‘I understand the frustration & anger', says RTE star as desperate fans scramble for coveted All-Ireland final tickets
6
RTE star Marty Morrissey feels for fans scrambling to get All-Ireland final tix
Credit: Garrett White - The Sun
6
Peter Twiss of the Kerry County GAA Board holding what could be some of the last remaining pre-booked tickets for the big game
Credit: Domnick Walsh
6
Donegal's ticket allocation for Sunday's showdown with Kerry is just 13,748
Credit: Inpho
6
Young Kerry fans will be roaring their county on
Credit: Domnick Walsh
A number of clubs in Donegal have taken to social media to highlight how they haven't been able to satisfy all requests for precious passes.
And amid the frenzy for All-Ireland final passes,
He declared: 'It is difficult to get tickets, and I understand the frustration and the anger.
Read more in Sport
'There's 82,300 tickets to go into Croke Park – that's the capacity crowd.
'The two contesting teams roughly get 20,000 tickets each.
'All the teams in the finals, despite it happening year after year, are spoilt when it comes to semi-finals because they can get 40,000 each really.
'But when it comes to All-Ireland finals, there is a process [where] tickets go to every unit of the GAA nationwide and abroad.'
Most read in the Irish Sun
Around 60,000 tickets are ring-fenced for county allocations, with the remaining tix split between premium and corporate, season tickets, schools, Croke Park residents and even some for overseas.
The competing finalists receive the most significant share of that near-60,000 batch set aside for county allocations, with the rest going to all other county boards.
RTE GAA pundit embrace Tipperary captain Ronan Maher after his epic display toppled Cork in All-Ireland final
The tickets filter down to clubs and club members, many being offered out through a raffle or a draw.
Marty highlighted how ticket allocations quickly add up - with the policy of sending tickets to all counties triggering angst from the two teams playing in the final.
DIEHARD FANS MISS OUT
More than 10,000 tickets in the stadium are nabbed for the corporate and premium sections - much to the fury of many diehard fans.
But while the commercial side of the GAA has ramped up, Marty maintained bosses pump the cash back into
He said: 'I can understand that argument (over corporate tickets).
'The GAA that I was brought up in didn't have the corporate boxes; this is the world we live in.
'EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO CLUBS'
'For the GAA to survive – or any organisation – it is about
'I will say that the GAA do one good thing: everything goes back to the clubs.
'You drive around from Mizen Head to Malin Head to Kilkenny to wherever you want, and you'll see clubs with sports centres, with astro turf, the pitches are really improved.
'When I was young, I remember togging out from the side of a ditch in Quilty in west Clare, now we have dressing rooms. It's different.'
6
Kerry fans will be hoping the Sam Maguire returns to the Kingdom on Sunday
Credit: Domnick Walsh
6
Fans are desperately hunting for tickets
Credit: Domnick Walsh
With the countdown underway until Sunday's big throw-in, Marty also insisted he believes every GAA fan should get the chance to experience an
He told the Behind the Story podcast: 'You don't have to be from Donegal or Kerry on Sunday to appreciate the pride that comes with even the parade, even the cheer.
'I've been lucky in my lifetime to see
GOOD ETHOS
'To see your neighbours running on to the pitch is truly historical and emotional.
'The policy is that man, woman or child in
'But generally speaking, the ethos is a good one in the sense of giving everyone, whether you are in Carlow or
In response to tickets criticism, the GAA insists the showpiece match is for everyone in the game in Ireland, explaining the policy to send tickets to all counties across the country.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
22 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Nine man Kerry taught a lesson by Students as UCD bolster play-off hopes
SSE Airtricity First Division: Kerry FC 0 UCD 3 (Behan 25', Raggett 45+3', Brennan 54') UCD bolstered their League of Ireland First Division playoff hopes with a comfortable victory over nine-man Kerry FC in Mounthawk Park on Friday evening. Brookwell was given his marching orders in the opening minutes of the game, which gave the Students a comfortable training-like session of attack versus defence during which Raggett, Beahan and Brennan all capitalised on. Luke Palmer was shown a second yellow card deep into injury time. The only positive for Kerry was the pre-match announcement of a new signing. Full-back Maroodza arrived after a period with Huddersfield Town in the UK. The result was set in stone just seven minutes into the game. Kerry made what was pre-match an already difficult task near impossible when Niall Brookwell was shown a straight red card. A long ball forward from UCD saw Adam Brennan get to the ball first ahead of Brookwell, who committed to the challenge and caught Brennan up high and late, enough for Robert Dowling to reach for his back pocket. The Students ramped up the pressure in the aftermath and after a number of blocked shots, eventually broke the deadlock at the halfway mark of the first