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Attendances 2024

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "9,117 in Castlebar, 7,692 Salthill, "a little over 8k" in Kilkarney."
I think this will be a continued theme throughout the course of this group stage. People are generally looking down in these group games like they are National league games. With 12 counties qualifiying out of 16 to knockout phase, and lets be frank, you could probably predict with relative confidence which 12 teams will progress from the groups which leads to people not attending these games knowing their counties will almost certainly have a knockout game (or games) in late June and July which they will wait for to attend.
I was in Killarney yesterday and whilst the crowd was disappointing, it was not a surprise as:
1) Kerry were 1/8 to beat Monaghan.
2) Kerry were almost certain to qualify from the group before a ball was kicked.
3) There was NOBODY talking about the game in Kerry since they beat Clare which lead me to believe that people had no interest in the game and they were waiting for other games down the line.

I would have had Derry and Galway down as a close game but I guess supporters of both counties would have thought that they would surely still be in the top 3 of the group (no offence to Westmeath) at the end. Led to an attendance of under 8k.

The GAA have got this wrong, too many teams in Sam Maguire. Probably should be 3 tiers. 12 (with 8 qualifying for QF's) a Sam Maguire competition. 4 groups of 3 (1 home and 1 away game), top 2 qualify where a 1st placed team vs a 2nd placed team in QF's. 4 provincial champions, last years Tailteann Cup winners and next best 7 ranked teams from the league. That would be your 12.

Another 12 (next best 12 ranked from league) in the Tailteann Cup and the remainder in a 3rd tier competition as we saw what happened to Waterford vs Kildare yesterday and thats just one example.

There's a big gap between the top ranked sides in these competitions and the bottom ranked sides and it leads to people not interested in the games.

AnFear16 (Kerry) - Posts: 40 - 19/05/2024 09:43:44    2545500

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Replying To AnFear16:  "I think this will be a continued theme throughout the course of this group stage. People are generally looking down in these group games like they are National league games. With 12 counties qualifiying out of 16 to knockout phase, and lets be frank, you could probably predict with relative confidence which 12 teams will progress from the groups which leads to people not attending these games knowing their counties will almost certainly have a knockout game (or games) in late June and July which they will wait for to attend.
I was in Killarney yesterday and whilst the crowd was disappointing, it was not a surprise as:
1) Kerry were 1/8 to beat Monaghan.
2) Kerry were almost certain to qualify from the group before a ball was kicked.
3) There was NOBODY talking about the game in Kerry since they beat Clare which lead me to believe that people had no interest in the game and they were waiting for other games down the line.

I would have had Derry and Galway down as a close game but I guess supporters of both counties would have thought that they would surely still be in the top 3 of the group (no offence to Westmeath) at the end. Led to an attendance of under 8k.

The GAA have got this wrong, too many teams in Sam Maguire. Probably should be 3 tiers. 12 (with 8 qualifying for QF's) a Sam Maguire competition. 4 groups of 3 (1 home and 1 away game), top 2 qualify where a 1st placed team vs a 2nd placed team in QF's. 4 provincial champions, last years Tailteann Cup winners and next best 7 ranked teams from the league. That would be your 12.

Another 12 (next best 12 ranked from league) in the Tailteann Cup and the remainder in a 3rd tier competition as we saw what happened to Waterford vs Kildare yesterday and thats just one example.

There's a big gap between the top ranked sides in these competitions and the bottom ranked sides and it leads to people not interested in the games."
Mainly attended by the NFL regulars.
The big day eventers, pitch invaders etc won't be attending group games.
Around 27k at yesterday's 4 games.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2348 - 19/05/2024 11:03:27    2545527

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Replying To AnFear16:  "I think this will be a continued theme throughout the course of this group stage. People are generally looking down in these group games like they are National league games. With 12 counties qualifiying out of 16 to knockout phase, and lets be frank, you could probably predict with relative confidence which 12 teams will progress from the groups which leads to people not attending these games knowing their counties will almost certainly have a knockout game (or games) in late June and July which they will wait for to attend.
I was in Killarney yesterday and whilst the crowd was disappointing, it was not a surprise as:
1) Kerry were 1/8 to beat Monaghan.
2) Kerry were almost certain to qualify from the group before a ball was kicked.
3) There was NOBODY talking about the game in Kerry since they beat Clare which lead me to believe that people had no interest in the game and they were waiting for other games down the line.

I would have had Derry and Galway down as a close game but I guess supporters of both counties would have thought that they would surely still be in the top 3 of the group (no offence to Westmeath) at the end. Led to an attendance of under 8k.

The GAA have got this wrong, too many teams in Sam Maguire. Probably should be 3 tiers. 12 (with 8 qualifying for QF's) a Sam Maguire competition. 4 groups of 3 (1 home and 1 away game), top 2 qualify where a 1st placed team vs a 2nd placed team in QF's. 4 provincial champions, last years Tailteann Cup winners and next best 7 ranked teams from the league. That would be your 12.

Another 12 (next best 12 ranked from league) in the Tailteann Cup and the remainder in a 3rd tier competition as we saw what happened to Waterford vs Kildare yesterday and thats just one example.

There's a big gap between the top ranked sides in these competitions and the bottom ranked sides and it leads to people not interested in the games."
I was surprised at the small attendance initially in Pearase stadium for the fixture of the group but when you think about it, Galway have played 3 games in Connacht which included a trip to London and extortionate ticket prices for the other two games thanks to the Connacht Council. They know they will qualifiy from the group and have at least 3-4 more games after the Derry game. People aren't made of money.

