Only 33k in croker and the premium section was only a quarter full so that can't be used as an excuse.

Last year was there only 22k?

Anyway thurles is the main venue for hurling but for a final between Killkenny / Wexford vs Galway it makes the most sense.

Tipperary is sandwiched between Galway and Killkenny so it makes perfect geographical sense. Especially when thurles can take up to 45k.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 06/07/2015 15:21:48    1748571

Don't agree that a Leinster Final should take place in a Munster venue.

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 06/07/2015 15:32:26    1748593

that's the silliest thing I've ever heard

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 2661 - 06/07/2015 15:41:46    1748611

Could Tullamore or Portlaoise not host it ???

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 06/07/2015 15:45:41    1748618

Croker was fine. The Cusack and the Hogan were fairly full and the atmosphere was good. Its really annoying when they opened the Hill last year for Dublin fans but closed it this year even though there was a much bigger crowd. I was at the game last year on the hogan and it was half empty while the hill was fairly full.

It would be nice to have it in Offaly or Portloaise but how is the GAA going to know how many people will go before hand? There was 34K at the match yesterday. O'Moore Park can hold 27K. Besides the roads from Kilkenny and Galway to Dublin are much better than the roads to Thurles/Portlaoise . Croke Park is where it should be held. Its the biggest stadium in Leinster it makes sense.

deadybai (Kilkenny) - Posts: 63 - 06/07/2015 15:59:11    1748641

Its about the only pitch you could call a stadium in Leinster!! Joking!!!

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 06/07/2015 16:11:45    1748653

I dont like Portlaoise for any hurling game.I could be wrong,but the pitch looks smaller than others.I do like Tullamore.Would have made for a great atmosphere yesterday if it was played there.Youd probably get a bigger Galway crowd there.I wonder where the players would prefer to play?Croke Park is the cats second home.I think their fans enjoy the day in Dublin.I was working yesterday around the city,and there was quite a sizeable amount of cats around Croke Park at 11am.Loyal fans to be fair.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 06/07/2015 16:20:49    1748666

I went in to the minor game and there was a decent Kilkenny crowd there for it. Far more than would normally show up for our minors when they're the curtain raiser for our senior footballers/hurlers.

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 06/07/2015 16:31:54    1748676

What time was minor game at croigorm?Was it 2pm?I was surprised at the amount of cats prowling around Gills pub/Hogan Stand pub at 11am-12 mid day.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 06/07/2015 16:41:48    1748686

It was at 2pm Cuedrocket. The Cusack Stand in particular was really busy with KK fans from throw in.

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 06/07/2015 16:44:14    1748688

It's not often you get to bring your children for a day out in Croke Park when there is a final on. Loads of families there yesterday. I know I wouldn't have brought mine to Thurles for it. Anyway it's the Leinster final and that's where it should be played.

Fester (Carlow) - Posts: 15 - 06/07/2015 16:44:46    1748689

Yes,you can be sure a lot of the cats fans,knew quite a lot about the minor team and its players.They really do live and breath the game in Kilkenny.Pity the Dubs minors couldnt hold out,but once again,the cool cats came with a flurry of late scores to win the day.A hallmark of Kilkenny teams down the years.They must have ice in their veins,because panic is not a word they are familiar with.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 06/07/2015 16:51:21    1748700

33k is actually a decent crowd, no reason to take it out of Croke Park. Why did we build Croke Park in the first place? Was it not to give our players a chance to play in a world class stadium, and showcase our games as such? There is very little hurling played in Croke Park as it is, the last thing we need is for less hurling to be showcased in our only top class stadium. Plus, its the Leinster final, Croke Park is the home for that game. If CP is no longer suitable for these types of games, then its not fit for purpose.

If the size of the crowds is a problem (if a small crowd is getting lost in the stadium), the answer is not to move the games somewhere else. The answer is to do whatever it takes to increase the attendance to what a Leinster final deserves. The same game was getting crowds of 55k+ in the mid-90's, that's not that long ago. If that means slashing prices, letting in as many groups for free as possible (OAP's, juveniles, etc), then so be it. The purpose of Croke Park is not to turn a profit, its to promote the games, and give them the best stage possible.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 06/07/2015 16:52:45    1748701

Not sure Leinster final was getting 55K in mid 90s.I was at quite a lot of those games.Kilkenny v Wexford in 93 was one of my favourite games.You could be right but id say 40-45K was a good crowd in the 90s.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 06/07/2015 16:57:12    1748708

deadybai

As the tribal chants go, HILL 16 IS DUBLIN ONLY

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 06/07/2015 17:09:23    1748727

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Not sure Leinster final was getting 55K in mid 90s.I was at quite a lot of those games.Kilkenny v Wexford in 93 was one of my favourite games.You could be right but id say 40-45K was a good crowd in the 90s.

The attendance at the 1997 Leinster final was 55,492. Granted, that was probably the hightest attendance for a leinster final in the 90's, but it shows what was possible. It also shows the kind of crowds Wexford can bring when they're flying high (they were defending an AI in '97), hopefully they'll bounce back stronger next year.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 06/07/2015 17:51:20    1748762

Linster final attendances
1990 20K
1991 41K
1992 41K
1993 42K
1994 32K
1995 32K
1996 34K
1997 55K
1998 32K
1999 38K

Obviously 1997 was by far the largest attendance.Overall in that decade,the average attendance was approx 36K.So yesterday was fairly typical.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 06/07/2015 18:11:59    1748773

Tullamore is pretty decent. The packed atmosphere would be amazing..but then youd have the high viz brigade moaning about having to take young Pierre and Petuna into the terrace. Incidently almost every major sport in europe are bring back terraces..safe and more fun. The seats in Thurles on the old stand side are very tight..

BanTarleton (Clare) - Posts: 181 - 06/07/2015 18:19:01    1748780

jack goff what are you on about there was 32,954 there yesterday
last year there was 32,567 at dublin v kilkenny
nowhere near your 22 thousand
you make up some silly stuff man

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 06/07/2015 18:28:40    1748784

i dont see how people can complain about 33 thousand yesterday
sure the munster football final had 35 thousand only two thousand more
and the munster hurling final will have a similiar 35 thousand next sunday
be silly to play leinster hurling final anywhere other than croke park
portlaoise can only hold 20 thousand at moment and will be 25 thousand when work is completed
tullamore holds 17-18 thousand
30-40 thousand is the normal for leinster hurling finals
and it was bigger than you would have expected judging by the crowd galway only had in croker the day they played dublin.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 06/07/2015 18:34:09    1748786