Strain to sell interprovincial finals

Gaelic Games:The GAA are struggling to generate ticket sales for the interprovincial finals, set for Croke Park on Saturday week.

Leinster's defeat in both the hurling and football semi-finals last Saturday has added to the problem, effectively eliminating any local interest, and the prospect of a near-empty stadium looms.

It's hardly a reflection of the interest in Gaelic games during the so-called off-season, however, as attendances at the ongoing county finals have been up to, or above recent levels. With 11 county finals down for decision this weekend, along with the start of the provincial club competitions, overall attendances even at this time of the year aren't too far off championship levels.

However, only a few hundred spectators showed up for last Saturday's first two semi-finals in Fermoy, which saw Munster beat Leinster in both the football and hurling.

The second set of semi-finals take place this Saturday to mark the installation of the new floodlights at Ballybofey, featuring Ulster against Connacht, and despite the novelty of that occasion a large crowd is not anticipated there either.

"Ticket sales for the finals in Croke Park are slow," said GAA press officer Feargal McGill.

"But then we expected it to be slow, given the finalists aren't even known yet. Leinster losing both matches last weekend doesn't help, for sure, and makes the job of selling tickets that bit harder."

It was GAA president Nickey Brennan who ultimately decided the two finals should be played in Croke Park, as an evening floodlight event, but has insisted it was never about ticket sales, and more about giving the competition the recognition it deserves.

Several promotions were launched around the event, including a focus on the immigrant community as potential spectators, and especially low prices (adults €10, children €5).

It's the first time since 1991 the finals have been played together in Croke Park.

"We have been promoting the event in the non-national community around the city, and several leaders of that community have been invited.

"It is still an attractive fixture, the first hurling game to be played under lights at Croke Park. And tickets also very attractively priced, which is intended as a sort of thank-you for supporters all over the country."

Both games are also down for live TV coverage by RTÉ (the football at 5.15pm, and the hurling at 7pm).

In the meantime, another busy weekend of county finals has football deciders in Monaghan, Meath, Derry, Carlow and Westmeath, and hurling finals in Tipperary, Galway, Offaly, Clare, Wexford and Kildare.

Last Sunday saw several county finals break the 10,000-attendance, including the Cork hurling final and Tyrone football final.

The GAA have also unveiled details of their National Bursaries scheme for students attending higher education colleges, a new venture under their ongoing commitment to player welfare.

The scheme is open to all members of the association who are attending a full-time higher education course (except those who hold another GAA-related or college scholarship, bursary) and who are active participants in their higher education club.

The bursaries will be administered by the respective provincial councils, with applications for the scheme to be considered by a sub-committee in each province, which will include representatives nominated by the provincial council and representatives of Comhairle Ard-Oideachais, Higher Education colleges.

Brennan said that €260,000 would be invested in the scheme in its initial year, with the provincial councils contributing €155,000, and the balance would come from central resources:

"At the beginning of my presidency, I announced my intention to introduce player welfare initiatives that would reconcile with the policies, ethos and structures of the association. As part of this process, we asked the GAA's Comhairle Ard Oideachais to submit proposals relating to the provision of bursaries to third level colleges."

Brennan said the bursary scheme would assist students who might otherwise have to work to meet the costs of their education, in devoting more time to the promotion of Gaelic games in their respective colleges.

Each bursary granted will be for €1,000/£700: further information and application forms for this year's scheme are available to download from www.gaa.ie; from the various GAA provincial council websites and offices; and from the Higher Education Colleges website http://he.gaa.ie/

All completed forms should be returned to the relevant provincial council and the closing date for applications will be November 1st.

The GAA's player welfare manager, Paraic Duffy, added that while a cap was placed on the number of awards granted per college, the number of students involved in hurling and football activity within the college would be taken into account in deciding the number of awards made to an individual college:

"It is envisaged that recipients will be selected on the basis of their playing commitment and administrative or coaching commitment to the college club. And that 20 per cent of all awards in each province each year will be granted to students excelling in the areas of coaching and administration."

Finally, the GAA hurling All Stars will be announced in Dublin this afternoon, immediately after their selection.

The football line-up will be announced live at Friday's All Star banquet in Dublin.