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Will The Gaa Game Ever Recover To What It Was Like

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Replying To Viking66:  "It does depend who gets to the finals in any given year. There were over 60000 at the Leinster hurling final in 2017 for example. There were around 62000 at the AISF between Tipp and Wexford in 2019. Kilkenny as a county doesn't have a big population. And their fans usually only turn up if they make an AIF. Some of the lads there are more inclined to go to a club hurling final, even a relegation final, than intercounty games.
The fact that there are so many football games has affected football attendances this year too, some of which were really poorly attended. There were only a handful of spectators for Wexford v Carlow in the Leinster Championship, probably not even a thousand, yet the same 2 counties had over 8000 for their Leinster Championship meeting in hurling. There were less than 22000 at the Leinster Football Championship SF double header. Are you including that as one of your 3 games with more than 15000?"
You make a lot of fair points about the counties who make the games in the Liam McCarthy. . Some counties don't pull big crowds Kilkenny being a case in point. Cork when they get on a roll draw huge crowds. Wexford pull big crowds as well. That crowd of 60,000 at the Leinster Final between Galway and Wexford in 2017 is the largest attendance at a provincial hurling final in the history of the GAA. The Munster boys won't like to hear that. I can remember being in Croke Park for both Leinster and Ulster Finals that attracted crowds of 82,300 and 69,500 respectively. It is extremely sad to see that the Leinster Senior Football Championship has been destroyed as a result of the GAA's hugely preferential treatment of Dublin for the last two decades. Yes one of the attendances I was alluding to was the semi final double bill. That attendance shouldn't be included. It still leaves the 11 game Leinster football championship with two attendances in excess of 15,000. Competitiveness is a key component when it comes to the size of attendances and competitiveness in the Leinster football championship has been destroyed. The GAA have a sin to answer for. You make a valid point about the attendances at the Wexford v Carlow matches in both football and hurling. Having said that there were only 2,500 at the Leinster hurling championship match between Wexford and Westmeath last year in Wexford Park when Westmeath won. There were only 9,500 in Wexford Park last year for Wexford's do or die survival battle v Kilkenny.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6118 - 21/06/2024 17:47:54    2553484

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Replying To Greengrass:  "You make a lot of fair points about the counties who make the games in the Liam McCarthy. . Some counties don't pull big crowds Kilkenny being a case in point. Cork when they get on a roll draw huge crowds. Wexford pull big crowds as well. That crowd of 60,000 at the Leinster Final between Galway and Wexford in 2017 is the largest attendance at a provincial hurling final in the history of the GAA. The Munster boys won't like to hear that. I can remember being in Croke Park for both Leinster and Ulster Finals that attracted crowds of 82,300 and 69,500 respectively. It is extremely sad to see that the Leinster Senior Football Championship has been destroyed as a result of the GAA's hugely preferential treatment of Dublin for the last two decades. Yes one of the attendances I was alluding to was the semi final double bill. That attendance shouldn't be included. It still leaves the 11 game Leinster football championship with two attendances in excess of 15,000. Competitiveness is a key component when it comes to the size of attendances and competitiveness in the Leinster football championship has been destroyed. The GAA have a sin to answer for. You make a valid point about the attendances at the Wexford v Carlow matches in both football and hurling. Having said that there were only 2,500 at the Leinster hurling championship match between Wexford and Westmeath last year in Wexford Park when Westmeath won. There were only 9,500 in Wexford Park last year for Wexford's do or die survival battle v Kilkenny."
Like every other county we have our fair share of bandwaggoners Greengrass!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13490 - 21/06/2024 21:50:32    2553517

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Replying To Greengrass:  "You make a lot of fair points about the counties who make the games in the Liam McCarthy. . Some counties don't pull big crowds Kilkenny being a case in point. Cork when they get on a roll draw huge crowds. Wexford pull big crowds as well. That crowd of 60,000 at the Leinster Final between Galway and Wexford in 2017 is the largest attendance at a provincial hurling final in the history of the GAA. The Munster boys won't like to hear that. I can remember being in Croke Park for both Leinster and Ulster Finals that attracted crowds of 82,300 and 69,500 respectively. It is extremely sad to see that the Leinster Senior Football Championship has been destroyed as a result of the GAA's hugely preferential treatment of Dublin for the last two decades. Yes one of the attendances I was alluding to was the semi final double bill. That attendance shouldn't be included. It still leaves the 11 game Leinster football championship with two attendances in excess of 15,000. Competitiveness is a key component when it comes to the size of attendances and competitiveness in the Leinster football championship has been destroyed. The GAA have a sin to answer for. You make a valid point about the attendances at the Wexford v Carlow matches in both football and hurling. Having said that there were only 2,500 at the Leinster hurling championship match between Wexford and Westmeath last year in Wexford Park when Westmeath won. There were only 9,500 in Wexford Park last year for Wexford's do or die survival battle v Kilkenny."
That 9,500 is not accurate for Wexford park. Nobody knows how many were in it. They opened the gates before throw in.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3068 - 21/06/2024 22:10:55    2553520

