THE KILDARE COUNTY board has expressed ‘regret’ to its fans that they will not be able to meet the huge demand for tickets ahead of their All-Ireland SFC qualifier clash with Mayo.
It is also likely that the travelling support could outnumber the Kildare spectators at the game, given the bigger number of season ticket holders in Mayo.
The Leinster side are hosting the game on Saturday following a highly publicised stand-off with the GAA, who originally fixed the game for Croke Park as part of double-header with Cavan and Tyrone, despite Kildare being drawn first on Monday morning.
The GAA has since announced that the game will now be staged in St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge following discussions with the Kildare County Committee and An Garda Síochána in recent days.
Kildare GAA published a statement on Wednesday night thanking the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) for its support in bringing the match back to Nebridge, and has since released a separate statement which reads:
“Coiste Chontae Chill Dara would like to place on record our heartfelt thanks to the clubs and followers of Kildare GAA, who have been so supportive not just this week but through all good times and bad.
“That is something that we have never taken for granted.
It is a source of great regret therefore that we will not be able to accommodate the huge demand for tickets among the Kildare GAA public for this game, and thank you for your understanding and patience in this regard.
“We would ask people who do not have a ticket for the match on Saturday not to turn up in Newbridge.
“We reiterate our appreciation of the support for Kildare GAA.
St Conleth’s Park has a capacity of 8,200 and Kildare and Mayo County Committees will receive ’1,500 tickets each for club distribution,’ according to a statement from the GAA.
“The remainder will be used to meet the needs of players, season ticket holders and sponsors.”
Mayo have approximately 3,500 season ticket holders while Kildare have roughly 1,000 season ticket holders, meaning that it is likely that the visiting supporters will outnumber the Kildare spectators in the Newbridge venue.
Additionally, Mayo released a statement earlier this week in which they expressed a desire ‘that all Mayo GAA season ticket holders will get access to a ticket for this game.’
Director of communications Alan Milton told RTÉ Sport on Wednesday that the original decision to move the game to Croke Park was motivated by concerns about the ‘health and safety of patrons.’
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Move it to a bigger stadium
@bmul: If the GAA had any sense that’s what they would do, absolute shambles
@bmul: whoooaa there. What sort of talk is that! Anyway without the extra publicity the ticket demand might not have been so high
@Jon Walters: but the gaa asked Kildare on Monday morning to nominate a ground of their choice (that’s obviously up to standard) to host the game…
@Jon Walters: Kildare Gaa had the offer…what a shambles.
This is a bit of a disingenuous non-headline in my opinion and a cheap shot at Kildare.
Kildare GAA would have known their fans would be outnumbered anyway before they made an issue of playing in Newbridge. Any Kildare fan who has been to a recent Kildare game or Conleths Park would have known this too.
The headline should put Health and Safety first and read “Kildare GAA asks all fans without tickets not to attend St. Conleths Park”. There’s plenty of click bait there while getting to the nub of the issue.
@EK: Some Kildare fans will not get to see the game because it is being played in Newbridge.
But does it really matter.
@paul kelly: No Paul. It doesn’t matter. Most Kildare fans are delighted that they stood up to the suits. Cill Dara Abu.
G’wan Mayo!
Plenty of seating in croke Park if they hadn’t had a hissy fit
@Michael Walsh: they got a home draw and wanted a home draw seems far to me
@bmul: but it is not really fair on the 20,000 odd fans who won’t be able to get a ticket. I can understand them wanting home advantage but the fans should be a higher consideration.
Also Kildare has a population of 222,000 by the last census. It begs the question as to why the biggest venue in the county can only hold 8,200. That failing is on the Kildare County Board for not investing properly in their stadium to accommodate their fans.
@Inanimate Carbon Rod: had that problem for years I go to a lot of county matches along with a few thousand others come all ireland day they come out of the wood work and get tickets. Sunday galway v kilkenny match won’t be a full house if it’s the all ireland it will be .
@Inanimate Carbon Rod: all valid points. But ask your self how often they would need such a large capacity. Once maybe twice a year? They instead have a fantastic centre of excellence in hawkefield to accommodate underage development, and are in the process of developing St conleths over the next 2 years.
@Inanimate Carbon Rod: because not every county has the luxury of having an 82,000 capacity stadium on their doorstep.