MachaireConnacht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1000 - 19/05/2024 12:01:07    2545540

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "9,117 in Castlebar, 7,692 Salthill, "a little over 8k" in Kilkarney."
These group game no where near as attractive to supporters as Provincial finals are but journalists and pundits wants to either scrap the provincial championship or play them before the league which would make them pre-season?

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 462 - 19/05/2024 12:09:33    2545543

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "9,117 in Castlebar, 7,692 Salthill, "a little over 8k" in Kilkarney."
Very poor crowd in McHale park… Where were all the great Mayo supporters… ? Has the nonsense of it all finally sunk in…?

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3948 - 19/05/2024 12:09:50    2545544

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Replying To MachaireConnacht:  "I was surprised at the small attendance initially in Pearase stadium for the fixture of the group but when you think about it, Galway have played 3 games in Connacht which included a trip to London and extortionate ticket prices for the other two games thanks to the Connacht Council. They know they will qualifiy from the group and have at least 3-4 more games after the Derry game. People aren't made of money."
Yes and Connacht playing in the Sportsground at the same time in the URC didn't help. The lack of do or die in the groups or not having a situation of only two qualifying for instance will take from the crowds.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1973 - 19/05/2024 12:47:42    2545551

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Very poor crowd in McHale park… Where were all the great Mayo supporters… ? Has the nonsense of it all finally sunk in…?"
Look on the bright side, youse won the Scottish premiership,

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3569 - 19/05/2024 13:00:11    2545556

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Look on the bright side, youse won the Scottish premiership,"
I don't think many Dublin fans would have been travelling to Castlebar… they won't go to their own games..,

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3948 - 19/05/2024 13:05:44    2545558

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "I don't think many Dublin fans would have been travelling to Castlebar… they won't go to their own games..,"
The average attendance for Dublin league games is over 20,000.

There were as many Dubs in Cavan for an utterly meaningless game against Sligo last year as there were Cavan people at the Cavan v Tyrone game. Which was in Cavan, which is full of Cavan people.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3569 - 19/05/2024 13:35:02    2545569

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Look on the bright side, youse won the Scottish premiership,"
I don't think many Dublin fans would have been travelling to Castlebar… they won't go to their own games..,

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3948 - 19/05/2024 14:17:56    2545576

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Look on the bright side, youse won the Scottish premiership,"
Seeing as you didn't bother going to the lensteir final in dublin. I don't think you can talk about cavan people not travelling to mayo to watch a group stage game...

Lúla571210 (Louth) - Posts: 122 - 19/05/2024 15:14:01    2545588

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Very poor crowd in McHale park… Where were all the great Mayo supporters… ? Has the nonsense of it all finally sunk in…?"
What sort of a mean spirited post is this? Why have a go at Mayo fans with the sarcastic "great Mayo supporters"? What axe do you have to grind here? What "nonsense" are you talking about? Where were all the Cavan fans?

the_walls (Mayo) - Posts: 497 - 19/05/2024 15:42:48    2545591

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Very nearly 19 800 + in clare today for an amazing match.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 19/05/2024 15:45:01    2545594

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Replying To Lúla571210:  "Seeing as you didn't bother going to the lensteir final in dublin. I don't think you can talk about cavan people not travelling to mayo to watch a group stage game..."
I was at two county games that week. And a club game that morning. Hurling. Don't think Dundalk or the Drogs play it so you might not be familiar with it.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3569 - 19/05/2024 16:00:29    2545596

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Replying To the_walls:  "What sort of a mean spirited post is this? Why have a go at Mayo fans with the sarcastic "great Mayo supporters"? What axe do you have to grind here? What "nonsense" are you talking about? Where were all the Cavan fans?"
No axe to grind… I am complementing the Mayo supporters who always turn out in great numbers but even they can see that most of these group games are a load of nonsense and are not going to waste money on them and they are right too…

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3948 - 19/05/2024 18:12:11    2545635

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44,000 at Tipperary v Cork
19,800 at Clare v Waterford

dingle82 (Down) - Posts: 231 - 19/05/2024 21:52:03    2545718

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "The Biffs love a bandwagon"
Same Bandwagon that ran over you a few years in the under 20 football all Ireland final! lol

ke40 (Kildare) - Posts: 214 - 20/05/2024 18:42:07    2545979

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "No axe to grind… I am complementing the Mayo supporters who always turn out in great numbers but even they can see that most of these group games are a load of nonsense and are not going to waste money on them and they are right too…"
Ah,sure then just have an All Ireland final between Kerry and Dublin. Forget about the prelimarys. Or maybe have a Tailteann cup final before it with Cavan and Westmeath.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 557 - 20/05/2024 19:12:35    2545985

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Ah,sure then just have an All Ireland final between Kerry and Dublin. Forget about the prelimarys. Or maybe have a Tailteann cup final before it with Cavan and Westmeath."
He has a point in fairness.
12 teams qualifying out of 16 is just plain silly.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 20/05/2024 20:44:07    2545996

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Replying To Galway9801:  "He has a point in fairness.
12 teams qualifying out of 16 is just plain silly."
Absolute nonsense. Nobody really cares what happens until quarter finals. A group of death should see a big team knocked out but persisting with this means teams don't need to throw everything at the group.

johncreilly (Sligo) - Posts: 160 - 21/05/2024 15:21:48    2546180

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