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The skill level is so much higher than before that it will never return to what it once was. You can't defend like you did back then because you would concede a crazy score against a modern forward line.

If you watch the 77 semi-final between Kerry and Dublin. Consider the two greatest teams ever at the time. It becomes obvious immediately. Half the players can barely solo the ball. The concept of being able to use your weak foot doesn't exist they can't even solo off their weak foot. People claim handpassing isn't a skill. It becomes obvious it is when you watch how poor it is back then that it is a skill. The shooting is also god awful. The kick passing is insanely inaccurate compared to today. Most the players on the pitch haven't a clue how to take on their man.

The fielding of a high ball might be the only skill that's better than today. The fielding of low balls is horrific compared to today though. The level of fitness is also way lower.

The quality of footballers and coaches has increased so much that kind of football is never going to return.

Sssthe (Mayo) - Posts: 58 - 22/06/2024 00:27:33    2553530

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Replying To Sssthe:  "The skill level is so much higher than before that it will never return to what it once was. You can't defend like you did back then because you would concede a crazy score against a modern forward line.

If you watch the 77 semi-final between Kerry and Dublin. Consider the two greatest teams ever at the time. It becomes obvious immediately. Half the players can barely solo the ball. The concept of being able to use your weak foot doesn't exist they can't even solo off their weak foot. People claim handpassing isn't a skill. It becomes obvious it is when you watch how poor it is back then that it is a skill. The shooting is also god awful. The kick passing is insanely inaccurate compared to today. Most the players on the pitch haven't a clue how to take on their man.

The fielding of a high ball might be the only skill that's better than today. The fielding of low balls is horrific compared to today though. The level of fitness is also way lower.

The quality of footballers and coaches has increased so much that kind of football is never going to return."
At the end of the day people want to win matches. The way to do that is Keep possession and use it. It's happened in soccer too obviously.

Hurling is going the same, it's just not quite as detrimental.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3068 - 22/06/2024 07:36:06    2553537

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Replying To Greengrass:  "You make a lot of fair points about the counties who make the games in the Liam McCarthy. . Some counties don't pull big crowds Kilkenny being a case in point. Cork when they get on a roll draw huge crowds. Wexford pull big crowds as well. That crowd of 60,000 at the Leinster Final between Galway and Wexford in 2017 is the largest attendance at a provincial hurling final in the history of the GAA. The Munster boys won't like to hear that. I can remember being in Croke Park for both Leinster and Ulster Finals that attracted crowds of 82,300 and 69,500 respectively. It is extremely sad to see that the Leinster Senior Football Championship has been destroyed as a result of the GAA's hugely preferential treatment of Dublin for the last two decades. Yes one of the attendances I was alluding to was the semi final double bill. That attendance shouldn't be included. It still leaves the 11 game Leinster football championship with two attendances in excess of 15,000. Competitiveness is a key component when it comes to the size of attendances and competitiveness in the Leinster football championship has been destroyed. The GAA have a sin to answer for. You make a valid point about the attendances at the Wexford v Carlow matches in both football and hurling. Having said that there were only 2,500 at the Leinster hurling championship match between Wexford and Westmeath last year in Wexford Park when Westmeath won. There were only 9,500 in Wexford Park last year for Wexford's do or die survival battle v Kilkenny."
No Greengrass. The biggest crowd at a Provincial Final was 61,000 in Limerick in 1961. Tipp and Cork were the contestants.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4458 - 22/06/2024 08:06:34    2553542

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Replying To Sssthe:  "The skill level is so much higher than before that it will never return to what it once was. You can't defend like you did back then because you would concede a crazy score against a modern forward line.

