GAA gets higher ratings than Ireland Qualifier

[Wolfie]

......... stepped in to help both soccer and rugby when they needed a stadium for the past several years, so as a sports fan I'm certainly grateful to them.

The GAA have been well remunerated in allowing Football and Rugby play at Croke Park. - it was good PR and above all else - a significantly extra few quid.

Most of the animostity and barely veiled hostility comes from the GAA towards football.

It appears the debate will rage on in relation to a "World" game like GAA versus a minority sport like "Soccer".

My allegiance is with the sport where you can only legitimately use two of your limbs, for starters.

[pineapple stu]

Maybe in the past but that seems like an old fashioned outlook nowadays that doesn't have any bearing on the modern organisation.
Tell that to Rovers fans whose club nearly went under less than two years ago after the local GAA club declared they'd be "the last man standing" in their row. Or did that cease to be a factor once the court case was over?

I enjoy watching hurling, don't mind the football although I can see where criticism of it comes from, but you can't dismiss people's problems with the GAA as all "in the past".

[Murfinator]

NEVER NEVER will you hear any soccer pundit going on about how great a game of soccer was in comparison to a rugby or gaa or any other game for that matter. Is their an inferiority complex in the gaa???


Probably more of a superiority complex than anything else, you get a bit of that in the states at the expense of other countries teams or in England, taking digs at other leagues (especially Serie A), it's all just arrogant banter to pad their own organisations value at the expense of others.

[CarrickFan]

You're entitled to your opinion but I'd always rather actual Irish people who live in the community and are part of the culture representing our country. Seeing cases like Stephen Ireland who'd rather play for Manchester than his country or English born "Irish" like Andy O Brien or Dean Kiely who realistically were only ever playing for us because they weren't good enough for England. Those guys aren't players I want to support or would in any way make me proud in the team.

That kind of thing would never happen in rugby because everyone loves playing for their country and appreciates the honour in the regard that it should be held in. The very notion of a player retiring from the international side to "concentrate on their club career" would be unheard of in rugby.

And your assault accusations are bizarre. I'd certainly say Henry Shefflin and Colm Cooper are far less violent than someone like Roy Keane or Stephen Hunt. ;)
In fact if we were as physical and filthy as you're describing we wouldn't be getting bashed physically every time we faced the Australians in Aussie Rules!

Ridiculous!!!

first of all neither Andy O'Brien or Dean Kiely are involved in the Irish team anymore...9 of the 11 starters on Saturday night were Irish born and no matter what peoples opinion on him as a player Kevin Kilbanes commitment to Ireland can not be questioned..the man has beeb ever-presant for 10 years....

do you honestly expect our top players not to go abroad and play for Europes top clubs and play at the highest levels of the sport and earn a living??
do you think Duff should play for Bohs,Keane for Shams etc? because you think they should be part of our community in order to play for Ireland??
...i never come on here to abuse people as everyone is entitled to their opinion but you are living in a world of your own

[Wolfie]

Your Irishness is how integrated you are in the culture and how passionate you are about the land and the people in it.

This prescribed form of degrees of Irishness is complete nonsense.

There's a coterie of cultural Nazi's in this country that try and quanity "Irishness" in order to suggest some citizens are more worthy than others. Nonsense.

I was born and bred in Ireland. I'm not ingrained in "the culture???" and I don't wear my love of my country and its people like a badge of honour.

So much for an all embracing, modern ethnic Society :rolleyes:.

[Murfinator]

Tell that to Rovers fans whose club nearly went under less than two years ago after the local GAA club declared they'd be "the last man standing" in their row. Or did that cease to be a factor once the court case was over?

I enjoy watching hurling, don't mind the football although I can see where criticism of it comes from, but you can't dismiss people's problems with the GAA as all "in the past".

Never actually heard that story so I don't know if that's a local club thing or anything to do with the organisation as a whole.

If there was that kind of deep loathing between soccer and the GAA it'd seem a bit silly to me since other than for developing players they're not exactly in competition for audiences with their timeslots. Rugby and soccer would be far more in line with their season and game times.

