THE DEMAND for tickets in Galway for Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final has reached unprecedented levels with 6,000 applications being received for the 900 tickets which went on public sale.
But while the allocation to the county is less than 12,000, Galway hurling officials are confident that 30,000 will travel to cheer on the Tribesmen in their quest for a fifth All-Ireland title and their first since 1988.
Galway hurling board chairman Joe Byrne said supporters were showing great initiative in sourcing tickets and he is confident that at least 30,000 will be cheering on Anthony Cunningham’s men on Sunday.
Most of the 12,000 tickets which were allocated to Galway were distributed to clubs throughout the county, with 900 going on public sale.
GAA officials in the county have spent the past few days sifting through the 6,000 applications which were received for those tickets, with few put off by the €80 price tag.
“It is wonderful to have such support in the first place and this is a problem every county in the country would wish to have at this time of the year,” said Byrne, who is in his second year as chairman. “We have a great team of volunteers in the GAA in Galway and we have got great help from the football and county board officers.
“There is a huge demand and we have only so many tickets, but supporters tend to have great ways of sourcing their own tickets around the country and I would hope everyone is sorted out by the weekend,” he added.
Donegal fans have been in touch over the past week offering swaps as they prepare for only their second ever football final two weeks later.
“The county is awash with maroon and white and there has been a great effort from clubs, communities, schools and businesses. Hopefully, it will all work out on Sunday,” added the Galway chairman.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Galway has admitted he can’t win or lose on Sunday in the All-Ireland hurling final.
Kilkenny native and hurling fanatic Dr Martin Drennan has been bishop in Galway for seven years, but will have some divided loyalties when the sides clash in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park.
Bishop Drennan played club and colleges hurling in Kilkenny and has been a regular supporter at their big matches down through the years.
But after spending the last seven years in Galway he says he will be just as delighted if they win. “My first hope is that it will be a great match and I think it will be.”
Tomorrow:
KILKENNY
The mood in the home of the reigning All-Ireland senior hurling champions