Best supporters in the country?

Lemlin

Just wondering who people think are the best GAA supporters in the country?

By this, I mean counties that have the most amount of "proper" GAA supporters. Not those who jump on the county bandwagon come a provincial title or a few wins in the qualifiers.

Plenty of counties haven't won anything in years yet have fans who are willing to travel the country to League and Championship games come rain, snow or sun.

I think my own county of Cavan has its fair share, as Colm O'Rourke recently pointed out on RTE. The atmosphere was electric at the Armagh game in Clones last year and the town entire town and county went mental after we beat Down in the Ulster championship quarter final in Breffni.

That said, I don't think its fair to put forward my own county so my vote goes to Galway, anyone I know from there seems to love the GAA and everything about it, even when the county aren't doing the best.

cournioni

I think the Rossies are fairly good supporters. They seem to always have a good crowd behind them. Had great craic with a few of them at the Cavan vs. Ros league semi final match in 2002 (was it?). They seem to be fairly knowledgable when it comes to their county team too. Dublin also have a great support, but it would be expected of them with a population of their size.

But my vote goes to Armagh supporters, they always travel in huge numbers and are always willing to give you a bit of banter without totally going over the top. But they are also very honest when it comes to their teams performances. They always say when they are second best and leave it at that.

That is from my personal experience anyway.

thirdmantackle

Galway supporters are the most fair weather supporters ever. Even worse than the Dubs. They only start supporting their teams when they are going well. For a county of their size their support isn't great. Mayo supporters are the most ignorant by a mile

Roscommon has a population of about 58,000. So for them to have a committed support (usually) of in or around 10,000 fans is pretty impressive. When they played in Croker in 2003 there were c. 16,000 there from the county.

Carlow fans are the most colourful without doubt

Blackjack

thirdmantackle wrote:

Galway supporters are the most fair weather supporters ever. Even worse than the Dubs. They only start supporting their teams when they are going well. For a county of their size their support isn't great. Mayo supporters are the most ignorant by a mile

Roscommon has a population of about 58,000. So for them to have a committed support (usually) of in or around 10,000 fans is pretty impressive. When they played in Croker in 2003 there were c. 16,000 there from the county.

Carlow fans are the most colourful without doubt

No doubt your view might be a bit coloured, given the history of Connaught Football and the few games that are played. Tarring all of one counties supporters with one brush is a bit callous. 16,000 in Croker is nothing to shout about given that almost the entire population of Fermanagh were in Croker twice last year against Mayo.

cournioni

Blackjack wrote:

No doubt your view might be a bit coloured, given the history of Connaught Football and the few games that are played. Tarring all of one counties supporters with one brush is a bit callous. 16,000 in Croker is nothing to shout about given that almost the entire population of Fermanagh were in Croker twice last year against Mayo.

And what about the 40,000 Cavan fans at the Cavan vs. Kerry semi final in 1997? Cavan's population was hardly massive back then either...

Lemlin

I've always found any Galway people I've known to be football mad. Lived with a few and they watched that Galway DVD about the year they won the All-Ireland nearly every day. Went to a few matches with them as well and the atmosphere was always great.

Haven't had any dealings with Mayo fans really. Agree with Pornapster about the Armagh fans, last year at Clones they were only too happy to admit that they deserved to lose against Cavan but were glad they were going to have a crack at Tyrone (or so they thought, Donegal soon put an unexpected stop to that!).

The Cavan match in '97 was unreal. I was on the Hill that day, as was the entire population of Cavan I think. Makes me think how wonderful it'd be if we could get a match in Croker again. Even Cavan town the night we won the Ulster against Derry was magnificent, I'd say it took about a week to clean up.

Good point about Fermanagh too, that wouldn't be a big footballing county either but they had great support last year.

Blackjack

PORNAPSTER wrote:

And what about the 40,000 Cavan fans at the Cavan vs. Kerry semi final in 1997? Cavan's population was hardly massive back then either...

Good to see a county turn out. My earlier comment was directed particularly in one direction, given the comments about Mayo and/or Galway.
Fermanagh had never been to a Semi before, so given the history of other the attendance by counties, I think Fermanagh had claimed a pretty good support on the day.

thirdmantackle

You'd struggle to find any Galway football supporter before 1998 when they all hoped on the bandwagon.

