being the greatest rivalry in the GAA at the moment, solely down to the intensity of their matches, the numbers of times they've met since 2002 and the sheer closeness of many of their matches.

Quick fact for you lot, the two have met every year between 2002-2007. They played each other 9 times in 6 Championships, with Cork winning 4, Waterford winning 4 and one draw. Corks wins came with a margin of 4, 3, 5 and 1 point, and Waterfords wins were by margins of 1, 1, 3 and 3 points. Says it all really!

Anyone care to agree/disagree?

Agus

You didn't mention Galway v Mayo? Tyrone v Derry can be very intense as well.

Dapos

I may be biased by i think in football the cork and kerry rivalry has always been there and has intensified in the last few years with them meeting 2/3 times a year.

blackbelt

I've been going to Dublin matches since the year dot but as a kid I always remembered the atmosphere at Dublin-Meath games being more intense.Then again,they would have been the first games I experienced or remembered especially the late 80s and early 90s when the 4 game saga occurred and as a kid everything seems louder,bigger etc when you remember them in later life.

The Croke Park factor doesn't really give a proper indication of the intensity to a particular rivalry.I've found that you experience the real rivalry in smaller county grounds and I think to gauge the real rivalry between Dublin and Meath you would have had to have been in Parnell Park back in April when the real fans were there shouting and cheering in the heat of battle.Otherwise,compairing that game to the games in 07,you just saw great football between two good teams in a Leinster Championship and a good game in the league marred by fighting and skull duggery.The atmosphere for Dublin games in Croker is always special so thats why I'd discount it as a venue to gauge rivalry between Meath and Dublin.Thats best done in Parnell Park or Pairc Taillteann.

I feel the banter before games with Meath fans is more interesting than say when Dublin play Laois,Westmeath or Offaly.You get the usual slaggings etc but when it comes to Croke Park,its pretty much the same.Dublin fans (including myself) are very quick to go mad at the team or a particular player if he passes the ball to the opposition or makes a bad mistake.In most Dublin games this will happen.

While Dublin-Meath is a huge rivalry,I think the rivalry betwen Tyrone and Derry is an underestimated one.From watching games between the two and listening to accounts from Tyrone fans,there is very little banter,friendliness or even respect among the two sets of supporters.I'd love to be a neutral at Tyrone-Derry game in Clones.

I don't go to as many hurling matches as I do football but I'd imagine that Tipp and Cork,Waterford-Cork and Limerick-Clare are the biggest rivalries.

GAAman

blackbelt wrote: »

I've been going to Dublin matches since the year dot but as a kid I always remembered the atmosphere at Dublin-Meath games being more intense.


I feel the banter before games with Meath fans is more interesting

While Dublin-Meath is a huge rivalry,I think the rivalry betwen Tyrone and Derry is an underestimated one.From watching games between the two and listening to accounts from Tyrone fans,there is very little banter,friendliness or even respect among the two sets of supporters.I'd love to be a neutral at Tyrone-Derry game in Clones.

Couldnt agree more with the meath stuff blackbelt though i am surprised you didnt mention Dublin v kerry rivalries there i believe it goes back much further then meath

As for the tyrone derry one yes that is a big thing but i will add it is as much the people as the sport ( ie derry people cant stand tyrone people and vice versa, now obviously there are exceptions but as a whole that is a given here) however i was surprised how many derry men would admit to hoping for tyrone to win the final but then it was an Us against them" mentality against a "southern" team of kerry.

I highlighted underestimated in your quote there cos it damn sure isnt underestimated here

evil-monkey

some great rivalries at club level it has to be said.

but at county;

Cork and Kilkenny - always has that something special

Clare and Tipperary - unfortunately there's always been a touch of anomosity there. I know a few big wigs who are still sore over the whole Nicky English and Ger Loughnane capers

Cork and Kerry - neighbours that always meet a good few times a year so bound to happen

evil-monkey

deise59 wrote: »

Quick fact for you lot, the two have met every year between 2002-2007. They played each other 9 times in 6 Championships, with Cork winning 4, Waterford winning 4 and one draw. Corks wins came with a margin of 4, 3, 5 and 1 point, and Waterfords wins were by margins of 1, 1, 3 and 3 points. Says it all really!

Anyone care to agree/disagree?

Ya it probably is one of the most intense in recent years, but there is a lot of anomosity there. When Cork and Tipp play, you'd almost not mind the other lads getting one up on ye, and it's all off for pints together afterwards.

