Twitter & Facebook both saying that Ballybofey has been confirmed as the venue for the Ulster championship game between Donegal & Ballybofey.

Proper decision. Let battle commence

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 26/03/2013 20:46:05    1356982

Well done to all involved and it was the proper decision. When a team gets drawn for a home game it should always be so unless they decide themselves to move. I think it will be a great day, good atmosphere, high tension and two fired up teams. Can't wait now!!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 27/03/2013 09:18:08    1357048

Yes Muck, good, now lets get ready to rumble!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 27/03/2013 09:48:37    1357064

whatever happened to maximising attendances?

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1903 - 27/03/2013 10:14:37    1357079

The right decision.

Samsforthehills (Donegal) - Posts: 1075 - 27/03/2013 10:20:40    1357083

Woooooooo!!

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 27/03/2013 10:40:52    1357094

Donegal got a home draw against Tyrone and they're playing it at their county ground. Proper order. Would love to go to this game but somehow I don't think I'll be able to get my hands on a ticket. Promises to be the best first round game in years!

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 27/03/2013 10:48:35    1357100

Just like Westmeath/Carlow should be playing the dubs in their home ground in the leinster champ.

westmeath16 (Westmeath) - Posts: 291 - 27/03/2013 10:51:15    1357103

27/03/2013 10:48:35
pdempsey

Promises to be the best first round game in years!
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Perhaps since 1994 when, on the last weekend in May a Down side, who had been beaten the previous year by AI Champions Derry, went to Celtic Park and dethroned the champions, before going on to regain the AI title that they last won a few years earlier. Not that I believe in omens...!

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 27/03/2013 10:58:32    1357113

westmeath16
County: Westmeath
Posts: 178

1357103 Just like Westmeath/Carlow should be playing the dubs in their home ground in the leinster champ.

agree 100%

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2842 - 27/03/2013 11:01:22    1357117

If the GAA want bigger attendances for Donegal games they should provide funding to them to expand their stadium. There should be some benefits from winning the All Ireland. If attendances for a team grow, their stadium should grow to facilitate it.

hbk (Monaghan) - Posts: 35 - 27/03/2013 11:23:47    1357124

I have to say that I disagree with the idea of extending Ballybofey.

This is the first game in years wher the capacity of 18,000 is not enough. When the two teams met a few weeks back less than 10,000 turned up.
The fact that the game will I'm sure be live on TV should be satisfactory for those who wouldn't go to Healy Park but will now be clamouring for tickets.

The only issue I take with what I've been hearing is that only 6,000 tickets are being allocated to each county. Where is the other 6,000 going?

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 27/03/2013 11:42:14    1357135

Ballybofey isn't 18,000 anymore. Not even with the work being done over the last few months. Realistically, there is only 2,000 tickets left over.

donegalboy (Donegal) - Posts: 120 - 27/03/2013 11:46:38    1357140

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
The fact that the game will I'm sure be live on TV should be satisfactory for those who wouldn't go to Healy Park but will now be clamouring for tickets.
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No doubt you were expressing similar views to all your friends and family when they were clamouring for AI final tickets last September? Using a league attendance to indicate the number of people deserving of championship tickets is a silly argument.

I can understand the desire from Donegal to play this game at home, and their sense of entitlement to do so. However, it is a shame that there will be many supporters of both sides (plus neutrals) who won't be able to attend.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 27/03/2013 11:49:02    1357141

theres a very simple solution to these arguments the same as is appled to most club championships that is all championship games are played in neutral venues. Clubs and counties have league games which are played at home and away venues when it comes to championship there should be no home games just because you come out of hat first.

rahillyman (Tyrone) - Posts: 314 - 27/03/2013 12:04:40    1357148

Donegal were well within their rights to hold this game, far too much chat over the last few months about where this game should be played. Glad that it's settled now.

whitegoodman (Tyrone) - Posts: 439 - 27/03/2013 12:19:37    1357154

Fair enough. Then lets do this properly & do away with home & away draws in the championship.
At least that is a level playing pitch for everyone.

While we are at it, we should also do away with the championship draw being made so early. There is no reason why it couldn't be made just before the knockout stages of the league. This would do away with the nonsense of teams not taking the league seriously.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 27/03/2013 12:21:42    1357157

Good points from Muckross and Rahillyman.
I know the draws need to be made early enough to arrange Garda, ambulance, stewarding etc but surely 2 months would be enough time. I also agree that neutrals venues would be a good idea but can't help thinking we'd always end up travelling further than any other county in Ulster no matter where that neutral venue is!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 27/03/2013 13:09:50    1357197

hbk
County: Monaghan
Posts: 32

Nice idea about increasing funding for enhanced facillites, but most of the county boards went out and built "centres of excellance" in nowhere land for outragous sums, practically bankrupted themselves in the process. Wouldn't trust any of them with a single cent if they want better capacity go build it themselves.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4954 - 27/03/2013 13:13:34    1357201

Of course Donegal should stage their games at Ballyboffey if they want to. Why is there even a debate?

Size of ground shouldn't matter once it passes health & safety. I also don't know why the likes of Westmeath & Wexford don't put it up to the Leinster council when they try to schedule their games in Croke Park. Counties like Louth, Wicklow & Meath can't play at home but when you have a decent ground, you should have the option to use it, even if capacity is small.

And no way should a county expand a stadium for a possible sell-out once a year or every 2 years. Cost is an obvious factor but you also have no atmosphere the rest of the time.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1144 - 27/03/2013 13:39:21    1357222