Galway has a very big population and area and along with the likes of Cork, Tipp, Kerry, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Mayo should be the best supported teams in the country.

Cavan in croker in 1997 was fairly special. The Hill was a sea of royal blue.

the best colour I've ever seen on the hill was Offaly in 1994 vs Limerick

Yavvy

The Dubs have fantastic support, both for the championship and AFL
But My vote also goes to Armagh who I have alway found to be great craic and great supporters. Would like to make a comment about Kerry Fans who I find to be the worst..which is a shame cause IMO their footballers are the best.

Lemlin

I always hate the Championship when Kerry win it. Would of loved to see Mayo win it last year.

I just feel that alot of Kerry supporters have seen the team win the Championship so much that they don't appreciate it. Maybe I'm wrong but I think that's the reason why their support can be so poor.

Flukey

Well I agree about Kerry winning the All-Ireland normally spoiling things. Equally one of the big 3 in Hurling is the same. I rarely miss a big match in Croke Park and it takes something special to make me do so. One of the few games I've missed in the past decade there was that Kerry v Cavan match. My excuse? I was off seeing the Pope. Like I said, it takes something special to make me miss a game.

For me the most colourful fans are the Clare fans. The crowd on the pitch after they won the All-Ireland Hurling Final in 1995 was something special to witness. 3 years earlier, when they won the Munster Football Final (first time since Tipperary in 1935 that neither Cork or Kerry won it) and came to play Dublin in Croke Park, it was a great atmosphere.

At half time in the minor match the Artane Boys Band went over in front of the Cusack Stand and started playing. The Clare crowd there began singing. The crowd on Hill 16 started singing back at them. It continued like this through the rest of the minor match and into the senior game. That senior game was some match and Clare could well have won it. They played very well and it is a pity that they did not get back to the semi-final the following year.

Lemlin

Yep, that point about the hurling is very true. Would be fantastic to see Waterford win it this year. They've went very close in the past few years.

Waylander

The Clare fans are great alright. They were still celebrating the first win in Ennis when they won the second title in 1997. Also if you aer ever down around Kilaloe around the time of a Clare v Tipp match the craic around the town is great.

Camogie Playa

Limerick supporters are definitly without doubt the best supporters in the country. They have always followed and shouted for the county, even when the county has been in the doldrums for the past couple of years. Our only championship win in hurling ovre the past 2 or 3 years was against Kerry and the fans have still continued to support the team. I think is shows great spirit.
And look at last Sunday when everyone was writing off Limerick after their league campaign and the Limk supporters outnumberd the Tipp supporters 2:1.
Now the only thing is that hopefully we'll be supporting the team further on in the championship. Hopefully they'll win on Saturday, they are in with a deadly chance and wouldnt be far off from favourites.

thirdmantackle

thing about successful teams is that they will always be supported.

the supporters from counties who are not successful and still have a big support deserve most merit.

Danno

Cork Hurling supporters are great craic. Many of them stop in Durrow on the way home from Croker and the sport is mighty - win or loose - these supporters have a whale of a time and very well mannered too.

Armagh football supporters are good fun too!

Kildare supporters are good too - were great sportsmen after the 2003 leinster final - out cheering the Laois folk going home after the game along the streets of Kildare town.

Westmeath were very vocal for the Leinster final drawn game 2004. They loved their partying!

Have to say though - GAA supporters are very well mannered and enjoy the craic - big contrast to soccer supporters.

Bootgal

Wexford supporters!!!!
Come on Matty

thirdmantackle

Have to say though - GAA supporters are very well mannered and enjoy the craic - big contrast to soccer supporters

What soccer supporters are you referring to?? How many Eircom League games have you been to?

Yavvy

I have been to a few and let me name the football supporters I would not reccomend

Shamrock rovers
Bhos
Shels
Cork
Derry

I have been to 5 Eircom matches in my life and at 3 of them I saw fights and all of them contailed very agressive elements.. that was my personal view butI have been to old trafford 4 times and found the supporters there much better...except from one match where there was a big fight.