If you watch the 77 semi-final between Kerry and Dublin. Consider the two greatest teams ever at the time. It becomes obvious immediately. Half the players can barely solo the ball. The concept of being able to use your weak foot doesn't exist they can't even solo off their weak foot. People claim handpassing isn't a skill. It becomes obvious it is when you watch how poor it is back then that it is a skill. The shooting is also god awful. The kick passing is insanely inaccurate compared to today. Most the players on the pitch haven't a clue how to take on their man.

The fielding of a high ball might be the only skill that's better than today. The fielding of low balls is horrific compared to today though. The level of fitness is also way lower.

The quality of footballers and coaches has increased so much that kind of football is never going to return."
100%
The best antidote to football nostalgia is to watch a 'classic' from the 1970s.
The first modern-looking match is probably the 1991 final Meath v Down.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1114 - 22/06/2024 08:17:31    2553544

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Replying To Greengrass:  "You make a lot of fair points about the counties who make the games in the Liam McCarthy. . Some counties don't pull big crowds Kilkenny being a case in point. Cork when they get on a roll draw huge crowds. Wexford pull big crowds as well. That crowd of 60,000 at the Leinster Final between Galway and Wexford in 2017 is the largest attendance at a provincial hurling final in the history of the GAA. The Munster boys won't like to hear that. I can remember being in Croke Park for both Leinster and Ulster Finals that attracted crowds of 82,300 and 69,500 respectively. It is extremely sad to see that the Leinster Senior Football Championship has been destroyed as a result of the GAA's hugely preferential treatment of Dublin for the last two decades. Yes one of the attendances I was alluding to was the semi final double bill. That attendance shouldn't be included. It still leaves the 11 game Leinster football championship with two attendances in excess of 15,000. Competitiveness is a key component when it comes to the size of attendances and competitiveness in the Leinster football championship has been destroyed. The GAA have a sin to answer for. You make a valid point about the attendances at the Wexford v Carlow matches in both football and hurling. Having said that there were only 2,500 at the Leinster hurling championship match between Wexford and Westmeath last year in Wexford Park when Westmeath won. There were only 9,500 in Wexford Park last year for Wexford's do or die survival battle v Kilkenny."
By the way which game in the Leinster hurling championship were you counting as 15000 plus? There were 35000 at the final which was a double header with the Joe Mac final, but 20000 of these weren't from Laois and Offaly?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13490 - 22/06/2024 08:33:11    2553547

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Replying To Viking66:  "And all the football crowds have been massive this year?"
Why do hurling fans always have to bring football into everything?

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1462 - 22/06/2024 09:03:23    2553551

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I'm not harking back to the 70s but I rewatched Kerry 1-15 Dublin 0-16 from 2007 recently, and it's light years ahead of the 2024 sport in terms of entertainment. Breathtaking intensity from the first whistle. Cluxton pinging every kickout down the middle for incredible duels. Brogan and Gooch providing the skill. No slow build up play. Deafening crowd noise.

Malonemagic (Laois) - Posts: 798 - 22/06/2024 10:25:24    2553569

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Why do you refer to it as the GAA game when you are specifically referring to Gaelic Football?
And when exactly was Gaelic Football great? I mean what period was Gaelic Football at its finest as opposed to great one off games? Was the game better as a spectacle when there was more contenders or was it just that that made it better? There are 2 threads to the topic...The game was better or the competition was better.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 708 - 22/06/2024 11:24:31    2553574

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Replying To ZUL10:  "Why do you refer to it as the GAA game when you are specifically referring to Gaelic Football?
And when exactly was Gaelic Football great? I mean what period was Gaelic Football at its finest as opposed to great one off games? Was the game better as a spectacle when there was more contenders or was it just that that made it better? There are 2 threads to the topic...The game was better or the competition was better."
As ever hurling fans are blind to the fact it's also an issue with their self proclaimed "Greatest game in the world"

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1462 - 22/06/2024 11:45:14    2553582

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Replying To Malonemagic:  "I'm not harking back to the 70s but I rewatched Kerry 1-15 Dublin 0-16 from 2007 recently, and it's light years ahead of the 2024 sport in terms of entertainment. Breathtaking intensity from the first whistle. Cluxton pinging every kickout down the middle for incredible duels. Brogan and Gooch providing the skill. No slow build up play. Deafening crowd noise."
Those were the days…. yet you still have fools on here who think the modern game is much better even though it would put you to sleep and you could hear a pin drop in half empty stadiums…

