So the GAA have just announced the venues for the upcoming qualifiers and football quarter finals. Some of them I agree with but some are absolutely ridiculous. Firstly, Fermanagh v Westmeath in Cavan is a good choice, it's relatively central for both counties and should bring a nice crowd in proportion to the size of Breffni Park. Kildare V Cork in Thurles, is ok location wise for both counties, but the proportion of the crowd going in relation to the capacity of semple isn't a good choice. But moving onto the 4b qualifiers is where it really is ridiculous. The GAA once again chose croke park for the double header. An 82,000 seater stadium will be used for a crowd of 10,000. How exactly does that make sense? These games being put in croker are becoming far too frequent, and yes people are going to say we have an 82000 seater stadium at our disposal, lets make good use of it. That's fine for crowds of 55,000 plus, but not for games like these. In relation to the crowd going, its a stupid choice but then when you take into account the distance fans have to travel, its an absolute joke. It is over two hours for Tyrone and Galway people to egt to croker, and 2 and a half hours for sligo people. And for some parts of Donegal it is well over three hours to croke park! With the Donegal and Galway game probably finishing around 7:30, some donegal fans probably wont arrive back until half 11 that night.

Why could Donegal and Galway not have been played in Carrick On Shannon or Roscommon? It would have made more sense capacity wise, and the distances fans have to travel. And Sligo and Tyrone, play that in Enniskillen, smaller stadium, more filled, closer for the two counties.

For the quarter finals also, for arguments sake say Its Dublin V Cork and Kerry V Westmeath, would this not have been perfect for a full house in Thurles? Perfect distance for all counties involved and capacity with a good atmosphere. You would think that the Dublin fans should fill croker for this game alone but that will not be the case. Their will be few from Kerry and Cork fans you would imagine due to distance and thats why it could have been moved to Thurles.

The GAA needs to start playing games in stadiums that will be sold out and closer to counties competing, not in an empty croke park

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 20/07/2015 15:17:41    1756440

I agree totally with this post, neither of those ties are what one would call box office, that is attract the casual GAA fan especially when you can watch an A list double bill the day after.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 20/07/2015 15:30:41    1756455

Thought Castlebar was an obvious choice for Donegal v Galway. Especially given that it hasn't had a championship game all year. Dragging Donegal, Galway, Sligo and Tyrone to Croker is madness. Won't get more than 20-30k and that's being optimistic. You could surely have got 20k in MacHale Park for Galway v Donegal alone?

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 20/07/2015 15:31:32    1756456

Galway have played Donegal in Castlebar (2003) and Sligo (2009) so either would have sufficed along with Carrick on Shannon or Rosocmmon. Sligo and Tyrone could have been in either Ballybofey, Clones or Enniskillen. If you ask the Mangers they would love it (playing in croker). I am from west Galway myself, and it is easier for me to get to croke park than it would be to Sligo or carrick on shannon, so I have no issue with it.

galwaydublin (Galway) - Posts: 226 - 20/07/2015 15:34:55    1756457

Good for us, more time the young lads get in croker the better

redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 20/07/2015 15:43:39    1756463

Strange one:

Sligo v Tyrone - Sligo fans will hardly have the stomach for this...Tyrone fans will be thinking we should win this and might skip this one.
Donegal v Galway - Galway don't have a great following (add in its race week) for the footballers and Donegal while their support has swelled may not be too pushed on this one. Don't underestimate race week to west of Ireland followers, many thousands go and the bookie usually wins :/ leaving John and Mary with no money for croker ;)

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 20/07/2015 15:44:06    1756464

Great post Poppinpoints

Bigboy (Galway) - Posts: 133 - 20/07/2015 15:47:52    1756467

The 4B Qualifiers should've been fixed for venue other than Croker, same as 4A Qualifiers

SeppBlatter (Dublin) - Posts: 187 - 20/07/2015 15:48:29    1756470

Well what I dont quite comprehend is why all of a sudden since last year did they decide to play final round qualifiers in Croke Park? Every other year the Sat and Sun of the August bank holiday were quarter final days in Croker, is it that the qualifier games now originally begin a week later??? Im baffled but its a bad decision , all qualifier games should be finished next weekend and leave HQ free strictly for AI quarters and yes much better prospect of very decent crowds and athmosphere....As a Dub Im privilidged to have such close access to Croke Park but for those travelling from various parts of the country its unfair and very expensive...

Mollymalone (Dublin) - Posts: 1137 - 20/07/2015 15:48:44    1756471

It's definitely a venue that will suit Galway far more than Donegal. Having lived and worked in that great county I don't envy them the drive they now face.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 20/07/2015 15:54:24    1756475