[Schumi]

It's actually always confused me how you could be a die hard fan of one and not enjoy a high quality match in the other whatsoever.

I can honestly say I've never seen a high-quality gaelic match. I was subjected to Tyrone v someone a few weeks ago and saw some of Dublin against Kildare, I think, in a pub earlier in the year and both were 10 times worse than the worst football match I've ever seen. Football, rugby and gaelic are very different games and I don't see why liking one would mean that someone would like all three.

I have nothing against any sport or the people who play or watch them, regardless of my lack of interest or appreciation of many. I find this is often not the case from fans of other sports towards football. Posts such as yours above slagging football players for being born abroad are unfortunately typical of many insular minds.

[jbyrne]

Even look at today, were the Irish national soccer team is struggling to get 10,000 into a stadium Munster fill regularly with ease. Would you have believed that 10 years ago? What would be pointless would be to deny the swing that has taken place in recent years.

and how many will attend the next AIL lge match in limerick? munster fill thomand with ease for the all blaclks and heineken cup, they didnt fill it for Ireland V canada nor do they fill it for the magners lge

[elroy]

Probably more of a superiority complex than anything else, you get a bit of that in the states at the expense of other countries teams or in England, taking digs at other leagues (especially Serie A), it's all just arrogant banter to pad their own organisations value at the expense of others.

Fair point re the english leagues, i do remember Martin T during the pool/arsenal game last year saying something along those lines. But its different when its amongst the same code. There are facets to the gaa that the fai would love to have and vice versa. perhaps its a bit utopian to think its possible for people to enjoy whatever sports they wish without been subjected to this nonsense, but i do reiterate you will never hear an Irish pundit say after a good ireland game essentially how that game was far superior to anything the gaa would offer etc etc.

Just a comment on gaa football in response to some of the above, as a proud cork sportsman i will hopefully be at the AI final in a few weeks. When Gaa football is played well, a fair running kick passing game, it can be a great game. Unfortunately this is all too rare and the trend towards an overtly physical aggressive ulster style game in the last few years has damaged the game, almost brings the game in line with rugby rather than football. The style of football played by the likes of Wicklow for example this year was a breath of fresh air.

[CarrickFan]

Probably more of a superiority complex than anything else, you get a bit of that in the states at the expense of other countries teams or in England, taking digs at other leagues (especially Serie A), it's all just arrogant banter to pad their own organisations value at the expense of others.


it doesnt happen because as Soccer people we/they dont feel the need to have a chip on their shoulder or belittle other peoples sports..as i've said..each to their own..whatever sports you enjoy is fine..why always make comparisons and say one is better than another..

do you mind if i ask do you like soccer yourself or how have you come to post here?..genuine queation..just curious...i like Foot.ie as its about our league and usually a good spot for chat about the LOI and the national squad...dont come on here to talk about the GAA.

[Murfinator]

Ridiculous!!!

first of all neither Andy O'Brien or Dean Kiely are involved in the Irish team anymore...9 of the 11 starters on Saturday night were Irish born and no matter what peoples opinion on him as a player Kevin Kilbanes commitment to Ireland can not be questioned..the man has beeb ever-presant for 10 years....

do you honestly expect our top players not to go abroad and play for Europes top clubs and play at the highest levels of the sport and earn a living??
do you think Duff should play for Bohs,Keane for Shams etc? because you think they should be part of our community in order to play for Ireland??
...i never come on here to abuse people as everyone is entitled to their opinion but you are living in a world of your own

I didn't say they should play in Ireland under the current conditions, I said it's a shame conditions don't permit so they can't.

My main point were that Ireland, Kiely and Andy O Brien were players who I respected and followed at one and they all let me down by being disrespectful to our countries team. And having your national team crapped all over like that by 3 different players in 2 years as well as Joey O Brien's "play me or I'll reject call ups" stance really makes it difficult to be proud with the setup. Not least to mention the assistant under stan called our team "british".

I'm proud of individuals on the team like Doyle, Dunne, Hunt, Duff, Kilbane and Given, mind.