When it's Cork and Waterford, it's a different story. Ever since John Mullane's two fingers to the Cork fans a few years back, it's been a rivalry that is far from healthy. I think it was a rivalry to hurt Waterford hurling too. They treated provincial games against Cork as All-Ireland finals. Whenever they beat us (I'm a Leeside by the way) they went mental, absolutely mental...but they always failed to take the next step, claim Liam McCarthy...

dodgyme

Football:
Mayo-Galway should be near the top of any list

I guess also Kerry V Dublin
And Meath V Dublin is the big one.

RichTea

evil-monkey wrote: »

Clare and Tipperary - unfortunately there's always been a touch of anomosity there. I know a few big wigs who are still sore over the whole Nicky English and Ger Loughnane capers

Love that one me. Ger Loughnane made that one.

buck65

Clare v Tipp
Even though the bile has gone out of it a bit recently, some classic encounters during the years strangely enough don't remember a single red card in 10 Cship meetings.

mydogjack

used to be kilkenny vs tipp.
kilkenny vs waterford.....well that got sorted sharpish in september.

mumhaabu

Kerry V Tyrone, It is a new rivalry but Kerry people really are dying to beat them now. League Matches in Tralee between the two are often very intense packed out encounters.

corny

blackbelt wrote: »

The Croke Park factor doesn't really give a proper indication of the intensity to a particular rivalry.I've found that you experience the real rivalry in smaller county grounds and I think to gauge the real rivalry between Dublin and Meath you would have had to have been in Parnell Park back in April when the real fans were there shouting and cheering in the heat of battle.Otherwise,compairing that game to the games in 07,you just saw great football between two good teams in a Leinster Championship and a good game in the league marred by fighting and skull duggery.The atmosphere for Dublin games in Croker is always special so thats why I'd discount it as a venue to gauge rivalry between Meath and Dublin.Thats best done in Parnell Park or Pairc Taillteann.

Was at that game and in terms of passion and atmosphere very few Dublin games at Croker could compare. Obviously the volume of noise made by 82,000 people can't be matched but the passion and intensity was incredible. I'd say definitely in Leinster Meath-Dublin games have an extra edge. Would have loved to live through the Kerry-Dublin games of the mid to late 70's.

djScarey

You've got to be kidding about atmosphere and Spurs v Arsenal/ United v Liverpool being louder than the rest, deise. May once have been, but the real vocal fans have been priced out at these clubs. These days even Chelsea v West Ham or Newcastle v Sunderland are louder and far more intense than those.

As regards rivalries, a lot is based on surrounding counties: some in Kilkenny would go for Tipperary (usually the older ones), some would opt for Waterford (the South Kilkenny ones mostly) and still others would go for Offaly or Wexford. I and many more City Cats just love beating (in recent decades) arch-nemesis Cork most of all, so that's my selection. But I would suggest KK have too many mini rivalries to feature in any top hurling duo rivalries.

Danno

Laois Offaly - both codes.

Daysha

djScarey wrote: »

You've got to be kidding about atmosphere and Spurs v Arsenal/ United v Liverpool being louder than the rest, deise. May once have been, but the real vocal fans have been priced out at these clubs. These days even Chelsea v West Ham or Newcastle v Sunderland are louder and far more intense than those.

Oh I agree with you, dont get me wrong. The point I was making was that United/Liverpool matches have an extra edge atmosphere wise compared to if one of those teams just had a regular PL match against mid-table opposition. But thats not the case here so all the matches are so much more competitive.

Erin Go Brath

From my viewpoint having attended a lot of Championship games in hurling the biggest rivalry at the moment seems to be Cork v Waterford. There is a noticeable buzz around the place when these two play each other. Its not a traditional rivalry per se, but perhaps having played each other a lot in recent years has something to do with it.
Limerick v Tipperary is a big rivalry too. These two always produce cracking games, the Limk/Tipp trilogy was one of the high points in hurling.

cson

I'd always have considered Tipp as Galways main rivals.

evil-monkey

RichTea wrote: »

Love that one me. Ger Loughnane made that one.

did he what!! +1

Royal Seahawk

Meath-Dublin. End of.
Name me one other match up that could sell out Croke Park in the first round of the championship?

evil-monkey

Royal Seahawk wrote: »

Meath-Dublin. End of.
Name me one other match up that could sell out Croke Park in the first round of the championship?

Dublin and anybody else.

K-9

Royal Seahawk wrote: »

Meath-Dublin. End of.
Name me one other match up that could sell out Croke Park in the first round of the championship?

