http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=245513

At long last the GAA have finally saw the light and realised that all must come to a stop when a big gaa game is on. People watch a multitude of sports these days and thankfully the GAA are allowing people the chance to watch their country in a massive game and then head out to their county finals. Over the years there has been an arrogant stance taken by county boards and provincial councils. Fine example of this was in 2011 when an Ulster championship game between Down and Armagh was played at the exact same time as United played Barca in the champions league. I ended up watching the gaelic but i would have liked the opportunity to watch both.
Have the GAA finally realised that they don't need to have sole monopoly on peoples sporting interests?

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 13/10/2015 10:41:50    1798264

The GAA are doing this for their supporters who may want to watch the rugby. It is a nice gesture. Obviously the rugby world cup cannot be moved.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 13/10/2015 11:13:48    1798277

well in certain circumstances yes i agree but the drastic levels in meath are ridiculous 8 days more waiting is not fair on players and only found out yesterday morning

srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 13/10/2015 11:19:55    1798279

True, but that works both ways.

Anyone who has (i) been part of a GAA club and (ii) been on official in a county Limerick soccer club will know how hard it was to have soccer games moved to facilitate lads watching the All-Ireland final.

I once had to make that phone call to a fixtures secretary (now departed) who said to me 'We can't move every game for the country sides because ye are all milking cows and watching the All Ireland Final', before laughing heartily and changing the fixture for us.

Good thinking from the GAA on this one. Moving games doesn't mean the GAA game is less important, it just means people like different sports.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 13/10/2015 11:27:34    1798287

I agree with moving the fixtures for sporting events involving Irish teams, but why would any game have been changed for a soccer match involving Spainish and English teams.

JuniorbAllstar (Donegal) - Posts: 9 - 13/10/2015 12:06:26    1798302

Thinking the exact same thing myself JuniorBdonegal, but I suppose if a person is from Fermanagh they are quite entitled to think like a Brit!!

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1902 - 13/10/2015 12:34:48    1798314

Ah here now Gotmilk,
There's a big difference moving a game to suit a TV audience when the Irish rugby team are playing and moving an intercounty championship match because two soccer francises are playing for the coca cola, mastercard pirelli Smithwicks beer cup.

I wouldn't be bending over backwards to appease these sorts of fans.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 13/10/2015 12:39:19    1798317

indáiríre pool sturgeon? An bhfuil fhadhb agat le cluiche seachas peil gaelach no immonaiacht?

Anyway back to the topic at hand. Those clubs have massive followings throughout the world. Why would the citizens of this nation be exempt from following an English or Spanish side? The world is now a smaller place and access to these games is everywhere. County boards have actually shown progressive thinking here. The craic in Meath is a bit daft though. Why not just delay it by a few hours? I assume Navan has floodlights?

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 13/10/2015 13:46:45    1798362

navan had to take the floodlights down, the clubs were only notified on monday morning of the offical change depite it being on the meath page of the HS and local papers facebook page they had a golden oppurtunity to have a double header on the saturday with the meath IHC final replay and the junior fiinal but opted to have the hurling seperate
they have a track record in meath for making a mess of fixtures

srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 13/10/2015 14:45:40    1798397

The reason for the late switch was because if Ireland had lost to France they would of been out on Saturday.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 13/10/2015 15:13:37    1798412

I hope United return the gesture

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 19/10/2015 12:58:24    1800150

Apparently, the Ireland game was scheduled for 1pm to make room for the X Factor on ITV later yesterday evening.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 19/10/2015 17:43:05    1800308