[TheBoss]

Anyway, I'm sure the Sky Sports viewing figures would make up the difference in TV ratings.

Yes, I would imagine that many watched on Sky.

[Murfinator]

it doesnt happen because as Soccer people we/they dont feel the need to have a chip on their shoulder or belittle other peoples sports..as i've said..each to their own..whatever sports you enjoy is fine..why always make comparisons and say one is better than another..

do you mind if i ask do you like soccer yourself or how have you come to post here?..genuine queation..just curious...i like Foot.ie as its about our league and usually a good spot for chat about the LOI and the national squad...dont come on here to talk about the GAA.

ha, I didn't come here on to talk about GAA, I saw some very unfair things being said about people who enjoy GAA matches and spoke out against them, thats all.

I am a soccer fan, mostly for European leagues, I don't follow the LOI in depth so I'm here for the national forum.

[pineapple stu]

How can you consider yourself an Irishman if you don't involve yourself passionately enough in your community to support your local league team?

[kingdom hoop]

Why is that whenever the Gah is mentioned on this site everyone goes gaga?

[elroy]

How can you consider yourself an Irishman if you don't involve yourself passionately enough in your community to support your local league team?

In fairness Stu, in defence of the lad, you could ask the same question to the vast majority of people who support football in this country. Sad perhaps but true.

[pineapple stu]

Absolutely you could. I just wanted to draw attention to the seeming contradiction in his argument.

[elroy]

Why is that whenever the Gah is mentioned on this site everyone goes gaga?

I think we're quite tame and generally fair, there is even a dedicated thread in the other sports section to discuss gaa amongst those of us who have an interest of sorts. Compare that to the barrage of abuse that is thrown when soccer is discussed on some gaa forums, an fear rua for example but that is tame compared to the likes of premierview where you may well be castrated for such talk. seriously.

[kingdom hoop]

I think we're quite tame and generally fair...

Yep, I agree. There is a certain amount of rising blood pressure, but my post was more an attempt at lightening the mood than anything else really.

Maybe I should've spelled "gaga" GahGah. :)

[lionelhutz]

Even look at today, were the Irish national soccer team is struggling to get 10,000 into a stadium Munster fill regularly with ease.

Have a look at Munsters average turnout over the season for Magners League games and then come back to me and tell me they fill Thomond or Musgrave Park with ease.

[CarrickFan]

I didn't say they should play in Ireland under the current conditions, I said it's a shame conditions don't permit so they can't.

My main point were that Ireland, Kiely and Andy O Brien were players who I respected and followed at one and they all let me down by being disrespectful to our countries team. And having your national team crapped all over like that by 3 different players in 2 years as well as Joey O Brien's "play me or I'll reject call ups" stance really makes it difficult to be proud with the setup. Not least to mention the assistant under stan called our team "british".

I'm proud of individuals on the team like Doyle, Dunne, Hunt, Duff, Kilbane and Given, mind.


i take ur points Murfinator and agree with you..you may explain about the "british" remark?..i dont recall it..Kevin Mc Donald was it?...ur other points are true tho...Cant explain Ireland..J O' Brien was living in dream world if he thought he should be playing..Andy seemed to think he got unfair abuse after Cyprus and Kiely may have had a point....

at the end of the day(to use a football Cliche) im a proud Irishman and a passionate soccer fan and have been going to Ireland matches since 1989 and will continue to support and follow them no matter who is in charge or where the players are playing or whatever.

[Murfinator]

How can you consider yourself an Irishman if you don't involve yourself passionately enough in your community to support your local league team?

There's no team from my entire county in either divisions. :rolleyes:

[Murfinator]

Have a look at Munsters average turnout over the season for Magners League games and then come back to me and tell me they fill Thomond or Musgrave Park with ease.

http://www.magnersleague.com/statzone/attendance.php#3543

They had an average attendance of almost 18,000 in the magners league. That figure is excluding showpiece games like the all blacks or Heineken Cup games which would be sell outs.

