Just heard all the U21 Finals will be played in Semple Stadium from now on unless Tipp are involved. Considering this is Antrims first Final in the Grade would Croke Park not be made available like it was for the 2009 final between Clare and Kilkenny. Thurles is a long way for the Antrim supporters to Travel seeing that there was little or none at the semis the last Day. Antrim needs as much support it can get for this Final, could it not souble up with the camoige finals.

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 804 - 26/08/2013 20:16:21    1468839

Decision made in 2010 that Thurles is to host all U21 All-Ireland hurling finals from then on.

Caused a problem in its first year as Tipp reached the final and subsequent decision made to move the final from Thurles only if Tipp reached the final again. It's tough on Antrim and their supporters though.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13837 - 26/08/2013 20:40:06    1468858

It is far to travel for Antrim fans but if that is a decision that was made in 2010 then we will go along with it and you won't hear any moaning from us. It is good that our teams are involved in finals and playing at these venues.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9837 - 26/08/2013 20:47:12    1468867

That's just it Ulsterman. Great performance by the Antrim boys considering what Kevin Ryan said about numbers at training. Imagine how good they'll be with a bit of training!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13837 - 26/08/2013 20:58:44    1468883

Some of these Antrim kids have skills and ability as good any side in the country but they just need some confidence and self belief and a bit of good man management. I mean look at Dublin now, they are a top side and it's great to see.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9837 - 26/08/2013 21:03:06    1468888

Are you nelson McCausland? That had me laughing Ulsterman!

delboy1 (Antrim) - Posts: 7 - 26/08/2013 21:30:53    1468931

Thurles a great place to play hurling it takes me 3:30 from Glens to Thurles roads are fantastic now

Brian_Coyote (Antrim) - Posts: 346 - 26/08/2013 21:33:25    1468934

OOps that was meant for the other thread on Antrim Wexford!

delboy1 (Antrim) - Posts: 7 - 26/08/2013 21:33:33    1468935

I would drive to the Inishowen Peninsula for it if it meant Wexford were in it.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 27/08/2013 09:08:10    1469008

Yeah the decision was taken back a few years ago that all the U21 Finals were to be played in Semple. I guess it wasn't envisaged that there would ever be an Ulster representative (or Antrim) in the final so it was never going to be an issue of the location being too far from any of the counties that were likey to be in the final. I see the Antrim County board have made representation to the GAA asking that it is more equidistant given the closeness to Clare and the distance from Antrim but to be honest I feel if the decision was taken then so be it and get on with it, however I won't complain all the same if it was a bit closer.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 27/08/2013 11:40:05    1469122

Fair play to Antrim - no better pitch than Thurles.
Antrim county Board showing support now ? Bit pathetic. They certainly do not come out of this looking too well.

Finsceal (None) - Posts: 559 - 27/08/2013 12:17:36    1469162

Will there be another round of club football championship played in Antrim that weekend?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 27/08/2013 15:44:00    1469407

Well done to Antrim 21s on a brilliant and well deserved victory. We felt we could beat that team in the Ulster semi but 10 mins at the start of second half put us to the sword and we never recovered and Antrim deservedly won.

The best thing about the victory is that now Down players and im sure Derry and Armagh lads are saying if we put the effort in we can give it a lash too in the all Ireland series.
Down, like Antrim, couldnt get the players due to club commitments but I suspect next years Ulster championship will be very eagerly contested and thats good for Ulster hurling.

Id like to wish Antrim all the very best in the final.

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 27/08/2013 16:00:18    1469430

It should be played in Drogheda

colingriffin93 (Louth) - Posts: 5 - 27/08/2013 17:18:42    1469516

Antrim County board must be serious about getting a venue change for the All Ireland u21 Final. Needless to say Croke Park administrators will put their arms around the Antrim officials and say,'Sure the GAA was formed in Thurles isn't it an honour to play there and Antrim will roll over and accept.

Isolatedantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 31 - 28/08/2013 08:18:19    1469764

I think Antrim need to take a stand on this and have the game moved from thurles. So what if the association was formed in Thurles. The national stadium is Croke Park and even if only 20,000 go it should be opened up. There will still be a huge crowd from clare and if they keep the ticket price down they can use it as a good PR event. Any weaker county who get to an All Ireland Final should have a reasonable expectation that it might be played in Croke Park and if not, that at least the venue would be a fair distance from each team.

jpcampion (Laois) - Posts: 194 - 28/08/2013 10:17:58    1469828

Fixing the U21 final in Thurles every year was a bad idea end of story.the attendance at these finals is usually less than 10k and a crowd like that is lost there, there would be a far better atmosphere in somewhere like Tullamore or Portlaoise.
Then there is the travel involved, how is it fair for Antrim supporter to have a 4 hour trip while their opponents can get there in less than an hour?

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 28/08/2013 10:28:40    1469844

It's the homet of hurling, it's a great pitch, if you haven't played hurling there - well you have played hurling..... bull -

Yes it was fixed for Thurles and it shouldn't have been, its a national event and should be played in a location which is in a position for fans to get to.
I live in South Armagh and it would take me 3 hours to get to Thurles...

Nobody is saying it should be in Ulster, but can you imagine the hype and interset if it was held in the tight confines of Armagh, or even Newry,

But Parnell Park, Portlaois, Mullingar or Tullamore are more suitable..... to turn round and say that the U-21 A and B finals will be held in Thurles for ever is ridicious...

We don't say the All-Ireland U-21 Final in Football will be held in Cavan every year because they have a nice surface,

a joke of a decesion and if there is no u-turn it really shows the the GAA HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO PROMOTE THE GAME

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 28/08/2013 10:52:47    1469879

Fair play to Kevin Ryan. He has come out and said that he is not travelling to Thurles. I suppose, one could possiblu take the view that he should not deprive his players the opportunity to play in an All-Ireland final. I, however, believe that all he is asking for is a bit of respect and fair play and he is going to show the courage of his convictions by boycotting the finals if needs be. The final should be moved. This decision was only taken in 2010 and was probably taken at a time where people felt that Antrim would not qualify for the final. Now that they have, it is time that common sense prevailed and just move it to a venue that is fair for both sets of supporters.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 28/08/2013 11:00:30    1469885

They are right. Semple Stadium is practically a home venue for most Munster teams. Clare know it inside out. And imagine if Clare win the senior the week before, you would have 20,000 baying Clare fans at the game. A bit like Galway having to play Tipp in the u-21 6 days after Tipp had beaten Kilkenny in the senior. Not fair.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11717 - 28/08/2013 11:06:13    1469900