Bring the game back to the people !
1 Like
GAA could learn a lot by looking at what happened in English cricket over the last 10-15 years. Constant tinkering with structures and calendar, the disastrous decision to move the longer format of the game outside of the peak season summer months of June, July and early August, with test matches largely played in the margins of May and late August/September. All for the promotion of pyjama cricket.
It’s belatedly gone full circle now. The shambles of the Ashes tour in Australia produced some long overdue serious soul searching. The Ashes this summer now will be in its rightful place as the centrepiece of the English cricketing summer and will run from mid June right to the end of July.
1 Like
2 Likes
Looks like a shocking attendance at the Connaught final
1 Like
Nope everything is great.
Provincial finals getting played on the first Sunday in May!
Munster hurling semi final 2012 June 24, Cork V Tipp 32,500, Munster round robin 2023 , May 6th 37,000.
3 Likes
Caught the last few minutes of the Galway v Sligo, Connacht Football Final on Radio 1 there when I was in the car. Co-commentator John Casey was saying that in a lifetime of attending/playing/commentary duties at Connacht Football finals, he’s never seen a smaller crowd at a Connacht Final. He was doubtful that it even got into 5 digits and broke the 10,000 mark.
This is what split season zealots have foisted on us with provincials finals on the first Sunday in May.
GAA attendance expert, @Perez2017, would you have comparable attendance figures to hand for the last Galway v Sligo, Connacht Final in 2007?
@Cheasty if he was watching might confirm if the split season spring challenge even provided us with traditional Connacht Final downpour weather conditions.
3 Likes
The Munster Final looks like it hasnt broken 5k.
It will be interesting to see what angle the split season zealots take on this one.
2 Likes
I watched about seven or eight minutes in the first half with the centrepiece being the Galway goal. I wasn’t paying attention enough to know for sure what the weather conditions were like. I have a notion it was overcast and slightly damp.
Contrary to stereotype, the sun actually has shone at some Connacht football finals over the years:
1990
1995
2003
2005
2009
2014
2020 (November)
2021 (Croke Park)
My favourite Connacht final downpours are:
1996
1997
1999
2002
2016
2017
2019
Special mention to 1993 which was played in a 60 mile an hour gale in cold, overcast, spitting rain conditions in Dr. Hyde Park and finished 1-5 to 0-7.
3 Likes
There was 32,568 at the 2012 game.
1 Like
2010 was a nice sunny day too when Roscommon shocked Sligo and Donie Shine was majestic on the frees.
1 Like
Why did the split season draw Roscommon, Galway and Mayo on the same side of the draw?
1 Like
Why has the split season made Munster Football Finals so shit?
3 Likes
Munster Football Finals should always be in Killarney and at 2pm on the Sunday closest to July 3rd.
3 Likes
New rule idea:
The GAA Manager Draft
To be eligible to be an inter-county manager, one must enter their name into a draft. No inter-county manager gets to choose which team they manage, the counties choose.
To be an inter-county manager, each prospective manager must agree to manage the county team that selects them.
The worst county teams get first pick each year.
The Waterford football team drafts Jim Gavin as manager.
Kerry are left with Ray Dempsey.
That’s a surefire way to even things up.
Connacht Finals should be played in either Dr Hyde Park or Tuam Stadium. Castlebar or Salthill just don’t cut it.
If they’re now attracting four figure attendances, Carrick-on-Shannon could be in the frame. cc @anon67715551. Manorhamilton or Mohill might even suffice the way it’s going.
1 Like
37,000 last night at start of May and you say their is no interest in hurling anymore.
How many watched it on total including what saw it on telly…miles down
1 Like