So a typical weekly game with the Munster reserves versus another Celtic team rakes in nearly double than the national Irish soccer team is getting. Can you see the extent of my point now?

[Murfinator]

i take ur points Murfinator and agree with you..you may explain about the "british" remark?..i dont recall it..Kevin Mc Donald was it?...ur other points are true tho...Cant explain Ireland..J O' Brien was living in dream world if he thought he should be playing..Andy seemed to think he got unfair abuse after Cyprus and Kiely may have had a point....

at the end of the day(to use a football Cliche) im a proud Irishman and a passionate soccer fan and have been going to Ireland matches since 1989 and will continue to support and follow them no matter who is in charge or where the players are playing or whatever.

Yeah it was Kevin McDonald, I actually saw the quote on these forums about 2 years ago, it was during a pre or post match interview on an american site where he was talking about some team where he said something along the lines of the weather conditions not suiting british teams. Sorry for the sketchy details but it was a while ago.

[pineapple stu]

There's no team from my entire county in either divisions. :rolleyes:
I mentioned nothing about your county. Plenty of inter-county support going on in the LoI.

[kingdom hoop]

at the end of the day(to use a football Cliche) im a proud Irishman and a passionate soccer fan and have been going to Ireland matches since 1989 and will continue to support and follow them no matter who is in charge or where the players are playing or whatever.

In fairness, I think the vast majority of fans have that attitude. But I think the point Murf was making was that for people who aren't really fans (or for people who might possibly become fans), for a lot of those people, it does make a difference that our players play in England and aren't visibly associated with Ireland except when they put the jersey on.

So the fact that our players play mostly in England makes no difference to a fan; but it does make a difference for people who only take a passing interest in the team.
I don't think it's much of a point myself as it has little substantive relevance: even if the players played in Ireland I don't think it would increase interest on a national level all that much.
It would make a bit of difference though: for example, in Kerry a lot of the Gaelic players are very visible around the county (eg working at the bank counter, teachers), and that certainly helps to create a bond between the team and people who wouldn't otherwise take a huge interest in the team. There's a great sense that "they're our lads" kind of thing. Of course for those of us who love the team anyway, they could work in Timbuktu for all we care; but I evidentially know for sure, and it stands to reason, that the peripheral support is greater because of the visibility and local link of the players.

It's a bit of a moot point in this context as we're a long way off having significant international representation sourced from the domestic league. But if there was, I'd bet viewing figures would be even higher. To close on a a more practical point - maybe the international players could do a bit more PR work in Ireland?

[drummerboy]

http://www.magnersleague.com/statzone/attendance.php#3543

They had an average attendance of almost 18,000 in the magners league. That figure is excluding showpiece games like the all blacks or Heineken Cup games which would be sell outs.

So a typical weekly game with the Munster reserves versus another Celtic team rakes in nearly double than the national Irish soccer team is getting. Can you see the extent of my point now?

Obviously Limerick is a rugby city. I think if the game was in Cork it would attract a lot more people.

[kingdom hoop]

As a little by the by to show the immense relevance of TAM ratings, The Rose Of Tralee had higher figures than the Cyrpus match.

I think this proves beyond all reasonable doubt that watching a retard like Ray D'Arcy has become a more attractive activity than watching the Irish football team. Despair! Irish football is in crisis!

[Murfinator]

I mentioned nothing about your county. Plenty of inter-county support going on in the LoI.

You said my local team, I don't have a local team. I'd have to travel over an hour to get to the nearest LoI venue.

[reder]

It was their showpiece game for the year.

Personally, I dont understand the need to compare the figures or what they are actually trying to suggest. Are they simply saying that GAA games are better than "soccer" because the final got more viewers than the Cyprus away game? Surely, they cant be that petty.

[Jicked]

Obviously Limerick is a rugby city. I think if the game was in Cork it would attract a lot more people.

Indeed, what a pity it is that the GAA laughably/embarassingly refuse to let Ireland play at Pairc ui Chaoimh because football is an "English" sport.