Poor Venue Selection from the GAA 20/07/2015 15:17:41 PoppinPoints
So the GAA have just announced the venues for the upcoming qualifiers and football quarter finals. Some of them I agree with but some are absolutely ridiculous. Firstly, Fermanagh v Westmeath in Cavan is a good choice, it's relatively central for both counties and should bring a nice crowd in proportion to the size of Breffni Park. Kildare V Cork in Thurles, is ok location wise for both counties, but the proportion of the crowd going in relation to the capacity of semple isnt a good choice. But moving onto the 4b qualifiers is where it really is ridiculous. The GAA once again chose croke park for the double header. An 82,000 seater stadium will be used for a crowd of 10,000. How exactly does that make sense? These games being put in croker are becoming far too frequent, and yes people are going to say we have an 82000 seater stadium at our disposal, lets make good use of it. That's fine for crowds of 55,000 plus, but not for games like these. The bigger issue with Donegal Galway is not the venue but the throw in time which possibly should be earlier but it isn't that much of a problem. where would you have played Kildare cork? there will be well more than 10000 in CP.
20/07/2015 15:17:41 PoppinPoints
In relation to the crowd going, its a stupid choice but then when you take into account the distance fans have to travel, its an absolute joke. It is over two hours for Tyrone and Galway people to egt to croker, and 2 and a half hours for sligo people. And for some parts of Donegal it is well over three hours to croke park! With the Donegal and Galway game probably finishing around 7:30, some donegal fans probably wont arrive back until half 11 that night.
Why could Donegal and Galway not have been played in Carrick On Shannon or Roscommon? It would have made more sense capacity wise, and the distances fans have to travel. And Sligo and Tyrone, play that in Enniskillen, smaller stadium, more filled, closer for the two counties.
For the quarter finals also, for arguments sake say Its Dublin V Cork and Kerry V Westmeath, would this not have been perfect for a full house in Thurles? Perfect distance for all counties involved and capacity with a good atmosphere. You would think that the Dublin fans should fill croker for this game alone but that will not be the case. Their will be few from Kerry and Cork fans you would imagine due to distance and thats why it could have been moved to Thurles. I don't see too much of an iaaue with fans potentially only arriving home at 11.30 at night. Yes its late but is that really a major problem?? Dublin/Cork/Kerry/Westmeath crowd too big for anywhere but CP.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 20/07/2015 16:07:08    1756482

Agree Carrick or Sligo would have done the job for Donegal v Galway. McHale park was a non runner though, it was a disgrace we had to travel there in 2003. Its quicker to get to Dublin that Castlebar from most parts of Donegal.

Croke Park is good for us I think. it'll give us a lift after Sunday's let down.

Cupotay (Donegal) - Posts: 31 - 20/07/2015 16:18:46    1756489

Mollymalone
County: Dublin
Posts: 1109

1756471
Well what I dont quite comprehend is why all of a sudden since last year did they decide to play final round qualifiers in Croke Park? Every other year the Sat and Sun of the August bank holiday were quarter final days in Croker, is it that the qualifier games now originally begin a week later??? Im baffled but its a bad decision , all qualifier games should be finished next weekend and leave HQ free strictly for AI quarters and yes much better prospect of very decent crowds and athmosphere....As a Dub Im privilidged to have such close access to Croke Park but for those travelling from various parts of the country its unfair and very expensive...

Think it was this way last year as well? I could be wrong but did Meath Armagh and then Monaghan Kildare play on the Saturday before the 1st quarterfinals with Monaghan back 7 days later after going to extra-time with Kildare to get a tanking from Dublin?

benched (Tyrone) - Posts: 534 - 20/07/2015 16:31:27    1756500

Croke Park is the place to be in August not Carrick or any place else

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1196 - 20/07/2015 16:40:59    1756514

I'm in Galway that weekend for a bit of racing so it didn't matter to me.
I'd say there might be a bit of craic! Where would be good to watch the game?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 20/07/2015 16:42:34    1756517

The number of people against these venues says it all.
Only Ormond thinks its a good choice but his county is not involved so it wont cost him anything.
Totally ridiculous.
As someone else said
Sligo and Tyrone will have little support, Sligo because they will have little hope and Tyrone because they will see it as a formality(rightly or wrongly).
Likewise Galway fans havent got behind their team as yet. They remain to be convinced. Take in the races too.
Donegal will hardly be full of optimism either and a long journey.
Lucky if they get much over 10,000.
Carrick and Ballybofey/Clones would have been ideal venues.
SKY keep getting some very bad matches too by the way.
In reality Donegal v Galway will be the only one of the four remaining qualifiers to create any excitement n the build up.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 20/07/2015 16:44:36    1756520

MaroonDiesel, croker may be the place to play in August, but believe me it is the most hateful place to watch a game when there is virtually nobody there and their is no atmosphere. Someone said we'd be lucky to get 30,000 for the double header....30,000?!? I'd be surprised if we got anything over 10,000.

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 20/07/2015 16:57:54    1756533

Would it be the case that these matches being scheduled for Croke Park could be as a result of pressure from County Managers? These men have little regard for the time and expense incurred by traveling supporters. They are only concerned about playing matches in Croke Park so their players get experience there.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 20/07/2015 16:58:59    1756536

There no use in complaining where are games are being played. The way the GAA leadership has gone now they have no felling about the supporters who make the efforts to travel to these matches. I would not like to be bringing a family to matches now. Ticket prices, fuel, food, a programme if you can afford it not much change out of €500 for a family of four if you where traveling from Derrybeg Donegal, Dingle Kerry, Cathersiveen Cork, or Clifden Galway. And to add insult to the GAA Faithful these matches have been sold to Sky. How many people in the counties that are now left in the football/hurling championship have SKY. Very few I am sure. Hopefully the supports will speak with their actions and stay at home no disrespect to the players involved who I am sure would love to play in front of a capacity crowd.
Badger Dublin.

hoppy7 (Dublin) - Posts: 3 - 20/07/2015 17:39:24    1756570

The teams involved were irrelevant to the fixing of the qualifiers in Croke Park , it was on a schedule from Croke Park distributed to staff early this year that R4 qualifiers would be played on Sat 1st Aug.

Mooresmaid (Meath) - Posts: 4 - 20/07/2015 17:46:14    1756578