GAELIC GAMES NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINALS:ASSURANCES OF a major marketing campaign and the prospect of special ticket packages helped convince the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) to fix both the Division One and Two finals of the National Football League for Croke Park.
They might have caused far more of a stir had they not fixed them for there, although it remains to be seen if the final pairings on Sunday week – Kerry against Derry in Division One, and Monaghan against Cork in Division Two – attract the sort of crowd usually associated with opening GAA headquarters.
The other divisional finals will be played the day before, Saturday April 25th, at Pearse Park in Longford – featuring Down against Tipperary from Division Three, and Antrim against Sligo from Division Four.
CCCC chairman Jimmy Dunne outlined the reasons for opting for Croke Park, and while in the end their decision was unanimous, several factors were taken into account.
“The main reason was we felt this was a showcase game for the GAA,” he said. “We’ve also got assurances that there’s going to be a big marketing strategy put in the place for these finals in Croke Park. And the same for the other two finals in Longford.
“It’s up to the Finance Committee to look at special ticket packages. But I imagine there would be a big push on that as well. As far as I’m aware, for the club finals on St Patrick’s Day, every club in the country got two free tickets. I don’t know if they’re going to repeat that, but certainly they’re going to put a big marketing push into it.”
There was some controversy when last year’s Division One final, also between Kerry and Derry, was fixed for Parnell Park (and combined with the Division Three final between Wexford and Fermanagh) although it was largely justified when only 9,732 showed up on the day.
Two years ago the Division One final between Donegal and Mayo was fixed for Croke Park, and drew a respectable crowd of 29,433. In 2005, the Division One final between Armagh and Wexford, plus the Division Two final between Monaghan and Meath, drew a healthy 46,445.
“We took last year into consideration,” added Dunne, “and the fact that there wasn’t a big attendance at that fixture. But the feeling was with proper marketing we should increase that attendance two-fold. They got just over 30,000 for the club finals in Croke Park a few weeks back and if we got that again we’d be happy enough.
“It was also felt that Croke Park was the appropriate place because of the Allianz sponsorship. They put so much into the competition, and in fairness to them Croke Park would be the place for the final.
“So they were the issues that came into it. Marketing, the sponsors, and geographically, it makes sense as well. There was some discussion on it, and all the pros and cons were put on the table. And in the end it was unanimous, and agreed that this was the best strategy to go with. . . . I don’t think everybody was happy last year.”
Kerry football manager Jack O’Connor had expressed his desire for the final to go to Croke Park, saying that “any player who is serious about his football wants to perform on the best stage”.
Derry manager Damien Cassidy felt likewise: “After all the rugby and soccer games that have been played at Croke Park, it would have been a sorry state of affairs if the Derry and Kerry players did not get a similar opportunity,” he said yesterday.
The last time Kerry played a league final in Croke Park was 2004, when they beat Galway in front of a crowd of 28,072. Derry’s last league final appearance in Croke Park was in 2000, when they draw with then All-Ireland champions Meath, in a game that attracted 25,743.
As anticipated, the National Hurling League Division One final between Kilkenny and holders Tipperary will be played in Semple Stadium in Thurles on Sunday, May 3rd, with a 4pm throw-in.
The Division Two final will precede that game, with a 2pm throw-in, but in this case the finalists are not yet known. Offaly only need a draw with Antrim this Sunday to book their place while Wexford need to do likewise against Carlow, also at home. Bar an upset, therefore, it is shaping up to be an Offaly-Wexford final. The Division Three and Four finals will be played on the Saturday, May 2nd.
LEAGUE FINALS
Saturday, April 25th: National Football League – Division Three final: Down v Tipperary, Longford, 6.30.
Division Four final: Antrim v Sligo, Longford, 4.30.
Sunday, April 26th: National Football League – Division One final: Kerry v Derry, Croke Park, 4pm.
Division Two final: Cork v Monaghan, Croke Park, 2pm.
Saturday, May 2nd: National Hurling League – Division Three A final: Meath v Kildare, Mullingar, 3pm.
Division Three B final: London v TBC, Parnell Park, 3pm
Division Four final: Monaghan v Sligo, Mullingar, 1pm.
Sunday, May 3rd: National Hurling League – Division One final: Kilkenny v Tipperary, Thurles, 4pm
Division Two final: TBC, Thurles, 2pm.
