I hope those Louth fans responsible for the cowardly attack on the ref are happy with their actions. It won't affect them of course as they'll never win anything so will have no reason to go on the pitch but as a Tyrone man it will lessen the enjoyment of the All-Ireland wins in coming years

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 09/08/2010 13:26:13    740731

Simply putting up a fence won't do it, I was a steward in Crke Park prior to it's redevolpement and I remember fans climbing over the fence in front of the Hill only to be stopped by stewards - the stewards then with no where to put them just had to push them back towards the fence where the fans paused got thier breathe back and made another run for the line of stewards.
Some sight to see crazed (with drink or victory) fans jump from the top of the fence and run at the line of stewards. I think due to the increased use of private security in croke Park this is not a job the Gardai will be lining up to do

jacks_are_back (Dublin) - Posts: 1 - 09/08/2010 13:32:19    740743

have to say i think it is a good idea. for a number of years now the GAA have been asking supporters to stay off the pitch after matches. players have also complained about gettiong swamped at the final whistle and not being able to celebrate with their team mates. the fans refused to stop invading the pitch so this is the only why to prevent it.

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 09/08/2010 13:32:34    740744

BIG SACKS
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1239


big sacks croke park had a fence all the way around the pitch years ago but it was a wire fence like a ladder so people just climbed over it anyway
gone are the days wen u used to see people sitting around the pitch like u see on some of the all ireland gold

delboydub (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 09/08/2010 13:36:02    740754

How did we survive until now without anyone being injured in Croke Park. If you look at the crowds on the links below you will see that they were very close to the pitch, sitting on the walls behind Hill16 and sitting on the stands Maybe it is just a matter of time or to bring us into the modern age but running onto the pitch is a G.A.A. tradition and i can't see it going away too easily !!

Cavan vs Meath 1949
Cavan vs Mayo 1948
Down vs Kerry 1960

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 09/08/2010 13:44:02    740773

Fencing the hill will not work because......Kildare have not won the all-ireland since 1928, the Dubs since 1995 and Cork are waiting 20 years not forgetting Down who are waiting 16 years so regardless which one of these teams win the all ireland their supporters will want to run onto the field and when they see the supporters in the seats going first which they will do they (supporters on the hill) too will want to join in and this could cause a serious crush, so for the sake of safety they should not fence the hill

kitsy (Kerry) - Posts: 16 - 09/08/2010 14:18:07    740843

DBD

The fence may have been easy to climb but when you got to the top there were three strands of barbed wire at a 45 degree angle which was pretty hard to negotiate and pretty severe on the Sunday Suit....
There was never a fence in front of the Hogan.

I think that the problem here again is the great Irish kneejerk reaction to the actions of the few Louthmen who were cross with Sludden.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 09/08/2010 14:22:39    740848

we saw it at the Leinster final, we saw the hurling attack earlier in the year only because it was caught on video...which is common place up and down the country... I've seen it personally on many occasions...Paidi O'Se was right GAA fans are animals and should be caged in like animals.

It's time people learned how to act like human beings and quit whining - the pitch belongs to the players - stay off it. simple.

Floops (Dublin) - Posts: 1623 - 09/08/2010 14:40:51    740869

Give over Floops will you please!!!

Rattler2010 (Kildare) - Posts: 117 - 09/08/2010 15:02:23    740890

Cavan Slasher one reason why Croke Park handled such big crowds in the past without disaster is that it was mainly adult men who could look after themselves in a bit of pushing and shoiving. Also people were less agressive and more mannerly then in such situations and there was certainly less alcohol consumed.

Most frightening experience i ever had at a match was 1983 final when the gates were broken at Hill - it was pay at stiles anyway so it was already overcrowded. I would say there was 90,000 at that game and it was a miracle no-one was killed at the end in the crush on the way out. Indeed I would say that only the fact that Dublin won and the good humour people were in prevented it, but even at that there were mad scenes at the back of the terraces and quite a number of fights.

