I was at the Wolfe Tones v Summerhill game in Athboy at the weekend. I thought the whole set-up in Athboy was a disgrace, and I wonder how such Grounds were given a Senior Championship game?! 1) There was very few parking spaces inside. They blocked off the large parking area behind the goals for some reason. This resulted in people parking hundreds of yards outside the grounds in housing estates and along the roadside. 2) The pitch was full of daisies and dandelions, so the pitch may not have been cut for about a week before the game. 3) The goal nets weren't attached to the goals. This resulted in a 5 or 6 minute delay during the 1st half and they had to get a young supporter in to tie the net to the crossbar! (incidentally the 5 or 6 minutes weren't added on by the referee) 4) The above mentioned referee. Probably nothing to do with the venue (unless he is from Athboy?) but he was atrocious for both sides. 5) The dressing rooms. I was a neutral at the game but I know the Athboy dressing-rooms are only big enough to fit at most 15 adults in. Each squad usually has to use 2 of the dressing rooms, dividing their team. 6) Security - I have just heard that one of the dressing-rooms was robbed during the game! Wallets, watches, money, etc. Were the dressing rooms locked? Was there any kind of security to prevent this?? 6 valid points to make you wonder why Athboy was chosen to host this important Championship match. Who decides on the venues and why are some chosen over others??!

wideasagate (Meath) - Posts: 140 - 17/06/2009 13:37:21    314679

I agree, Athboy is not the only venue where this happens. They get nice money from the gate takings so more of an effort should be made by clubs hosting championshiop games.

bennycake21 (Meath) - Posts: 102 - 17/06/2009 15:06:06    314810

the dressing rooms in athboy are too small alright.
I was at ballinlough and cortown on sat nite in kells, despite the heavy rain de pitch was immaculate. A great playing surface and the goal posts were shining, and a very visible electric scoreboard not like athboy. Surely should get more games

kingkev (Meath) - Posts: 23 - 17/06/2009 17:01:40    314985

RE:Wideasagate

Just a few points to reply to your last post.
1: The area at the back of the goals is being developed as an underage and training pitch so parking cars there would not do the surface any good.
2: The pitch had been cut on the previous Friday, two days before the game, daisies can pop up overnight. Regardless, I've never heard of a daisy affecting a footballers performance, maybe it puts off the Summerhill lads, I don't know.
3:Security, the dressing rooms had been locked as they always are in Athboy, however one of the team physios got the keys and neglected to relock them after they vacated the room.
4:There are many venues throughout Meath where you will see cars parked up streets while big matches are being played, the most obvious one being our very own Pairc tailteann.
5:The one thing I will apologise for is the nets, that unfortunately was an oversight and I can guarantee you it is the exception and not the rule.
The Key thing here is that it is very important that the county board keep spreading these big games around the county, I understand that a small element of snobbery has crept into Meath Gaa and if they had their way games would only be held in the major venues such as Don/Ash, Navan, Trim, Kells but if that were to happen it would be just another nail in the coffin of the rural Gaa club. Clan na Gael, like many other clubs, are at the moment trying to develop and upgrade their facilities and starving them of these games would only be detrimental to such a plan.

hootervillian (Meath) - Posts: 309 - 17/06/2009 22:10:25    315326

i agree 100% with the athboy pitch, one more point - the dugouts on the far side of the field is very dangerous. the dugout itself has a platform of about 4ft and worse again it is very close to the line. Its only a matter of time someone will get injured. for a club that was awarded club of the year two years ago, these things should be sorted out.

summerof09 (Meath) - Posts: 327 - 18/06/2009 00:37:51    315521

Hootervillian: For a Town Club its a very poor effort. I think we've hit a nerve here with you on this one, but dont try to defend the poor effort from your club Athboy last week, just go and do something about it, although I doubt they will get another SFC game now, especially after the Referee's desperate performance.

And MOW the grass for gods sake.

