I think playing this game in a more 'neutral' venue would make sense but talks of boycotting is really not helpful.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6526 - 28/08/2013 14:35:05    1470149

bennybunny
Kerry may be going to Croke Park for years and winning but that is a weak comparison. First of all, All-Ireland semi finals have always been played in Croke Park. That is tradition. Many under 21 finals have been played outside of Thurles. The venue can be changed to suit.

No it isnt, it is actually identical. They have to travel very far to play a game that is much closer (at home on this occasion) for their oponents. u-21 finals were played in croker, that changed, just like at one point they changed it to croke park - where was the tradition argument then? The venue cannot be changed to suit, unless croke park can also, otherwise it is special treatment.



Second of all, Kerry have a brilliant record in Croke Park and hence do not complain about playing Dublin there. However, many other people do complain. The evidence of that is the numerous threads that are started here every year whinging about Dublin's 'unfair' advantage.

Maybe if antrim actually took to the field, they might find they have a great record down there too? As regards it being unfair, well yes it is, (well in croke park it is anyway, Im not so sure about SS) but that has been deemed acceptable for everyone, so why would antrim get different treatment on this occasion? What is special about them?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/08/2013 14:46:54    1470161

Taking a lot of gloss of what was a fantastic achievement for Antrim , wondering when entering competition were they aware of where final would be played ? At any stage prior to beating Wexford did they make grievances heard ? It would be nice if Clare stepped in and said they'd make themselves available to play in a more neutral venue , but failing that it should go as per agreement at outset of competition .
We have had a fantastic year in hurling some thrilling games and stories , but the limerick minor saga and now this is a shame , bad losers and bad winners .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 28/08/2013 15:10:11    1470186

Damothedub, agree totally.

Both leave a bad taste in the mouth of a great championship.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6526 - 28/08/2013 15:16:16    1470194

To be honest as a Clareman it doesn't matter where it's played. I'm sure no one in the Banner county would object to it being played in Croke Park. But that's not the point here. Who are the Antrim County Board to make sure requests. It's nothing to do with Clare. Field or don't field I say to Antrim, but at least have the decency to let Wexford play if you're not prepared to play an ALL IRELAND FINAL

BannerBoy2013 (Clare) - Posts: 325 - 28/08/2013 15:21:00    1470201

Look this talk of a boycott is completely ridiculous and is not winning Antrim many friends. The U -21 final venue was set as Thurles in 2010 and that applies to everyone; Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Wexford etc would all have to travel there as well so put an end to this boycott rubbish now; we go to Thurles and play Clare and hope for the best. We complain that we are not involved in the big games then.....complain when we eventually are! FFS! Furthermore the Antrim county board can point fingers at no one; they haven't exactly been falling overthemselves to accommodate the Antrim U - 21 squad and as others have said; the Ulster finals are always at Casement so we can't have it both ways. Having said all that the GAA should really be ashamed at the way they have treated Antrim hurling and that applies to many within the hurling fraternity too. I, like many Antrim fans, have no objections to the funding that the likes of Dublin get but even a small part of that going Antrim's way would help us as well. So Thurles it is then; let's get a big crowd down there and make a statement that Antrim can be a player as a hurling county.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9837 - 28/08/2013 15:28:55    1470208

Who has 'deemed SS acceptable ' The Master? As I recall it was Christy Cooney who decided U21 hurling finals should be in Thurles. That dosnt make it acceptable to everyone. Prior to that U21 hurling finals were played in Croker for a few years until the camogie people objected and prior to that at the most convenient neutral venue unless participating counties agreed on venue as Tipp/KK did a couple of times. Thurles is fine for Munster counties and KK but it dosnt suit everyone and in my opinion it certainly dosnt suit Antrim.
The GAA should be trying to promote hurling and help the likes of Antrim who are keeping the game going against the odds. Forcing them to go to Thurles isn't doing that.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 28/08/2013 15:35:51    1470218

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 8439

1470161 bennybunny
Kerry may be going to Croke Park for years and winning but that is a weak comparison. First of all, All-Ireland semi finals have always been played in Croke Park. That is tradition. Many under 21 finals have been played outside of Thurles. The venue can be changed to suit.

No it isnt, it is actually identical. They have to travel very far to play a game that is much closer (at home on this occasion) for their oponents. u-21 finals were played in croker, that changed, just like at one point they changed it to croke park - where was the tradition argument then? The venue cannot be changed to suit, unless croke park can also, otherwise it is special treatment.

All Ireland semi finals have been played in Croke Park for nearly a century. That is tradition (present tense). The under 21 final does not have a traditional venue (present tense)only a silly rule that was introduced a three years ago. In the last 30 years, finals have been played in Croke Park, Thurles, Limerick, Tullamore, Birr, Portlaoise etc (no tradition formed) Bring in other things that I did not say if you will.


Second of all, Kerry have a brilliant record in Croke Park and hence do not complain about playing Dublin there. However, many other people do complain. The evidence of that is the numerous threads that are started here every year whinging about Dublin's 'unfair' advantage.

Maybe if antrim actually took to the field, they might find they have a great record down there too? As regards it being unfair, well yes it is, (well in croke park it is anyway, Im not so sure about SS) but that has been deemed acceptable for everyone, so why would antrim get different treatment on this occasion? What is special about them?

