JUST 864 PEOPLE came through the turnstiles in Longford and Inchicore last Monday night to see games which were vital in the chase for the SSE Airtricity league title.
It’s hugely-disheartening to write that. A few observers, notably Gareth Penrose on extratime.ie and Alan Cawley on RTÉ, have been consistently highlighting the worrying trend in league attendances.
When you consider that those who attended are likely to be among the hardcore, so are more likely to be in possession of season tickets, it only reinforces the point that across the respective games, it’s unlikely that either Longford or St Pat’s cleared €5,000 on the gate.
Whether the gates on Monday night are truly representative of a decline is questionable. Richie Sadlier made a number of valid points when discussing the issue earlier in the week.
Neither Longford nor Pat’s have anything left to play for and that’s no doubt a factor. Also, while Dundalk and Cork City are among the best-supported teams in the country, the number of games they’ve played in recent weeks – as fixtures pile up – means that supporters of those clubs are less likely to make the away trip on a Monday night.
There were positives this week though that back up Sadlier’s point about the importance of having something at stake.
We saw a full house last night in Tallaght for Dundalk’s Europa league match against Zenit St Petersburg and we also saw 1,267 supporters cheer on Cork City’s U19 side in the Uefa Youth League at home to HJK Helsinki in Turner’s Cross on Wednesday night.
In both cases, the games were well-promoted by the clubs and garnered media attention. Crucially, there was something to play for in both games. It confirms that there is an appetite for football in the country if we can get the scheduling, the promotion and the marketing right.
We see it consistently, and not just in football — an event brings people into the stadia.
The biggest event in Irish football is only a matter of weeks away. The two best clubs in the country over the past three years will go head-to-head in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup final and the FAI have had a target and a means to achieve it set by another code which would claim a lack of coverage and a lack of interest from the general public.
A few weeks back the ladies All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Cork attracted a crowd of nearly 35,000 into Croke Park, making it the largest attendance at a women’s sporting event in Europe this year.
There were a number of factors that helped contribute to the large attendance.
Firstly, the sponsorship campaign run by Lidl in their support of the women’s game has been hugely successful and a wonderful example of how a sponsor can help to raise awareness of their own brand, while raising awareness of the sport they sponsor.
The second factor was selling the game as the pinnacle of the sport in the country, getting clubs to buy into it and bussing them in large numbers to the stadium on group tickets.
The amount of kids from clubs throughout the country who got a day out in Croke Park off the back of this initiative added numbers, noise and colour to the excitement on the pitch.
The FAI have announced €10 tickets for adults and €5 tickets for children which is consistent with other years and doesn’t create a massive barrier for entry for families.
We have the country’s two best sides in competition and Dundalk’s European success this season has captured the imagination of the public in a way that we haven’t seen previously.
I see it myself in work as people ask me what channel the game is on and how I think Dundalk will do. Whether other clubs like it or not, the nation has rallied around Stephen Kenny’s side and want to see them be successful.
35,000 in the Aviva Stadium in a couple of weeks should be the target for the FAI.
Another code with an even lower profile than our own has achieved it and has laid down a blueprint for how it can be achieved.
Participation numbers in football exceed any other team sport in Ireland, we have all the ingredients to make it a massive attendance and send clubs into the off-season on a positive note, whetting the appetite of the public before we face into the off-season. We’ve a chance to make memories and win new fans.
There’s a lot to play for.
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Fair play munster that’s a great point in the end
A great, but irrelevant point
We’ll see if its irrelevant in Jan.
It means that Munster need a win instead of a bonus point win against Saracens. Plus a bonus point win against Sale. Plus Saracens get nothing from Claremont. Fabulous.
So not irrelevant then?
Most Munsterish ending ever.
Great bonus point, but hard not to look at the early dominance and missed tries and not think of what might have been….
Serious problems with scrums with Munster and Leinster. Couple of injuries and we are both screwed everythime.
Management in both provinces seems to be way off. Ireland had a terrible run of injuries and still managed both performances and results. The IRFU have their work cut out for them.
Scrummaging in Ireland has forever been average to poor.
Couldn’t agree more. It was too early for Foley to be given such a big job. He has to go.
A step too far today, big ask to get a victory next round but that bonus point is the difference between needing a bonus point win or just a win and give Saracens nothing and take 5 off sale last round.
I don’t know why but I just find Keatley seems to show more consistency and nerve in his kicking playing away from home… Sale game, marseille last year and nailed all of them today.. Great bottle shown in the end there. That point will be absolutely crucial!
Couldn’t agree more, I’ve often defended Keatley and when I do I always reference his performances against the big teams away where he really seems to flourish. Just wish he could do it on a consistent basis and he could really develop into a top player.
Had a good game today, made some good line breaks and nerves of steel at the end to nail that kick.
Just not good enough.
It would appear the RFU and French paymasters will get what they want with a French/Anglo duopoly this year barring a massive turnaround. Praying that any of the three provinces make it through. Rugby has taken a step towards soccer monotony with the largest wage bill winning out 99% of the time.
