Bishop says fans losing out on tickets

The distribution of All-Ireland final tickets works against genuine fans who attend league games on a regular basis, Bishop John…

The distribution of All-Ireland final tickets works against genuine fans who attend league games on a regular basis, Bishop John Buckley claimed yesterday.

The Bishop of Cork and Ross, who is a GAA supporter, said hurling enthusiasts who attended games throughout the year should be given priority when tickets for the All-Ireland final are being allocated.

"Catering for the requirements of everybody is very difficult, and that is something I accept. But I am talking here about the fans who attend league games in the winter and spring who now find themselves without tickets.

"Couldn't the people who attend these games be given a voucher which would give them priority when the finals are on."

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Many Cork fans are still scrambling to track down tickets for tomorrow's match with thousands expected to make the trip to Croke Park in the hope of being able to buy a ticket outside the grounds.

One of the Rebel County's biggest hurling fanatics, Mr Tommy Roche from Blackpool, is devastated at missing his first All-Ireland final involving Cork in nearly 40 years.

The father of two has been at Croke Park for every hurling final in which his beloved Cork have participated since 1966.

However, this year the demand for tickets has gone through the roof as Cork bid to avenge their humiliating defeat by Kilkenny 12 months ago. Mr Roche, who has only missed one of Cork's games in the lead up to this year's final, says he is still hoping that a ticket will "come out of nowhere".

Cork GAA press officer, Mr John Motherway, said 40,000 Cork people will travel to the match, regardless of whether they have tickets or not.