WITH THE ALL-IRELAND Football Championship really kicking into gear this weekend – with apologies to Mayo and New York supporters – and the hurling under way in Leinster the last few weeks, fans up and down the country will be planning trips to grounds they either love or hate.
With that in mind, we asked some of the contributors to TheScore.ie and TheJournal.ie what their favourite inter-county grounds are with the one condition being that nobody could mention Croke Park.
Here’s what they had to say.
I’m going to go for Nowlan Park. Outside of the dilapidated charm of Conleth’s Park in Newbridge, it’s my favourite inter-county ground as I’m always there as a neutral so – unusually for a Kildare fan – can’t lose.
Semple Stadium was always more magical for me. It meant there was an excursion (from Kildare) and that – more than likely – I was watching a great game of hurling. And sometimes it meant a diversion to the McDonalds in Roscrea, which everybody knows is the best one.
Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, the setting for brilliant games between Cork and Kerry in many Munster football finals.
Fraher Field in Dungarvan. Great little ground adjacent to water and the scene of the brilliant breakthrough by the Clare hurlers in 2009 when they won the county’s first Munster U21 title
Semple Stadium for me. Us Dubs don’t get out of the capital too often but my favourite memory growing up was the Trip to Tipp in 2001 — the craic in the car on the way down, hoofing a ball around Liberty Square, Dublin’s brilliant comeback in the final 15 minutes and then one moment of breathtaking magic from Maurice Fitzgerald.
It’ll be an unpopular choice, but Parnell Park has a certain appeal to me. For me it means the Dublin Senior Club Championships, lovely staff and excellent hot dogs. It’s not fancy, but it’s got its charms.
Would have to be Cusack Park in Ennis. Great memories of the Roscommon minors there in ’06. To say we were all ecstatic that day would be an understatement. But anyway, when you’re used to the Hyde it doesn’t take much to impress you.
But that’s enough about us, we want to know what your favourite is? Let us know in the comments below.
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Just what I’ve come to expect really. It reeks of desperation when you’re trying to sign 12 year olds
There are serious problems with Liverpools transfer policy for a long time now. It’s like the defence no matter who they get in it can’t be sorted.
Regarding the communication before signing and incentives offered this is something done by all the big clubs, ya just have to look at Utd and when they first signed pogba, Chelsea and Gael kakuta, even think Everton got in bother before but why not pay school fees? I would’ve thought that schools fees were standard for all academy players at club like Liverpool
@El Johno: Premier league brought in a new rule last summer so Liverpool had to remove school fees from the deal as it was not signed b4 new rule. Parents complained about this but the ban is for bringing them to a first team game.
FSG out please I don’t care about them saving us from bankruptcy they care more about their American baseballers and clearly have enough money to pay fcking school fees! Liverpool are not a club that wants to make player profits they are a club that wants to make Champions league profits
@Ollie Watson: very difficult Ollie when they struggle to invest in the team
@Ollie Watson: paying school fees is against premier league rules since last summer. The article should have highlighted this.
Mickey Mouse really. Huge deal made out of nothing. Happens all the time.
That’s very amateurish
That’s a shame, the young lad could of slotted in in place of Lovren. Improve the defense