Waterford GAA Discussion Thread 3 ***Updated Mod Note Post 1***

Mountainlad wrote: »

That won't happen, once you have a ticket you're fine.

Hopefully one thing I hate during a match when people end up sitting in the wrong seats and then when the real ticketholders arrive a big mess starts. Stewards outside of Croke Park are a lot more laid back and some don't give a toss really

blue note wrote: »

A lot of people getting them through clubs for matches like these are getting them for their mates who might not have been at a match in years whereas there are really dedicated fans who get their tickets on tickets.Ie. There's just no perfect way to do it.

I take your point but clubs are the pillars of the organisation. They should never lose out in these circumstances

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=240643

D Fives apparently back fully fit.

What do you guys think, anyone close to training or the panel know his form?

If he regains the form against the cats a few years back would love to see him come on in second half in the half forward line, would be another outlet aswell as Maurice.

Are we going to be significantly outnumbered here? Tickets sold through clubs will mostly go to county natives - plenty of Tipp men in Waterford, but not that many - while online sales might favour the bigger counties. And, more worringly, I'm not seeing an upsurge in people planning to go beyond the usual suspects who went to the last two games against Cork. All anedotal, but I dread the thought of seeing pockets of white and blue amidst all the blue and yellow on Sunday.

Surely with Waterford giving Tipp home advantage they would have coms to agreement with the Munster council over tickets.

I wonder whether quotas on tickets.ie and in SuperValu in recent years have been purely notional. No danger that the allocation of (say) 20,000 was going to be sold.

TheScoringGoal wrote: »

I take your point but clubs are the pillars of the organisation. They should never lose out in these circumstances

I more agree with you, but I'm just making the point that when you say the clubs will lose out, I'm wondering who that actually is. I'm thinking back to 2008 when people who had never been to a match before were telling me that they were sorted for a ticket for the final because they knew someone on a committee in a club. Meanwhile I'd been going to matches for over 10 years at that stage with the same group and barely missed a championship match, but the guy we were getting tickets from (a county board man) warned us that he mightn't be able to get them for the final. Instead it seemed that the nieces and daughters boyfriends of club Irish officers were getting them. Not actual club men and women.

Of course what might actually happen when less go to the clubs is that the actual club members will lose out and the tickets will still filter out to people who don't really care about the game but will go along because sure why not?

Oh, and the county board man still sorted us out for the final by the way. And sadly I can't get to this final anyway so it doesn't make a difference to me. But I think anyone who tries hard to get a ticket will come by one to be honest.

It is not often I do this but our club today has lost one of its real characters to a tragic accident in Thailand. Words cannot describe the doom and gloom around the town. I am mentioning it here because if Houly was home he would be in Thurles on Sunday with his 3 mobile jersey supporting his beloved Waterford. Gutted is an understatement. Rest in peace mo chara I would love to see the cup in Dungarvan Monday night for you. There wouldn't be a dry eye in the square.

blue note wrote: »

I more agree with you, but I'm just making the point that when you say the clubs will lose out, I'm wondering who that actually is. I'm thinking back to 2008 when people who had never been to a match before were telling me that they were sorted for a ticket for the final because they knew someone on a committee in a club. Meanwhile I'd been going to matches for over 10 years at that stage with the same group and barely missed a championship match, but the guy we were getting tickets from (a county board man) warned us that he mightn't be able to get them for the final. Instead it seemed that the nieces and daughters boyfriends of club Irish officers were getting them. Not actual club men and women.

Of course what might actually happen when less go to the clubs is that the actual club members will lose out and the tickets will still filter out to people who don't really care about the game but will go along because sure why not?

Oh, and the county board man still sorted us out for the final by the way. And sadly I can't get to this final anyway so it doesn't make a difference to me. But I think anyone who tries hard to get a ticket will come by one to be honest.

So you support your county and not your club?

thesultan wrote: »

So you support your county and not your club?

Where did you get that from? I was making the point that even when distributed through the clubs that they still filter out to people who aren't players, members and even the most casual of fans. It might very well be the best way of distributing tickets, but it's far from perfect.

And I missed the last match and will miss this one to play matches for my club. Sure I suppose it's the same for the Waterford team, they're probably gutted to be missing some junior hurling to go play the munster final. Wouldn't be surprised if they tried to get it rearranged.

Fergal Hartley was on the radio during the week talking of All Irelands. A far cry from his contribution to the 'fallow period' article in the Examiner pre Christmas. Derek McGrath scoffed, after beating Cork, at his father's negative suggestion that we had at least an All Ireland Quarter Final spot. The same man was talking up the virtues of finishing in the 'top 4' of 1b a few months ago. From outside the County Ger Loughnane cranked up the hyperbole. Last July he said we would be in transition for a very long time, as if banished to some woe-be-gotten land by an evil Disney character. This June Ger puts us on a level maybe Kilkenny couldn't reach. An uncontrolled flip-flop there, Ger. Nonetheless perceptions have changed. It's amazing what a few wins will do (or in Clare's case any win) for the confidence. I think it is a confidence well placed.

Most are expecting the one change on Sunday with Shane Bennett coming in, unless of course he has something else planned. Tom Devine will probably be named number 9, a false 9 if there ever was one, but be held back until later in the game. Tipp will have a new corner back but no Noel and Lar on the bench.

If you matched up the teams 1 to 15 I think you'll find there is not much in it depending on your bias. An easier way to compare teams would be to say Waterford's 1-9 is better than theirs, and their forwards are better than ours. If you count our forward unit as the starting 6 + 3 off the bench then we don't fare too badly in that department at all. We may not have is the marquee forwards like Bubbles and Callinan. But these two are relatively new to that level and we may have a couple of lads getting there, starting Sunday.

Tipp's retribution handed out to Limerick was impressive but it took them a couple of attempts. We delt with Cork at the first opportunity and did it again 5 weeks later. 5 weeks later again and here we are. Thurles, where else.

So far this year Waterford have matched up to Tipp 3 times and not lost. A winter win, a drab draw in challenges and an affirming win in the league, which in fact is probably still the game of the year to date. Not conclusive proof but enough to steel the resolve. Can you imagine playing the cats 3 times in one year and not losing. There is nothing to fear. I expect it to be a close game if not something has gone worryingly wrong or worryingly right.

Tipp-Waterford? I tip Waterford.

Bigsliothar wrote: »

Anyone know anywhere that will show m/final in Amsterdam?? Thx

Mulligans or molly malones in amsterdam surely be showing it,

worth a try,

blue note wrote: »

I'm buying tickets online for this match. Anyone know which is the Waterford end for the final? Or is it a complete mix?

Town end... or so I hope, since that's where we have ours, and the lady in the shop told us that was the Waterford end! Anyone confirm, just in case, for blue note's sake?

Canyon86 wrote: »

Mulligans or molly malones in amsterdam surely be showing it,

worth a try,

Thanks for that