The only time I ever saw trouble at a GAA match was when 4 Meath fellas kicked the **** outta eachother at the Canal end and one when a drunked dub had a go at a Garda ( who quickly slapped the head of the drunken eejit) but I have been to over 50 GAA matches with large crowds so ...

jank

Shamrock rovers
Bhos
Shels
Cork
Derry

Nice one in tainting half the EL league clubs in Ireland! Been going to matchs soccer and GAA most of life and trouble at either is very very rare. The exception maybe rovers. Having Shelbourne and Cork City fans in there is unbeliveable that u know nothing of either clubs. You may have seen one incident so your obviously biased.

I saw an incidient where a cork supporter and a meath supporter were having a go at each other. Does that mean im biased. No!
Remember 15 years ago a Donegal fan was beaten to death in a pub by some dubs after Dublin lost the all ireland to ....Donegal. Does that mean all dublin supporters are scum. No way.

So less of the generalisations please especially since your a mod on here you should be leading by example!

I have been to 5 Eircom matches in my life

:rolleyes:

Yavvy

like you pointed out I have only been to five matches - and both games where I saw trouble did involve Rovers (rest of the time it was outside the grounds). Clearly Im in no position to to have an informed opinion (not being a soccer supporter) but I can only say what I saw.

I have not had good experiances at EL matches, maybe its just me ? maybe I have been very unlucky I dont know .. my point is I have had a small taste and I didnt like what I saw. you should know one of the most disturbing incidents I saw was was at tolka park between rovers and shells where a Shells supporter threw a beer can at some rovers fans and hit a fairly old man. its was a few years back ( 4 or 5 years I think)and I think the rovers fans seemed very loutish to me.

Are EL supporters seperated these days ? I know in GAA fans mix with no problems what so ever...

I want to point out that I dont think for one second all fans / clubs in the EL are like that - but if someone asked me if I wanted to go to a game I would not be interested because of previous experiances

< edit >
My apoligies for taking this iff topic, If anyone wants to discuss it further perhaps we can move it to another forum or conversation

Thanks ,
Alan

jank

No problem, That was a fair and reasonable explanation. Im not saying the EL league supporters are all angels but I really have to rack my brain a bit to recall anything noteworthy of trouble. I have been going to EL matches for best part of ten years.

Same in GAA but there can be rough element in that too with the odd fight breaking out among fans, especially club matches where there is a huge rivalry between parishes. Intercounty is very rare though but a friend of mine got a headbut at the weekend at the limerick tipp match. Not sure of the situation now, but he is a cork fan. But nothing to write home about.

River Allow

Cork supporters are the best, without a doubt!! We have some craic in the terrace with Mullane


UP THE REBELS

Danno

I know an ex-British Army officer who retired to Ireland recently. He is an Englishman thru and thru, and he couldn't fathom how GAA supporters are allowed to mix on the terraces and stands of GAA stadia around Ireland. He couldn't comprehend the total peacefulness and respectful nature of the GAA supporter to each other.

It is a great feat of the GAA to have this attributed to itself. Long may it live. It is something to be so proud of.

thirdmantackle

You wouldn't put Dubs and Meath supporters together on a terrace...

Roscommon v Mayo games can also get very heated

Yavvy

thirdmantackle wrote:

You wouldn't put Dubs and Meath supporters together on a terrace...

Roscommon v Mayo games can also get very heated

been on hill 16 and Canal end with Meath fans, never a spot of bother
and some mighty banter.

bennyc

I have had a few run ins over the years in ulster football but it always is the sunshine supporters

I got tackled by an AH before the Ulser Final in Quinns by some mucker from Armagh but in all fairness it was a couple of armagh boys who stepped in and got rid of him

I had some craic sitting beside a few lads form meath when Donegal beat them at HQ a few years ago. Dont think they were big fans a Geraghty mind....

But the real dub fans are hard to beat for a pint before and after a game

weemcd

Glad to see some people think Armagh supporters are fair and honest. I know I always try to behave that way at the games.