Alias (Tipperary) - Posts: 463 - 18/06/2009 10:51:56    315655

in my opinion athboy is a disgrace of a grounds!!! simple as played the first round of the senior hurling championship here this year nd had to warm up behind the pitch on the so called training pitch. the surface was that bad lads had to be careful not to injure themselves before the game. it was impossible to play hurling on it never mind football. referee had to throw the ball in on numerous occasions which stopped the free flow of the game. the place isnt even sign posted either.

wudubelieveit (Meath) - Posts: 24 - 18/06/2009 14:42:53    315976

Agree with the original post - dressing rooms in Athboy are far too small for senior championship and the surface was a disgrace. But its not just Athboy, the same problems exist in other senior championship games.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2003 - 18/06/2009 15:22:04    316018

Okladsts compile a list of the top GAA grounds and surfaces in the county...for the record here is my list, in no particular order:
Páirc Tailteann
Simonstown
Ratoath
Ashbourne
Dunshaughlin
Seneschalstown(on non-windy days!)
Kells
Donore

updaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 1132 - 18/06/2009 15:42:01    316047

Alias, what has the standard of refereeing got to do with the grounds, I know that the original poster mentioned it but I chose not to touch on that because there is nothing, as a club, we can do about the performance of a ref, which by the way I'm told wasn't that bad. Still all stinks to me of a sour Summerhill campaign where first they blame the ref and then it's the dandelions putting them off. How big exactly were they, they must have been the size of sunflowers.
I will concede that the dressing rooms were badly designed, however you must be a very pampered lot, next it'll be that the water was too hot and burned your sensitive skin. Women wouldn't be as bad.

hootervillian (Meath) - Posts: 309 - 18/06/2009 15:46:50    316055

Its easier to name the worst grounds used in the County for Senior Football.Athboy and Duleek I`d say.Neither would be too bad if they cut the grass.

The Brickie (None) - Posts: 208 - 18/06/2009 16:35:40    316129

Kells/Donore ... You're having a laugh right ????

BoscoFrench (Meath) - Posts: 43 - 18/06/2009 17:07:03    316174

The pitch in donore has to be one of the best surfaces in the county?

clubm (Meath) - Posts: 87 - 18/06/2009 18:04:15    316244

Maybe Summerhill could play their next few championship games on the first fairway in the K club. There'd hardly be any of those scary big dandelions there to trip ur there footballers.

hootervillian (Meath) - Posts: 309 - 18/06/2009 18:14:01    316248

In reply to 'upderoyal's comment.............i think its typical snobbery case that has crept into Meath GAA. South meath man clearly. Not one north meath club mentioned with the exemption of kells as it is one of the most necglected football pitches around. Moynaltys footbal pitch is without a dout one of the best fottball pitches in meath,along with other great conditioned pitches such as Kilmanhamwood,St.MichaeLs,Nobber and so fourth.

michaels_lad (Meath) - Posts: 33 - 18/06/2009 18:27:14    316266

Hav to disagree on St. Michaels and Nobber. St. Michaels is like a building site at the moment. The have big plans for developing a terrace etc, which is all very well and best of luck to them with that, but at the moment the grounds are in a poor state. Dressing rooms leave a lot to desire too. Nobber has a decent playing surface but the dressing rooms are a disaster

CommitteeeeMan (Meath) - Posts: 153 - 18/06/2009 19:38:01    316354

In all fairness Dunsany have superb facilities all round (Pitch, Dressing rooms, showers etc). Where K Wood and Nobber fall down is dressing rooms. Seneschalstown dressing rooms (new ones) are excellent and Kilberry has improved greatly over the past while. Athboy is a joke full stop and Sean Newman is a fine place but dressing rooms are too tight.

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1507 - 18/06/2009 19:49:45    316361

moynalty, allenstown and st. michaels grounds are well up there.

rocknroyal (Meath) - Posts: 308 - 18/06/2009 19:54:57    316366

Kilmainhamwood, Meath Hill, Nobber & Carlanstown are as good as any in the county.

bennyblanco (Meath) - Posts: 579 - 18/06/2009 20:16:38    316388

michaels_lad, I was giving my opinion of pitches I've played on recently, last time I played in Moynalty it was summer time and the mud was coming over the top of my boots! And it was a dry summer! There is no snobbery in my comments whatsoever. Donore has a great surface which is why I mentioned it, dressing rooms aren't the best. Kells has a lovely surface. Dunsany is a wet pitch in my opinion especially at the clubhouse end which is why I didn't put it in there. Trim's new facility by the way has the potential to be one of the best around too when its finished!

updaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 1132 - 18/06/2009 20:21:45    316399