The Sooper Dooper Cup indeed.
Stereotype much?
Footballs Champions League has yet to be retained by any team , Man City the team with the highest wage bill hasn’t come within an asses roar of winning it.
Conway and Jones not good enough. JJ showed what he can do. Better not lose him.
Another defeat. Long trip home for the thousands of disappointed Munster fans. To the brave and faithful nothing is impossible – except beating Clermont either home or away.
We have beaten Clermont at home. TWICE. Get your facts right, Robson.
Robson, Munster lost away to a top class European side a week ago we lost to a average English one.
As a Leinster fan I’d be a little happier in Munster shoes than ours at the minute.
Pity they weren’t playing a piss poor bayonne team in a nothing competition hey knobson. Suppose ur alter ego paul sheehan will be on here supporting you in the minute.
Well done Munster got a point out of nothing injuries really hurt them today!
Well robsonkeane at least the supporters in France are true sporting fans your just a little bitter limerick man who clams to be a Connacth ” fan ” yet I doubt you have ever been to a Connacth game.
You get your rocks off trolling every Munster story with your fellow deluded Waterford buddy.
Eamonn no need drag Connacth into it. Robson is from limerick he’s a Munster man born and breed .
He’s just a bitter little troll
Robson, your clearly not enough into rugby to know the fact that Munster have beaten Clermont at home before,your also clearly a dope who gets his kicks by showing the world just how much of a dope you are…kinda pity you really.
Chris, I think Foley and Matt O Connor seem to have similar game plan that just does not work with any team with a bit of running ability and a reasonably good set piece.
Robson, go play with the traffic.
That’s a good lad
Your from limerick Robson that’s well know on here !
And ya I’ll be at the game I live in Galway. Ya your such a die hard Connacth fan you had time a few weeks ago too troll a Munster thread on here while Munster and Connacth had games on at the same time .
You spoofer robsonkeane!
A Munster fan from Connacht? Go and support your local team pal. I’ll meet you in Oranmore some night in my local.
I live and work in Galway I’m 100% Munster kid.
Next time I’m in keans or the brewery I’ll look out for the lad on his iPhone with the Connacth shirt and limerick accent
Robson is a United fan.
Read the United V Liverpool thread. He is a United fan.
Robson, since when is Manchester United your local team ? Ya tool.
Munster were awful.. Living on past glories for far to long .. No penetration whatsoever.
Just not good enough, flaws were exposed last week and the same mistakes were present again.today. Foley has to go. Great player in his day but he hasn’t got a f***** clue about the management side of the game.
What do you expect when he hired mick o Driscoll as the skills coach !
Is being able to block a jacks considered to be a skill now?????
Why the red thumbs? Either justify the level of performance today with a comment or f**[ off.
Lets put it this way. Do people think Munster have progressed or regressed since last season ?
Ya same mistakes repeat but not a many as last week.
The players out injured is a big problem bar Copland there was no one to bring on.
But Munster are not at the level of the French super teams money talks in the top14 .
Munster and can give them a scare when there at there best but until Irish teams have the funds to bring in top player’s it’s going to be hard going.
it’s way too early to be calling for Foleys head .
Im not calling for his head. I believe he has to be given time. And as you said, trying to compete with these mega rich French clubs is practically impossible. I simply asked the question to gauge opinion.
Keatley was our hero and villain today, his kicking from hand in the first half put us under huge pressure allowing the opposition to run back at us. No more so than before half time that kick should have been in the stand instead quick line out and boom nail in coffin time. Some balls to get the last one though!
I’m not giving up on Munster yet. Great bonus point today against the potential champions. Beat Sarries away and it’s all down to last home game against Sale where we need 4 tries. Read your history books. It’s not impossible.
No need to be ratty, Sean Pol O’Finn. Take your defeat and deal with it. I’m Connacht born and bred. I’ll see you at the match in a few weeks – that’s if you actually go to games like me. Ye will still get out of this group. Saracens are not up to much.
Ah yes, those well known pauper underdogs Real Madrid who have the 2nd highest wage bill in football won it this year Eamon, my bad.
The way pro Football is run is clearly a socialists wet dream that rugby should aspire to.
Come on now lads – you all know more than this. It’s away to Saracens next, so that bonus point was irrelevant. And you all know that you know that. Great game nonetheless.
Its true. Munster have absolutely no history of going to England and winning against the odds…..
Clermont very, very sloppy in both games in terms of letting Munster off the hook. They probably didn’t deserve anything from the game in Thomond, definitely didn’t deserve anything from this game, but Clermont go miles in front, chasing a bonus point win and give Munster a very cheap 10 points.
That losing bonus point could be the difference at the end of the groups. If they didn’t get it they were out, but now still very doable. Beat Saracens away (who are in an awful run of form) and hammer a disinterested Sale at home and I reckon they’re through.
Much better level of rugby in Clermont then the game last night in Lansdowne Rd.
Great result for Connacht yesterday. Please God they can keep the performances coming.