[Murfinator]

To close on a a more practical point - maybe the international players could do a bit more PR work in Ireland?

Good point, I'd love to see the team showing more face around the country.

[tetsujin1979]

http://www.magnersleague.com/statzone/attendance.php#3543

They had an average attendance of almost 18,000 in the magners league. That figure is excluding showpiece games like the all blacks or Heineken Cup games which would be sell outs.

So a typical weekly game with the Munster reserves versus another Celtic team rakes in nearly double than the national Irish soccer team is getting. Can you see the extent of my point now?
the majority of those are season ticket holders, the same people who can't justify the extra expense of the two friendly international games in thomond.
and the Australia game still attracted more than the Ireland - Canada game at Thomond park

[pineapple stu]

I'd say some of them travel more than an hour to games too.

[micls]

That kind of thing would never happen in rugby because everyone loves playing for their country and appreciates the honour in the regard that it should be held in. The very notion of a player retiring from the international side to "concentrate on their club career" would be unheard of in rugby.

In fairness, it would never happen because they're paid by the IRFU. The situations are in no way comparable



Hurling at Rugby at the high end are far and away the most entertaining to watch since they're so technically difficult to play.


Completely disagree. I find a top quality football match far more entertaining than a top quality rugby game for example.

I think Gaelic football is in general awful, and though Il watch the game next weekend, I couldnt say I'll enjoy watching the sport itself

[DeLorean]

Reeling in the Years is one of the best programmes on any channel

Yeah I love it, great show and so simple. Music's usually good on it as well.


The game is awful pal, and the quote you took such offence too, that it's played by amateurs who often don't look like top sportsmen, and who regularly engage in disgusting assaults on each other which is greeted with cheers and yahoos from the crowd is true I'm afraid.

That's quite simply not true at all. The players are incredibly fit these days and there is nothing like the hard hitting you suggest. Then again how would you have any clue what it's like in it's current state when the extent of your research has been a Lucozade Sport ad.

[Jicked]

That's quite simply not true at all. The players are incredibly fit these days and there is nothing like the hard hitting you suggest. Then again how would you have any clue what it's like in it's current state when the extent of your research has been a Lucozade Sport ad.

I see games in passing, not nearly enough to know the state of teams or the best players, but enough to see the physical condition of players. They are amateurs. Very fit amateurs no doubt, but not comparable in fitness levels or physical build to top sportsman in other disciplines. The GAA side look like boys compared to the professional Aussie Rules lads in the international series. And every so often I seem to spot a keeper who simply doesn't look like any cut of a sportsman.

As for the heavy hitting, you're going to tell me we don't often hear stories about players being involved in fights on the GAA pitch?! :rolleyes:

[Sheridan]

As an adjunct to this discussion, I recently discovered that matches in the "Gaelic" "Games" last only 70 minutes. :D

Even rugger buggers can keep it up for longer than that.

[DeLorean]

Completely disagree. I find a top quality football match far more entertaining than a top quality rugby game for example

Well I guess that just depends on what sport you'd prefer...obviously


I think Gaelic football is in general awful

I would say that LOI games are generally awful, suppose it just depends what you're into.

[EastTerracer]

Hurling at Rugby at the high end are far and away the most entertaining to watch since they're so technically difficult to play.
Football is the best local game to follow since it's the only game really played competitively throughout most of the country.
Soccer is the most fun to play because of its simplicity and follow and discuss since it's a global game and there's a lot more happening all the time.

It's actually always confused me how you could be a die hard fan of one and not enjoy a high quality match in the other whatsoever.

Again, this is very much a matter of opinion. Personally I think football played skillfully is technically much more difficult and much more entertaining than rugby can ever be. The rules are more technical in rugby but for me the actual skills required are not. I went to school with a number of Irish rugby internationals and it seemed to me that stength and pace were the key requirements rather than any specific technical skills.

[CarrickFan]

In fairness, I think the vast majority of fans have that attitude. But I think the point Murf was making was that for people who aren't really fans (or for people who might possibly become fans), for a lot of those people, it does make a difference that our players play in England and aren't visibly associated with Ireland except when they put the jersey on.