Well probably Tyrone Armagh. They got 20,000 at a McKenna Cup Final in 06!

I think for pure epics which probably culminated in the most intense match of the decade in 05, Tyrone and Armagh. Francies shoulder on Mulligan ending up with the 2 of them on the ground I'll never forget. It ended up in a penalty for Tyrone.

I think the Tribune did stats on them before the match, Armagh where ahead from about 99/2000 on.

Guess how much? 1 Point.

Donegal Derry is probably our biggest. Some Derry muckers at the matches who are soccer fans, not GAA Fans. Donegal Armagh would be good if we could beat them!

I think the best outside Ulster is Galway Mayo. They can still have the craic.

Hurling, Cork Waterford for this decade but Cork Tipp brings back memories from the 80's and early 90's.

PS. Guess how much Tyrone won by? A point!

Pride Fighter

evil-monkey wrote: »

Dublin and anybody else.

Dublin vs Louth this year had everyone clamouring for tickets (sarcasm)

Dapos

Royal Seahawk wrote: »

Meath-Dublin. End of.
Name me one other match up that could sell out Croke Park in the first round of the championship?

Selling out croke park doesn't mean anything when it comes to rivalry IMO

BOSTIK

buck65 wrote: »

Clare v Tipp
Even though the bile has gone out of it a bit recently, some classic encounters during the years strangely enough don't remember a single red card in 10 Cship meetings.

2 players got the line when the sides met in 2003, Seanie McMahon got a straight red while John Carroll was sent off for 2 yellows. Clare won it easily, confounding all pre-match speculation of a handy Tipp win. That match marked the end of any memorable clashes between the teams, fewer than 30,000 people turned up for a paring that was pulling twice that in the preceding years.

Vixen Sexlectra

Hello..

Would have to be Kilkenny vs Cork imo
They both as hungry as each other.. ha

premierstone

Very noticable that Tipp appear in nearly 75% of the hurling rivalries mentioned, but i think the only reason for this is that Tipp has a border with almost every other traditional hurling county and the rivalries tend to be more fierce depending on what part of Tipp your from.

When i first started attending games it was Galway and Tipp - the Keady affair etc. - and then the Clare thing which in hindsight got way out of hand, but even while these were happening there was always what i would describe as healthy rivalries between Tipp, Cork and Kilkenny where despite the intense rivalry there is always alot of respect and admiration behind it all.

evil-monkey

premierstone wrote: »

Very noticable that Tipp appear in nearly 75% of the hurling rivalries mentioned, but i think the only reason for this is that Tipp has a border with almost every other traditional hurling county and the rivalries tend to be more fierce depending on what part of Tipp your from.

When i first started attending games it was Galway and Tipp - the Keady affair etc. - and then the Clare thing which in hindsight got way out of hand, but even while these were happening there was always what i would describe as healthy rivalries between Tipp, Cork and Kilkenny where despite the intense rivalry there is always alot of respect and admiration behind it all.

+ 1

Royal Seahawk

evil-monkey wrote: »

Dublin and anybody else.

Em no,Dublin played Louth and Westmeath in the Leinster championship this year, both failing to sell out Croke Park. Dublin only sell out Croke Park in the Leinster championship if they're in the final or (as was my original point) playing Meath. Check the stats.

Nalced_irl

It depends on how you understand the term rivals i think. If you look at the dictionary description it would simply mean 2 teams competing against eachother for a common goal, and maybe of similar talent also so there would be rivalries all over the place. I however think there has to be a bit more to it. I think there has to be the feeling that if you dont beat the team, you will never get over it kinda thing (slightly ott but you get what i mean ) For that reason, i wouldnt see something like Kilkenny v Cork for example as what i would call a rivalry. Just asked my Dads opinion also and he agrees but says Tipp v Cork was one hell of one Everyone has a different idea of what a rivalry is though so i think peoples opinions would vary alot.

Erin Go Brath

premierstone wrote: »

Very noticable that Tipp appear in nearly 75% of the hurling rivalries mentioned, but i think the only reason for this is that Tipp has a border with almost every other traditional hurling county and the rivalries tend to be more fierce depending on what part of Tipp your from.

When i first started attending games it was Galway and Tipp - the Keady affair etc. - and then the Clare thing which in hindsight got way out of hand, but even while these were happening there was always what i would describe as healthy rivalries between Tipp, Cork and Kilkenny where despite the intense rivalry there is always alot of respect and admiration behind it all.

Very true! For some reason Tipp are team that everyone wants to beat, you'd think it would be Kilkenny at this stage.