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 2841 - 22/06/2024 11:47:21    2553584

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Those were the days…. yet you still have fools on here who think the modern game is much better even though it would put you to sleep and you could hear a pin drop in half empty stadiums…"
Funny, I well remember the phrase "puke football" from that era. I can remember people complaining about football in the eighties when it was very often described as basketball. Complaining about football has been a national past time for as long as I can remember. We are blessed to have two great sports in the GAA. Enjoy them.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6118 - 22/06/2024 15:37:20    2553610

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Replying To Greengrass:  "Funny, I well remember the phrase "puke football" from that era. I can remember people complaining about football in the eighties when it was very often described as basketball. Complaining about football has been a national past time for as long as I can remember. We are blessed to have two great sports in the GAA. Enjoy them."
That term was used at the time but even " puke football " wouldn't cover the sort of rubbish that's been played at present… sure why else do you think nobody is going to matches…?

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 2841 - 22/06/2024 15:46:43    2553617

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "That term was used at the time but even " puke football " wouldn't cover the sort of rubbish that's been played at present… sure why else do you think nobody is going to matches…?"
Plenty of people going to matches. You be negative if you want. I enjoy both hurling and football. I'll be in Inniskeen tomorrow and I'm watching Tyrone v Roscommon now. Heading to the local to see Mayo and Derry. Great way to pass a weekend.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6118 - 22/06/2024 18:16:13    2553671

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When were the glory days?

Up to 1991 (Dublin v Meath saga), RTE showed 3 football and 3 hurling matches per year on TV

Up to that year, you were guaranteed the following

Hurling - Antrim would be cannon fodder in an All Ireland hurling semi (with 1 exception) and Galway would give it a craic in their first game of the summer.

Football - unless there was a Connacht v Ulster semi - the results were always going to end up in a Munster v Leinster all ireland final


1991-2000

Hurling - these were the glory years - Wexford, Galway, Clare, Offaly, Limerick - all up at the level of Tipp, Cork & Kilkenny

Football - Ulster rose from it's slumped followed by Connacht - no county retained the all Ireland for the entire decade

2000 - 2010

Hurling - Cork returned, followed by Kilkenny and destroyed the romance of the championship

Football - the qualifiers gave life to all weaker counties, but ultimately the all Ireland were won by two (Kerry & Tyrone).
The football was good and open with plenty of thrills and spills

2010 - 2020

Hurling

Kilkenny rule waned and it became a bit less predictable only to be replaced by Limerick

Football
Dublin got their act together and beat all comers, while Donegal's one win convinced 90% of managers that they should forget all they ever learned and stop trying to create scores - try not to make mistakes.
So while everyone went defensive, Dublin played to win and won at will.


So, I'm not sure when the glory days were

Maybe 93 to 2003 in hurling and 1991 to 2004 in football.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1176 - 23/06/2024 07:30:29    2553891

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Replying To Greengrass:  "Plenty of people going to matches. You be negative if you want. I enjoy both hurling and football. I'll be in Inniskeen tomorrow and I'm watching Tyrone v Roscommon now. Heading to the local to see Mayo and Derry. Great way to pass a weekend."
Mayo and Derry was a good match but the other 2 games were putrid ….unwatchable stuff… You keep kidding yourself…. matches are very poorly attended.. If Louth v Cork was going to attract a big crowd it wouldn't be in Iniskeen…

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 2841 - 23/06/2024 13:33:25    2554009

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If it becomes less defensive i.e. everyone behind ball, it will be a better sport than it ever was

hughieferm (Fermanagh) - Posts: 12 - 10/07/2024 16:22:54    2558239

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Hughiefer from Co Fermanagh

Tomsmith here

I know you have only 9 Posts under this handle but I fell you are very naive when you simply saw be less defensive.
Them two Boyous from away up your end ruined a lovely game . If you look at the new sayings Fifteen behind the ball , quick break, push up, off the shoulder ect ect. The Gaa game was beautiful to watch before it was tampered with
I think that if we could revert to what it was like, when a fullback was a fullback and afullforward played on the edge of the square ect.
I long for it to return

But sure Junior team Players away out in the Country from Cavan Town now have all these sayings and all packed into defence.
I said it before these two Boyous shed be banned and let the game be back to catch and kick like it was when we bate Kerry out the gate in Newyork in the AI in 1947

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3951 - 10/07/2024 22:53:07    2558295

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