I know there's a 1916 commeration on after the finals so it's not a relevant argument for this year but if the fixtures this year were the finals under normal circumstances I think the these games could be played at provincial venes rather than croke park which usually gets around 35 or 40 thousand for the division 1 final if Dublin are involved

I was thinking if you could have played Antrim v Louth and Tyrone v Cavan as a double header in clones on the Saturday and Kildare v Clare and Kerry v Dublin in thurles on the Sunday,it's not really fair Dublin play every national final on their home venue and Kerry supporters have a such a long travel

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 10/04/2016 19:54:52    1844032

As much as some people would like to see the league finals moved around the country the primary reason it won't happen is that the GAA have sold premium tickets and corporate boxes on the basis that the buyer will get to see all the league finals as part of the deal

AHP (Dublin) - Posts: 323 - 10/04/2016 20:23:19    1844053

I take it the premium seats our about the only thing that sells out for the league final then

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 10/04/2016 20:29:16    1844057

Yeh Thurles would be great for the Dublin/Kerry game!

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 10/04/2016 20:37:50    1844061

I would keep the division 1 and 2 finals in croker, as with Dublin involved, you can justify having the game there. I don't get the logic of playing the division 3 and 4 finals in an 80,000 stadium, when you are going to get extremely small crowds. I would give home advantage to the team that finished top of the division.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1653 - 10/04/2016 20:51:32    1844075

I like the games being at HQ. I'll get to see Antrim play a final in Croker, the players who have worked hard to get here get rewarded with a game at the top ground in the country.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 10/04/2016 21:32:48    1844100

This age old argument.

Ask the players involved where they want to play then comeback to us

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 11/04/2016 08:23:54    1844124

The team that finished top of Div 3 and 4 and possibly 2 should have home advantage for the final. The underused county grounds around the country deserve it more than CP. It also rewards teams for finishing top.
Croke Park wasn't built to give poor teams a patronising 'run out'. It was built to accommodate for our biggest occasions.
Odd how no one ever thinks the Divinsion 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B finals in hurling should be in CP.

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 11/04/2016 08:48:14    1844130

Louth beat Westmeath in the division 3 final in 2011, and I think the attendance was 8,000. It was great to see us winning a trophy, but playing in a virtually empty stadium, wasn't great for atmosphere. In contrast, I remember us beating Donegal in 2006, in the old division 2 final, and that was in Breffini, the atmosphere was brilliant. There are plenty of grounds, other than croker that are under used, and could host the division 4 and 3 finals.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1653 - 11/04/2016 16:33:17    1844374

yes they should be taken out of croker definitly. a smaller ground full with around 20k would be a great atmosphere, id say us fans from leinster are more happy to get out of croker these days. its a place we now assoicaite with terrible atmospheres and the annual hammering from dublin. theres very little time i have a positive experience playing in croker anymore, can actually be a very boring day out

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 687 - 11/04/2016 16:54:35    1844385

Ask the players involved where they want to play then comeback to us

+1 especially for the lower divisions,

coopersleftfoot (Kerry) - Posts: 91 - 11/04/2016 16:58:21    1844388

Exactly Coopers. Very well said.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 11/04/2016 17:06:55    1844395

I take it the premium seats our about the only thing that sells out for the league final then
SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts:613 - 10/04/2016 20:29:16 1844057

I'm not suggesting that the premium seats are the only ones that sell out for the league finals, but I am saying is that if the GAA sell these tickets with the promise of league finals included in the package they can't really move the games elsewhere and expect no backlash from ticket holders.

AHP (Dublin) - Posts: 323 - 11/04/2016 20:40:36    1844452

I suppose they have to honour what they sold to customers but it doesn't take away from the fact that that they'll be sitting up there looking down at empty seats and the sound of minor crowd echo. Lets be honest both Dublin and Kerry have bigger priorities ahead and their fans know this. A neutral venue in a stadium half the size in future years would be sufficient and might create a bit of atmosphere, that's all.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 12/04/2016 08:54:06    1844497

SaffronDon

i think you will be very surprised by the attendance at the final
tickets are selling extremly fast all day yesterday.
the upper cusack is already two thirds sold
and the nally terrace is on sale already which is usually a sign the hill has only so many tickets left.
looks set to break the 60 thousand attendance from the 1993 final between dublin v donegal.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 12/04/2016 09:54:39    1844516

Croke is the national stadium I think it is great for the likes of Clare and Antrim footballers getting to play in croker. For the likes of Meath and Louth who get into croker just by getting out of bed may not mean as much. If you consider the crowd size alone then you would about 5 or 6 games in croker. You would probably be playing in front of a smaller crowd in Cavan then u would croker which would still be a poor atmosphere.

ros1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1211 - 12/04/2016 11:20:01    1844577

I hope so Hill, we shall see

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 12/04/2016 11:22:12    1844581

Is it fair that a schoolboy in dublin could give up football aged 12 yet he could have played in croker more than a footballer who might have played 20 years intercounty football. Sunday week should be a good day

ros1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1211 - 12/04/2016 11:23:26    1844583

Croke Park wasn't built to give poor teams a patronising 'run out'. It was built to accommodate for our biggest occasions.
Odd how no one ever thinks the Divinsion 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B finals in hurling should be in CP.

Says who?

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 12/04/2016 12:54:38    1844669