Sunday, May 18, 2008

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1. I would contribute to this discussion re Anrtim, but i am too depressed.

   Posted by  on May 18, 2008 @ 08:32 PM

2. Where the f--k is Mick O’Dwyer and Wicklow in this thread? When Micko passes on, it can be truly said, ni bheidh a leithead ann aris. If he is not god, he is as near as it gets.

   Long live Wicklow! Long live Mick O’Dwyer. Long live Marxism Leninism.

   (The last one is a joke. All pinkos should be shot - unless they fit into Micko’s plans)

   For the unwashed: Wicklow have won their first championship game at Croke park under Micko, who is the most successful sports manager in GAA (or other) history. Taking all levels into account. Harry Redknapp ain’t bad either but he gets to rock with 2nd rate millionaires.

   Posted by Dave O'Connell on May 18, 2008 @ 08:34 PM

3. yeh lads i meant Peter McDonnell sorry!!!!

   I think we should have too much for a Down team that really disappointed throughout the league after looking distinctively improved from last year during the McKenna Cup.
   They are still far too dependant on Benny Coulter,Although McComiskey will be dangerous
   The Likes of James Colgan havent progressed from minor level to push Down to the next level.

   Our Injuries have started to clear up,i think theres another ulster title in this team but a 3rd Sam is a step too far. Hopefully SON could be tempted back before the dark evenings return!!!!

   Congrats to the messiah Micko, The man is just a genius when it comes to Gaelic Football.

   Posted by  on May 18, 2008 @ 09:04 PM

4. “Comparitively Donegal and Derry always had poor support until they got into All Ireland Finals and semi’s when the whole of ulster backed them.”

   Derry’s support was as big as anyone in the country in the 1990s, but has been poor since the turn of the century alright.

   Its to do with the ultra competitive club scene they have. Its a GAA mad county, but club seems to come very much before county. A lot of Derry people want to see the county go out early so they can concentrate on the club scene. The Gaelic Life did research last year that found Derry club Championship games are attended on average twice as much as any other club championship in Ulster.

   Posted by  on May 19, 2008 @ 12:15 AM

5. Is the Derry county/city split still as strong or did ‘93 change that?

   In my youth no one in the city followed GAA, it was and to a large extent still is a soccer town. So I was very surprised to see the triumphant cavalcades through the town on the Sunday they won the All Ireland, after that people who I only ever heard discussing Manyoo and Celtic were suddenly spending their summer Sunday afternoons at obscure football grounds in Cavan and Antrim.

   It was all a mystery to me but when I got into it it became a lot of fun, where they all fair weather supporters or is GAA still big in the city?

   Posted by  on May 19, 2008 @ 02:18 AM

6. The city’s starting to become more GAA orientated now. Its still has a way to go but it is now the biggest played sport in the city so thats good.

   But still South Derry and the western half of north Derry are the main strongolds, where the people literally eat and drink GAA.

   Good to see a team from the eastern half of north Derry (ie Eoghan Rua Coleraine) now in the senior Championship, a lot of hard work going on up there. Only Senior team who’s catchment area is majority unionist so its a credit to see them in the SFC.

   Also have to say P&J;first comment on this is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen.

   Posted by  on May 19, 2008 @ 08:22 AM

7. Iluvni

   “In truth is it only 3 or 4 games a year in Ulster GAA, that you see a big crowd? Today’s attendance didnt look anything worth raving about....on a par with the crowds at Irish league by the looks of it.”

   The thing is, Casement Park is very big. The GAA still clings to an old-fashioned preference for very large, basic stadia that can accommodate huge attendances, but which only reach capacity once or twice a year, rather than smaller, more modern venues. The assumption tends to be that it’s better to have 35k people standing on terraces than 15k people sitting in comfort, and that it’s better to have a stadium that’s half empty most of the time but can accommodate those occasional monster-crowds, than a smaller, leaner ground that’s often full but turns away people from the really big games. It’s kinda egalitarian, in a way, but kinda old-fashioned too. The rule of thumb is that the most important thing is to ensure hardly anyone ever gets turned away from a big championship match. Which is why the GAA has such a vast number of grounds, which are mostly underdeveloped.

   However, Pairc Esler in Newry and particularly Healy Park in Omagh seem to be examples of a new direction in GAA grounds. Healy Park (cap c.20k) is being rewarded with an Ulster semi-final this year, taking it from the much larger but much less-developed Casement.

   Casement could comfortably hold about 33,000 - I remember being there for an Ulster semi-final in ‘92 between Down and Derry when they officially squeezed in 35,000 but I reckon it was closer to 40. (There has been a lot of work done since then and Casement’s a much safer venue now though.) The crowd at yesterday’s game didn’t look all that impressive on TV, but I’d guess there was probably 15,000 at it. Not bad for a preliminary game between the two weakest sides in Ulster, between whom there is no history or rivalry.

   When the Championship really hits its stride, I’d say Armagh v Cavan will fill Breffni Park (c.30,000), Tyrone v Down will fill Healy Park Omagh (20,000), Derry v Donegal will fill either Celtic Park or McCumhaill Park (both around the 18,000 mark - I forget who has home advantage in that one). Monaghan v Fermanagh won’t trouble Clones’ 35,000 capacity but should draw 20k anyway.

   The semis (I expect Tyrone v Armagh at Clones and Monaghan v Derry at Omagh - I am right in saying Omagh’s getting a semi this year, aren’t I?) and final (Clones) should all be sell-outs.

   Of course there may be replays to factor into the equation as well. If they were to move the final to Croker again, attendances could hit 70k plus, but I can’t see that happening.

   Posted by  on May 19, 2008 @ 12:10 PM

8. Billy,

   Attandance was a little over 7,000 but there wasn’t many visitors from Cavan.

   Posted by  on May 19, 2008 @ 12:50 PM

9. Thanks for the info on attendances… I know nothing about GAA (I’m a rugby fan..) but found that interesting.

   Doing some quick sums, would I be correct in saying that the total attendances are about 185k from 8 games?

   Just for comparison, last season Ulster Rugby had about 140k from 13 games (excluding pre-season games) and about 4-5 of these were sell-outs (European and inter-pros)

   This season, attendances are down given Ulster’s dire performances.

   Posted by  on May 19, 2008 @ 02:02 PM

10. In ligtht of the game being shown on TV on Suday, this will have also reduced the attendance.  I know several who did not go as they could see it anyway.  Me baing one.  I’l be there for the Hurling though.  I can not see them showing it

    Posted by  on May 19, 2008 @ 06:00 PM
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