Your first point is valid. They probably will take the field (this is no more than an idle threat). There is nothing special about them that suggests that things need to be changed. However, if you didn't stop me there and read on, I stated clearly that this might be in the GAA's interest to change the venue (not just Antrim). As I said, there is no tradition of having the final always played there so it is not that difficult to switch it.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 28/08/2013 15:36:41    1470220

It could also work the other way condor. Some of our younger players could look around them, get the feel of Semple Stadium and the history and relish it. They could say to themselves "this is what it's all about" and take inspiration. This is a mountain out of a molehill.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9837 - 28/08/2013 15:46:15    1470238

Very disappointed by all this. Sure, the final could be played further up the country, but has any official request even been made? Have Clare or the GAA refused a request to play the game away from Thurles? Not as far as I'm aware (I stand to be corrected).

As many posters have said, there was plenty of time before the semi-final to object to Thurles as a final venue (I actually think having a national hurling final in Ulster would be a good idea). But I don't believe there were any objections. The semi's were played in Thurles, I'd think the Antrim players would be very fond of the place after that historic day. We should be getting ready for a great U21 final, this is a very unnecessary distraction for the players. Totally needless outburst by the management, I'd still love to see Antrim win this though.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 28/08/2013 16:12:18    1470276

not fair at all on antrim,but i bet they would have had no prob before playing wexford if they were offered it.its wrong but thats how it is.get on with it.a few years back gawlay had to play tipp there in an u21 final..they werent happy but played it.it would be a kick in the teeth for the gaa for stupidly coming up with thurles every year.but they should play it and try and change it at congress

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 505 - 28/08/2013 16:22:57    1470293

I think the fact that bumpernut, offside rule and Ulsterman are embarrassed by this - and are obviously genuine hurling supporters - says it all. Whole of hurling was delighted by Antrim getting to the final - no disprespect to Wexford - and was one of most enjoyable matches I've watched all year. This boycott stuff is just silly. Especially given ACB's less than fulsome support for the team up to now. Does no one any favours. If they are that concerned about the distance and so on, then ACB should make up for their disrespect to the team by bringing them down the night before and putting them up in a hotel. Still hope Antrim win by the way :-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 28/08/2013 16:25:11    1470296

Exactly hurlingdub many Antrim people are just groaning at this embarrasssment; once again we could just be about to snatch defeat away from the jaws of goodwill victory. It's what we do best in Antrim, complicate things and become our own worst enemy. Good idea to go down the day before and stay in a hotel but that's called forward planning and it hasn't yet been invented in Antrim. Very disappointed in Kevin Ryan's stance.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9837 - 28/08/2013 16:37:11    1470315

Great idea re staying overnight hurlingdub, the least they deserve,however, i like ulsterman wouldnt hold my breath for a variety of reasons, nearly all beginning with the letter I. Im sure youse can all fill in the blanks though on your own.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 28/08/2013 16:55:04    1470339

Sure we'd know all about it, playing Tipperary in their home ground in an All Ireland Final. Farcical.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1745 - 28/08/2013 17:07:27    1470353

This is absolutely laughable from Antrim, who after winning their first ever semi final are now demanding a venue change (manager anyways), knowing full well before the competition started that it was set for Thurles. If anyone on here is honest with themselves they'll agree that it doesn't matter where it is played they are going to be on the end of a 20 point plus hammering. As previous posters have said they had no problems playing all the Ulster finals in Casement rather than in Pairc Esler or Celtic Park. Joke!

Pjm111 (Clare) - Posts: 18 - 28/08/2013 17:10:20    1470357

I don't think they'll be on the end of a 20 point hammering pjm. And you don't know that they will be. Silly comment.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 28/08/2013 17:20:12    1470369

Pjm111
County: Clare
Posts: 2

1470357
This is absolutely laughable from Antrim, who after winning their first ever semi final are now demanding a venue change (manager anyways), knowing full well before the competition started that it was set for Thurles. If anyone on here is honest with themselves they'll agree that it doesn't matter where it is played they are going to be on the end of a 20 point plus hammering. As previous posters have said they had no problems playing all the Ulster finals in Casement rather than in Pairc Esler or Celtic Park. Joke!

----

Get down out of your high horse and have a little bit of respect.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1745 - 28/08/2013 17:22:21    1470373

Jasus Christ all mighty

Throw Antrim out immediately

Bloody boycott bloody cheek is want it is. My god they have some set of B***S ON THEM.

Cork V Dublin Football. venue dublin . travel time 2.30 hours approx

Cork V Dublin Hurling. venue Dublin. Travel time 2.30 Hours Approx

Kerry V Dublin Football. Venue Dublin Travel Time 3.30 Hours Approx

Did either team ask fot neutral venue. Did either team ask for it to be closer to home

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!


Im beyond angry that a manager would even consider denying his players a chance to play in an ALL IRELAND final.

They would walk to the beara peninsula if they thought they could play in one.

And now instead of concentrating on getting them selves ready to play a great clare u21 team they are wondering if they will play at all.

The board and management should be ashamed of them selves and i hope the management are never put in charge of a team again. They exist to provide a platform for young players to express them selves not to be questioning distance.

Thurlas is a great pitch and a great hurling pitch. But they should be happy to play on any patch of grass with lines on it cause this opportunity might never present its self again . Look at cork last U21 WAS 1998

So management say sorry and GIVE THESE LADS EVERY CHANCE TO WIN "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ritchie (Cork) - Posts: 346 - 28/08/2013 17:27:18    1470377

Ritchie

It is a threat of a boycott. It is mostly idle. Also, as you mention Cork V Dublin:

1987 league semi-final v Dublin in Croke Park (Cork refuse to take the field after extra time as they wanted the venue switched)

2008 (?) National Football league V Meath in Navan (Cork refused to travel)

2009 National hurling league (3/4 of the team that finished the league boycotted the first 4 games)

These were actual boycotts a lot closer to where you and I are from. Calm dowm on your critcism of Antrim..kettle black pot etc

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 28/08/2013 17:39:55    1470389