It was only after that that GAA introduced ticketing for terraces and tried to do something about crowd control. Had they not we would have had an Ibrox or Hillsborough. I have no strong views one way or other about invading pitch - only did it once after our 21 hurlers won Leinster in 2007 - but I would tend to take the word of those who have studied this issue and who obviously have serious concerns over what might happen some day. Bear in mind also that it would not happen at any equivalent large stadium in the world.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 09/08/2010 15:09:06    740904

hurlingdub,

I totally agree with you but i have a great fear of a crush and seeing people suffocating due to being pushed into the fencing !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 09/08/2010 19:00:05    741212

Croke Park fencing inevitable - McKenna

08.09.09


The erection of fencing around the Croke Park pitch is almost inevitable, according to stadium director Peter McKenna.

"I think it's almost inevitable that there will be fencing in the whole ground," he said in response the pitch invasion which scuppered attempts to hold the trophy presentation on the pitch following Sunday's All-Ireland SHC final.

"On Sunday it was exceptionally dangerous at the front of the stage. We had some hairy moments in that crush area as there was no movement there. It became very aggressive, as a lot of boxing and punching went on there.

"I've a steward with a broken nose and another has an eye injury. We have to remember these stewards are volunteers and for them to go home with facial injuries is unacceptable."



Listen,the erection of fencing around Croke Park was inevitable. The fences were going up long before a few Louth supporters reacted to the crazy decisions made by referee Sludden which ROBBED Louth of the 2010 Leinster title.

BallsMcQ (USA) - Posts: 941 - 09/08/2010 19:25:20    741261

Time to try something as it looks like someone will be killed if Plan B is the only plan for the finals. No all ireland would be worth that. People need to grow up. Its not a right to have access to the pitch after the game. Tradition yes... but that is not always the safe thhing to do.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1879 - 09/08/2010 19:31:17    741270

how will they stop the dubs if they win the football all ireland or kilkenny if they win the 5 in a row?i got on the pitch after the hurling final last year the atmosphere was something special to savour

moddy91 (Tipperary) - Posts: 226 - 09/08/2010 19:56:08    741308

GAA should think back to that spring day in Sheffield and see what can happen when you pen your fan's in, absolute disgrace if this happens.

erneman (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4 - 09/08/2010 20:30:35    741354

There was always a fence in front of the Hill up until 10 or so years ago... a big one.

Now as far as I can tell... pitch invasions still took place even with a 12 foot barbed wired, iron fence in front of the Hill. Did anyone ever get killed before...? No is the answer.

Why?

Because the stewards of the time had to open the gates due to the risk of people getting crushed, when the usual surge came after a big game...

The same will probably happen again...

When it comes down to it though lads... What do the players want?

Answer = The players dont want pitch invasions. That should be the end to it...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 10/08/2010 10:06:41    741514

There are 2 issues:

1) Safety.
2) Pitch invasion.

1) Safety. With the new design of the hill the safety concerns are reduced. Also, i imagine the fence will incorporate crush relief gates which can be opened in case of emergency.
2) Pitch invasion (which is the reason why it is being erected). It'll make no difference fencing one end of the stadium. The crowd comes from all sides.

Podge8395 (Dublin) - Posts: 38 - 10/08/2010 10:10:29    741517

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 6288

741514 There was always a fence in front of the Hill up until 10 or so years ago... a big one.

Now as far as I can tell... pitch invasions still took place even with a 12 foot barbed wired, iron fence in front of the Hill. Did anyone ever get killed before...? No is the answer.

Why?

Because the stewards of the time had to open the gates due to the risk of people getting crushed, when the usual surge came after a big game...

The same will probably happen again...

When it comes down to it though lads... What do the players want?

Answer = The players dont want pitch invasions. That should be the end to it...



How do you know what the players want in terms of pitch invasions???????????????????????????????????????

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 10/08/2010 11:04:54    741593

ochonlir
County: Cavan
Posts: 1342

741593

I can read.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 10/08/2010 11:21:29    741621

Also the GPA is opposed to pitch invasions

2000+ Inter County members...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 10/08/2010 11:24:46    741624