(I’d say we are guilty of having a large number of "sunshine supporters", you know sing when you are winning, not give a **** when you aren’t types, i know certainly towards the later stages of the championship these bollixes come out and take the tickets away from people who have went to every game.)

I'd have to say i was very impressed with the good humour i noticed from Donegal supporters after our game in 2004, I also think the Galway and Cavan supporters are good humoured and friendly.

Worst supporters have to be Tyrone (imo)

irishgeo

Mayo supporters because every year , no matter how we lost the final we are back for more. we all know the whole country wants mayo to win it even sean kelly GAA president said it last year. Was at the Mayo Ros match in Mc Hale Park last year and the craic was mighty. Anybody see the mexican wave at half time.

The roscommon fans were fighting amoung themselves at the end of the night, as the Mayo fans were not interested.A couple fo fights during the day but all good craic.I seen mayo - ros fans seated together with no problems.
The best part was setting at the table upstairs across the road from a pass machine. Some very interesting and funn things happened at it.
There was more Matyo fans than Kerry fans at the final last year and honestly who did most of the neutrals want to win. Mayo. I doubt we will win it this year some how. Last years defeat really hurt.

Mayo always the bridesmaid never the bride.

Yavvy

thats cause Mayo is a trans-sexual, and God doesnt approve of that sort of thing. Bitch.

Im kidding, I have been living In Galway for the last yesr and a bit so obviously the Mayo hype was massive , I really got caught up in it and I really felt for the Mayovians after they way Kerry ripped them a new hole.

Board@Work

The Dubs have to be the best

The whole championship comes alive when they get involved..

PS I'm for Bray in Wicklow or as i like to call it Dublins bitch...

Yavvy

lol Dublins Bitch is one of the nice things to say about Bray, i lived there for a year.

TheBigLebowski

Personally I think the Dubs always get behind the team very well. Was at the Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Westmeath double header last week and there was only 34000 in Croke park. Not many for a double header. If these teams go to the all-Ireland, you won't be able to get a ticket cos they'll all be jumping on the bandwagon. What about all the people from these counties that were watching the matches in the pubs around Croke park with scarves and jerseys on screaming at the TV. Too tight to buy a ticket? Rather spend it on gargle than support your county? Great supporters they are.

Lemlin

You have to look at the population of Dublin compared to the rest of the country though. Okay, alot of people do go home to the sticks at the weekend but, even with this, the capital still has a huge advantage.

As regards fans, I had to laugh last year at Clones when any fights that the Armagh fans seemed to be having was amongst themselves!

Yavvy

The captial doesnt have a huge advantage when you compare the amount of people with an interest in galelic games comapred to strong holds like Armagh, Kilkenny, tipp, kerry ect etc

lukin

Danno wrote:

I know an ex-British Army officer who retired to Ireland recently. He is an Englishman thru and thru, and he couldn't fathom how GAA supporters are allowed to mix on the terraces and stands of GAA stadia around Ireland. He couldn't comprehend the total peacefulness and respectful nature of the GAA supporter to each other.

It is a great feat of the GAA to have this attributed to itself. Long may it live. It is something to be so proud of.

A Feyenoord supporter I spoke to on O Connell street before a big match in Croker couldn't understand it either.
He said (adopts heavy Dutch accent)"Hey, how come your supporters don't kill each other?"

jacksie

Lemlin wrote:

Yep, that point about the hurling is very true. Would be fantastic to see Waterford win it this year. They've went very close in the past few years.

i hope we dont get through, it would totally banish football from the county. im predicting a turn-around on the state of football and hurling here in the next 10 years, looking at the upcoming on both fronts

walshb

Has to be Wexford hurlers. They win nothing yet they still alays cheering, is this really a good thing. Then there's the DUBS, crap...but still they'll go and support them....No matter how many 'wides' Dublin Kick....the supporters will still cheer

Daysha

I can't believe nobodys mentioned us Waterford supporters. We're still there in our thousands at every match, even though we havent won an All Ireland since 1959 and we've lost in the All-Ireland semi finals three times in the past six years without getting to a final. Plus, in those three matches, we lost the 1st one by a point, the 2nd by 3pts and the 3rd by 3pts. Talk about bad luck!