@Ray Farrell: Croke Park is on Kildare’s doorstep
@Inanimate Carbon Rod: that population count is not really accurate, Kildare is essentially a suburb of Dublin it’s no different than Tallaght or Swords
@Gav: do Dublin play some league games in Parnell Park?
@Gav: NOT their De Facto Stadium perhaps, but let’s not kid ourselves that the large Stadium in Dublin that host’s Dublins Championship matches isn’t their home stadium too.
It’s like the RDS & The Aviva for Leinster in Rugby, except more so….
Hon Mayo! No better show in town this time of year!
@flemsip: eh… guna disagree there pal. Cork v Clare.. Kilkenny v Galway. No comparison.
The football is a mere side show this year.
@IrishOwl: “the standard of hurling is so bad that even Galway managed to win the All Ireland last year” – Conor Moore, Comedian
@Shane Mitchell: ha… no matter what standard it is… its still eclipses the football by a country mile
@Dave Johnston: dublin and who comes second
@IrishOwl: It has been for a long time.
@Shane Mitchell: Shows the level you are at if you are getting your sport quotes from a comedian.
@Mike Keane: it’s comedy mike. It’s not meant to be serious. Chill
@IrishOwl: football is now and always be a game for bad hurlers
@Dave Johnston: football is interesting for about 4 counties
@Dave Johnston: More inclusive ???? Go back to bed kid. About 3 teams, well one really have an realistic chance to win.
@Bernard Keating: really bad ones!
@Shane Mitchell: But you must be fairly stuck for words! Galway lads will have the last laugh..
@David Kelly: Football is interesting for the 31 counties(bar Kilkenny)who actually take part in the championship compared to the 10 or so who participate in hurling.The reason for that is the lack of interest in actually playing hurling throughout large parts of Ireland,it’s okay as a spectator sport is most people’s attitude.
Punishment for the Newbridge or nowhere, atmosphere would be much better in Croke park.. I can understand why they did it, but looks to have backfired.
@Gavin R: Kildare shoulda nominated Portlaoise or Tullamore when they had the chance..
@wormtubes: In fairness Newbridge is the closest Mayo will ever get to silverware. :-)
@Niall Quinlan: top notch banter.
@Niall Quinlan: I’ll give ya that :)
@Niall Quinlan: Wanna bet! The Silverware is on Kildares doorstep – you said it – and they still wouldnt be able pull it off!! This is a joke for Kildare now.
@Niall Quinlan: as a Mayo supporter I salute you sir, savage banter
@Patrick O’Sullivan: Hard luck last night, hopefully for the fans Mayo will be back stronger next year.
Fierce indictment on the Kildare board that they haven’t developed a stadium fit for purpose. Zero investment in near 30 years with a huge support base.
Season tickets are for sports clubs and stadiums to get their home game income quicker. They’re not supposed to be paid to governing organisations or entitle someone to hog a seat on every ground going
What a moan fest Kildare got what they wanted At 9pm sat night they will have a lot more to moan about.
@genejeanie: doubt it
@Finnster: you are very busy, and will be, saying ‘ i doubt it’ !!!
Kildare playing at home should have first call on tickets their county board at fault here to allow Mayo to outnumber them now.
@john miller: don’t think they had a choice.
@john miller: season ticket holders get priority.. Always have
@john miller: what are you on about…see Wormtubes below!
How long will the Journal and the Gaa die hard going to keep rehashing this old news? Change the record.
gwan Kildare finish them off.
this and the Folau/O Mahony incident has kept them going this week for sure! About 50 articles between the two of them it seems like!
Odd that the safety concerns vanished. Strange. The ground is not up to decent standard for a crowd this size. When they finish it then they have a chance but as but stands now. It is an accident waiting to happen.
Cut out all this petty Kildare-Mayo tribalism – and cheer for Leitrim.
SKY sports must be laughing
@Martin Sinnott: Along with Kildare’s publicans.
Maybe it wasn’t the best idea after all . Maybe Croke park would be better . Kildare are at home with less fans in the stadium!!! Stupid
The water shortage is critical ,ground will be hard, sheep on the Curragh are dropping with the heat,…Croke Park are responsible for the huge spike in Water usage,watering the pitch…urgent cancel all matches until the drought is over
So old :)
Own goal kildare. Should be 1/2 hours drive away in portlaoise
The grass isn’t always greener