So the fact that our players play mostly in England makes no difference to a fan; but it does make a difference for people who only take a passing interest in the team.
I don't think it's much of a point myself as it has little substantive relevance: even if the players played in Ireland I don't think it would increase interest on a national level all that much.
It would make a bit of difference though: for example, in Kerry a lot of the Gaelic players are very visible around the county (eg working at the bank counter, teachers), and that certainly helps to create a bond between the team and people who wouldn't otherwise take a huge interest in the team. There's a great sense that "they're our lads" kind of thing. Of course for those of us who love the team anyway, they could work in Timbuktu for all we care; but I evidentially know for sure, and it stands to reason, that the peripheral support is greater because of the visibility and local link of the players.

It's a bit of a moot point in this context as we're a long way off having significant international representation sourced from the domestic league. But if there was, I'd bet viewing figures would be even higher. To close on a a more practical point - maybe the international players could do a bit more PR work in Ireland?


Again a lot of good points that i will take on board...cheers...again tho with the comparisons it's not like for like!!...Robbie Keane and Damien Duff etc dont need to be teachers or bankers because they are (too!!) well payed to play sport..if the top GAA players were being payed to play and didnt need to work would they all be so accessable??...anyway a moot point as you say...

if the peripheral soccer supporters want to be closer to soccer in this country we do have a great league in this country that is largely ignored by the soccer public in Ireland at whos games they would all be more than welcome!!!
My own club Rovers are hugely involved in the local junior and underage scene and the manager and players i've always found to be very approachable and accessable.

[micls]

Well I guess that just depends on what sport you'd prefer...obviously
Of course



I would say that LOI games are generally awful, supoose it just depends what you're into.

We're talking in terms of a sport, rather than clubs/leagues within it. I'm not saying the games are bad, I'm saying the sport itself is

As a sport, even at the very top level, I find Gaelic football an awful sport to watch. I spent my childhood travelling the country watching all Cork senior/u21 games etc in both hurling and football and have also played both sports so I have plenty of experience in watching it both live and on tv.

I still find it an awful sport to watch though, one that has degraded in the last 10 years.

Of course taste decides it though.

There aren't many sports I dislike, or wouldn't happily watch if on telly, butGaelic football is one fo the main ones.

[DeLorean]

As for the heavy hitting, you're going to tell me we don't often hear stories about players being involved in fights on the GAA pitch?! :rolleyes:

Usually at local level more than on the National stage though to be honest. There's plenty of that in the local soccer games as well I find. There is the occasional fat intercounty goalkeeper as well, no doubt, but in general they're as fit as they can be. You get exceptions in soccer too eg. Andy Reid, Huddlestone at one stage. Of course the GAA amatures not as fit as full time pros, that stands to reason.


The GAA side look like boys compared to the professional Aussie Rules lads in the international series

I don't really think this is like for like though. The Aussies focus far more on having big strong athletes compared to the Gaelic players. The Gaelic players would look quite normal against a soccer team and small against a rugby team, means nothing.


We're talking in terms of a sport, rather than clubs/leagues within it. I'm not saying the games are bad, I'm saying the sport itself is

Fair enough. I don't agree that it's a bad sport when played well though but to each their own.

[Murfinator]

I'd say some of them travel more than an hour to games too.

Are you seriously suggesting that I should be supporting a team who lives over an hour away, in a different county and from a city I barely know or like with people I don't know as my local team?

[pineapple stu]

Most of the country does it. A fair few provincial rugby fans do it. Many county GAA fans do it.

[Drumcondra 69er]

You're entitled to your opinion but I'd always rather actual Irish people who live in the community and are part of the culture representing our country. Seeing cases like Stephen Ireland who'd rather play for Manchester than his country or English born "Irish" like Andy O Brien or Dean Kiely who realistically were only ever playing for us because they weren't good enough for England. Those guys aren't players I want to support or would in any way make me proud in the team.