River Allow wrote:

Cork supporters are the best, without a doubt!! We have some craic in the terrace with Mullane

Yeah, shouting stupid abuse at one of the greatest and most passionate hurlers around really makes ye out to be good supporters! When was the last time you saw a deise supporter shout disgusting abuse at a fantastic player every time he walks down the tunnel?

Danno

He He!

Up the deise

Remember yer man on Gareth O Callaghans 2FM Show last year on the Company Challenge!

Excellent stuff - laughed my head off at him - Now there's support!!!

UP DA DEISE

The Rooster

walshb wrote:

Has to be Wexford hurlers. They win nothing yet they still alays cheering,

...which is in contrast to their support for their footballers, who finally have a decent team with as good a chance as anyone of provincial success, and arguably have the best player in the province. The support for Wexford last Sunday was very poor - far less than even Carlow. Hopefully they'll come out for the Dubs game

cruiserweight

The Rooster wrote:

...which is in contrast to their support for their footballers, who finally have a decent team with as good a chance as anyone of provincial success, and arguably have the best player in the province. The support for Wexford last Sunday was very poor - far less than even Carlow. Hopefully they'll come out for the Dubs game

I was going to go, only a really, really bad hangover stopped me! But there is a core of football supporters in Wexford and growing! There was a good turn out for the league final, our first major final since the 40's! Do not worry there will be a good turn out of Wexford supporters to face the Dubs and probably an even bigger turn out when we play in our first Leinster football final since the 40's in a few weeks time!

Lemlin

Hangovers only make the match better. Get a pint or two in ya before the game and it straightens ya right out!

Waylander

That really depends on the severity of the hangover, I must admit I have missed a few matches over the years for a similar reason.

Lemlin

Well I'd never miss a match over it. Have been to some games dieing but what has to be done has to be done.

Danno

Die hard!!! :P

DéiseGirl

jacksie wrote:

i hope we dont get through, it would totally banish football from the county. im predicting a turn-around on the state of football and hurling here in the next 10 years, looking at the upcoming on both fronts

Thank God you're in the minority with an attitude like that. :rolleyes:

DéiseGirl

Danno wrote:

He He!

Up the deise

Remember yer man on Gareth O Callaghans 2FM Show last year on the Company Challenge!

Excellent stuff - laughed my head off at him - Now there's support!!!

UP DA DEISE

What was he saying Danno, never heard of that one?

Kingp35

thirdmantackle wrote:

Galway supporters are the most fair weather supporters ever. Even worse than the Dubs. They only start supporting their teams when they are going well. For a county of their size their support isn't great.

Are you saying Dubs only support their team when they are winning? you are some idiot! What have Dublin won recently other than that one solitary Leinster title. Every League game was sold out. IF you go to croker when Dublin arent playing you can hear the echo the ground its so empty!!
Without Dublin fans the GAA would be in serious trouble as crowds would be seriously down. Your gonna tell me now that Dublin should be getting good crowds because of the population.

First of all how many of the 1 million in DUblin are actually Dubs?? Every where you go there are country people about so dont be so naive as to think everyone that lives in a county should be supposrting that county. Plus Dublin is full of people that arent even Irish. Should tehy be supporting Dublin?

Secondly you can only sell teh amount of tickets you have. Parnell park is always sold out. Dublin always sell their allocation of tickets to matches and alot more on top of that in the black market etc. So many Dublin fans pay crazy prices for tickets to matches because their allocation is sold out. You can only sell what your given and Dublin do that with ease EVERY time whether they are winning games or not.

thirdmantackle

Its always said Mayo have great support - lets see how many of them turn up to the Hyde on Sunday. They all hop on the bandwagon once they hit Croker

Salthill was deserted last weekend. out of the attendance of 12,000 three quarters of that were from Leitrim - I'm not kidding.

As I said, Galway are among the worst sunshine supporters.

How many people out of 1 million people in Dublin are Dubs?? I don't have exact figures. But all second generation kids in Dublin are Dubs... And why wouldn't they sell out Parnell Park - the place only holds 14,000 (if even)

Waylander

So TMT what you are saying is we are band wagon hoppers because we sell out every game? I just want to clarify this0