GAA gets higher ratings than Ireland Qualifier

[paul_oshea]

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

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

When, next carrying out your fact finding mission, have a look at the size of the pitch.

[pineapple stu]

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

No, I was picking up on his argument that in order to be proper Irish, you should be passionate about your locality. This doesn't seem to follow through in the football side of things though.

Edit - in particular, I was responding to this:

To GAA fans and Irish people in general. I'd honestly only expect some comment like that [an anti-GAA comment; possibly a legitimate one] from some english supremest who deludes themself that they have an in depth understanding of our country.

and this:

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

I was also responding to the contradiction that some people in, say, Carlow support Leinster Rugby, or some people in Bantry support Cork GAA, but Murfinator doesn't feel the same support should apply to him in the LoI. I'm questioning his Irishness as a result.

(And I'm obvioulsy doing it all in a sarcastic manner to poke holes in his argument)

[Sheridan]

When, next carrying out your fact finding mission, have a look at the size of the pitch.

Yeah, I did, thanks. I also noted that the game was played fifteen-a-side and largely involved whacking the ball as far as possible from a near-stationary position, like a less skillful form of netball.

[bennocelt]

Im to ****ed to read all the posts here.....but there is no way that football is going down in popularity at all, at least not in the areas I grow up, just casue we dont qualify dont mean diddly squat........football is the game of the masses....gah is something you might play if you were bored (rarely) and rugby easlily desends in to aussie rules............

I watch all sports but gah is a complete joke of a sport, and as much as i love hurling there is only one team!

and by the way the reason why some of us HATE the gah is we have seen the way they treat local football teams................from digging up pitches....having training sessions at same time as football..........telling players not to play "soccer", and generaly sneering attitude.......and they are the same fellas at the pub cheering on Man u!!!

[paul_oshea]

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?!

The aussies are pumping themselves full of steroids from the age of 16 its impossible to compare the players in those terms. In fitness terms the gaelic lads have put it up to them as has been shown the last couple of times. Strenght is a whole different question though.

[Murfinator]

No, I was picking up on his argument that in order to be proper Irish, you should be passionate about your locality. This doesn't seem to follow through in the football side of things though.

Edit - in particular, I was responding to this:



and this:


I was also responding to the contradiction that some people in, say, Carlow support Leinster Rugby, or some people in Bantry support Cork GAA, but Murfinator doesn't feel the same support should apply to him in the LoI. I'm questioning his Irishness as a result.

(And I'm obvioulsy doing it all in a sarcastic manner to poke holes in his argument)

That would make sense if I was from an area that has a team, you might have mistaken it earlier but there is no team in my locality. I'll support any LOI team in Europe but why would I take sides nationally when I have equally little in common with every team?

I support Munster and my county in hurling and football because I do have something in common with the teams, I can chat to people at work or at home about their progress, go to matches with friends and support them heartily, so it is a community and culture thing to an extent. I can't do that for a LOI team because... there isn't one. You're looking for hypocritical comments where there aren't any, dude.

[Straightstory]

To GAA fans and Irish people in general. I'd honestly only expect some comment like that from some english supremest who deludes themself that they have an in depth understanding of our country. Pretty sick to think there's people living in my country with that kind of caveman view on our national game and the people who support it.

I hate the GAA and GAA supporters. Horrible games with a nasty, sectarian backdrop. And what's the point of hurling? You can't even see the ball.

[SkStu]

Murfinator, i might have missed it earlier but where in the midwest do you live?

[DeLorean]

I hate the GAA and GAA supporters. Horrible games with a nasty, sectarian backdrop

Yes GAA supporters are evil, every one of them. There are no exceptions whatsoever, same with people who like U2. And as for the sectarian thing you'd never find anything like that in the beautiful game.

And what's the point of hurling? You can't even see the ball.

Oh sweet mother...

[Jicked]

Yes GAA supporters are evil, every one of them. There are no exceptions whatsoever, same with people who like U2. And as for the sectarian thing you'd never find anything like that in the beautiful game.

But the sectarianism in GAA has been propogated by the governing body themselves, unlike any other sport I can think of.

[Stuttgart88]

To me the GAA represents an inward looking attitude, tied hand in hand with the FF view of Irishness and Ireland.

I've always preferred the "foreign" games myself because it allows Ireland some visibility in the outside world.

[DeLorean]

I think, like most things Ireland related, the GAA has been very backwards in it's attitude towards 'foreign games'. This is slowly but surely changing but it will take time for it to drown out completely. While there are many GAA chiefs still around who remember the days where it was a battle for them to get their sports played I'd imagine they'll continue on with a chip on their shoulder.

[MariborKev]

The worst of both sides of the argument can be seen here.

I'm a football fan, a gaelic fan, a rugby fan and a cricket fan. I've watched local and national sides in all sports, at all levels, all over the country and around the world. Can someone tell me how Irish I am, I'm confused.......

[Murfinator]

And what's the point of hurling? You can't even see the ball.

Excellent question, I'll forward it to the GAA comment desk to see if they have some sort of explanation.

[livehead1]

I must say I'm delighted our national sport is so well followed.

[Colbert Report]

Who cares about GAA, this is a football website. Yawn.

[northwestexile]

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=117471

Surprised?

Is this article for real. Basically what they are saying is that I've got more friends than you have

[DeLorean]

The worst of both sides of the argument can be seen here.

I'm a football fan, a gaelic fan, a rugby fan and a cricket fan. I've watched local and national sides in all sports, at all levels, all over the country and around the world. Can someone tell me how Irish I am, I'm confused.......

I works like this I believe...

Gaelic Fan: 100 credits
Rugby Fan: 5 credits for supporting Ireland, 10 credits for supporting your province
Football Fan: 5 credits for supporting Ireland, 10 credits for supporting your LOI side, -50 for supporting PL team
Cricket Fan: -100 credits

[Scram]

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=117471

Surprised?

Can’t open the link, and I would not recommend that any GAA fan in Dublin or Ulster go anywhere near that bigoted Hogan Stand site because it will put you off the GAA completely. (if bigots like Pat Spillane and Kevin McStay have not already…they would rather the Sunday Game was called “Keep it Culchie”.

What are the viewing figures based on (RTE only?) because the game was also shown on Sky so most pubs would show it on Sky.

But anyway, there was far more excitement in Tipp v Kilkenny than any Ireland game to date. Having said that, the country will stand still for Ireland v Italy.

[Stuttgart88]

Yeah, it's a bit unfair to compare the biggest game of the hurling season to a regular football game, albeit an important one. Likewise in the rugby, where almost every game is against a top 8 side in the world. In football almost every game is against an unglamourous team, only a handful are against the better teams.

Noone can doubt that football has lost its lustre but it's on the road to recovery I think.