That kind of thing would never happen in rugby because everyone loves playing for their country and appreciates the honour in the regard that it should be held in. The very notion of a player retiring from the international side to "concentrate on their club career" would be unheard of in rugby.

And your assault accusations are bizarre. I'd certainly say Henry Shefflin and Colm Cooper are far less violent than someone like Roy Keane or Stephen Hunt. ;)
In fact if we were as physical and filthy as you're describing we wouldn't be getting bashed physically every time we faced the Australians in Aussie Rules!

The paragraph in bold totally undermines your entire post and makes you look like a bit of an idiot who doesn't know what he's on about. There's been many players that have played rugby for Ireland and other countries over the years who have far more spurious connections then the likes of Dean Kiely. Ever hear of this lad for example who declared for Ireland having already been capped by Australia? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Smith_(rugby). He's not an isolated case.

AS for Colm Cooper, he's the biggest diver and chancer I've seen all season yet the GAA media constantly harp on about how soccer players dive and you''d never see that in the GAA, Cooper goes down if you look sideways at him and stays down till he gets attention, pure and constant gamesmanship.

Given such lack of knowledge you're in no position to be pontificating so I'd have to assume you're on a wind up. You're not Paul Collins by any chance? ;)

[Murfinator]

Sure if you have some sort of connection with the venue in question. I have no connection with the city whatsoever. I wouldn't even know anyone who'd want to go there to see it.

What you're suggesting I do is travel for an hour every week on my own so I can sit in a stand watching a team from a city I don't even like and magically summon some sort of interest in whether they do well or not? Then drive home afterwards and if I'm lucky be back before 11pm. Is that right?

[elroy]

Indeed, what a pity it is that the GAA laughably/embarassingly refuse to let Ireland play at Pairc ui Chaoimh because football is an "English" sport.

Dont even go there. A whole new debate. In fairness to the GAA, they have their rules, like it or not. They opened croker for which i am grateful although they were well remunerated. I wouldnt expect them to open the rest of their stadia if they didnt want to. It is a pity that the likes of Cork City and Galway city cant host an international all the same.


the majority of those are season ticket holders, the same people who can't justify the extra expense of the two friendly international games in thomond.
and the Australia game still attracted more than the Ireland - Canada game at Thomond park

I am surprised the games in Thomond havent sold out, however the FAI made a major error here with the pricing, it shouldve been vastly more competitive than it was, particularly as the opposition was first rate and secondly its mid week games.
For a rugby mad or at least self professed, city that cant sell out a rugby friendly against Canada, the chances of selling the football ones was always gonna be tough at those prices.



Finally on the munster debate, I think they have done exceptionally well to gather together such a fan base in such a short period of time, call it bandwagoners if you like. But even for magners game they do pull together decent crowds. Its a model through which I think is one of the few ways club football in Ireland is ever going to attract sizeable numbers of a regular basis.

As i have said before, no code in ireland regularly attracts large numbers to events, gaa gets good numbers from mid to late championship, relatively poor numbers in the early championship and league. Rugby, huge crowds for latter stage Heino cup games, not so good for group games and magner games (in general).
Soccer, great crowds for competitive fixtures, reasonable crowds for friendlies and fai cup final. Not so great regular crowds at league games.
Each code has a set of fans that will go to every game and regularly follow, then there is the rest that will go to the more attractive events. You may not like it, but its true.

[tetsujin1979]

Are you seriously suggesting that I should be supporting a team who lives over an hour away, in a different county and from a city I barely know or like with people I don't know as my local team?

think he's suggesting that there's going to be precious few from outside Limerick at the game, whereas there's always loads from outside Dublin at games in Lansdowne or Croke Park

[paul_oshea]

Most of the country does it. A fair few provincial rugby fans do it. Many county GAA fans do it.

Eh how? I have nothing to do with galway, would i support galway united? NO.

I live in connaught would i support connaught rugby, yes.

I live in County Sligo, I support Sligo, yes.

I live in County Sligo, would i support Roscommon, No.

A team in a town miles and miles away is not the same as provicinal rugby in which one lives or inter-county gaa, in which they live.