half. The goal came from a perfectly weighted through ball from Brian McManus which found Ciaran Behan in behind all alone, who still had work to do but touched past the onrushing Kerry keeper and tapped home into a gaping net. UCD doubled their lead with the last kick of the first half. Just as Kerry thought they might get to reset at the break, Adam Brennan got to the end-line and drove a low cross across the face of goal which Raggett was able to tap in for his fifth of the season. Adam Brennan turned from provider to goalscorer for the third just 10 minutes into the second half after latching onto a long through ball from Clancy from the back before producing a sublime dinked finish over Randrianmamy who was left in no-man's land. Substitute Luke Palmer rounded off the miserable night for the home side by picking up his second yellow card in the second minute of injury time. A good night for William O'Connor's men was made even better with Wexford falling to defeat away to Dundalk, which gives UCD a nine-point cushion inside the playoff bubble. KERRY FC: Mathyas Randrianmamy; Kevin Williams, Niall Brookwell, Chris McQueen, Shane Maroodza; Carl Mujaguzi, Ronan Teahan; Sean McGrath; Joe Adams, Robbie Cleary, Daniel Okwute Subs: Samuel Aladesanusi for Robbie Cleary (14), Oran Crowe for Carl Mujaguzi (HT), Luke Palmer for Sean McGrath (HT). Sean O'Connell for Shane Maroodza (60), Arran Healy for Joe Adams (75) UCD: Dara Kavanagh; Brian McManus, Carl Lennox, Eanna Clancy, Adam Wells; Adam Brennan, Ciaran Beahan; Michael McCullagh, Adam Verdon, Michael Raggett; Jake Doyle Subs: Ryan McBrearty for Adam Verdon (64), Hugh Smith for Michael Raggett (64), Odhran McLaughlin for Ciaran Beahan (77), Sean Mackey for Carl Lennox(78) Referee: Robert Dowling (Kildare)
The Journal
27 minutes ago
- The Journal
Charlie Bird's wife supporting All-Ireland morning walk in aid of Motor Neurone Disease
THE PUBLIC HAVE been urged to come together and walk 'shoulder to shoulder' by joining a sponsored walk on Sunday, the day of the All-Ireland football final. The walk will take place in Offaly. Organised by a group of Irish sports stars and sporting clubs, the 'Shoulder to Shoulder' walk is in aid of those suffer from ALS, the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease. It will begin the morning of the final at St Brigid's GAA Club, Croghan, Co Offaly starting at 9am. The wife of Charlie Bird, Claire Bird, is supporting the cause. Charlie, the former chief news correspondent with RTÉ, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2021 and passed away in March last year. He raised €3.6m in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta before his death. Claire said that there is now more awareness around MND and progress has been made in improving the quality of life for ALS sufferers and their families, but 'more is needed'. 'In particular, funds are urgently needed to discover the cause and potential treatments for this cruel disease and that's what we are asking for today. Advertisement 'Every donation and every act of support will make a difference in the fight against ALS and MND so please, wear your jersey for your teammate on 27 July and donate whatever you can afford to support the research that will bring hope to future generations.' One of the organisers of the walk, former Galway GAA player Michael Meehan, said, 'All Ireland Final day is a special day in Irish sport and on this special day, we call on you to join us in a heartfelt show of solidarity to support all our 'teammates' who are facing ALS.' He invited everyone to wear their jerseys and join the walk on the morning of the All-Ireland. 'Anyone who can't join the walk can still support the cause by donating to iDonate and all funds will go towards Research Motor Neurone,' Michael added. The walk is to raise funds for Research Motor Neurone, an Irish charitable organisation, led by Orla Hardiman, Professor of Neurology at Trinity College Dublin, and an international authority on Motor Neurone Disease and related neurodegeneration. MND is a progressive neurological condition in which the nerves that control voluntary muscles stop working. In Ireland, around 155 people are newly diagnosed with the condition every year; there are currently more than 470 people living with MND and ALS in Ireland. It is a challenging and debilitating disease for which there is currently no cure. Galway GAA, Mountbellew-Moylough GAA, Cu Chulainns GAA (London), Leinster Rugby, [Connacht Rugby], Ireland U20 Rugby, Garbally College are among those supporting the walk. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
35 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Ross Tierney rescues draw for Bohemians away to Derry
League of Ireland: Derry City 1 (Akinyemi 45+5) Bohemians 1 (Tierney 52) Shamrock Rovers emerged the biggest winners at Brandywell as Bohemians came from behind to clinch a share of the spoils against Derry City . Former York City striker Dipo Akinyemi put Derry ahead on his Brandywell debut with a header from Michael Duffy's cross five minutes into first half stoppage time. That lead didn't last long as Ross Tierney blasted home from James Clarke's cross on 52 minutes to rescue a point for the second-placed Dubliners. Both teams have now played the same number of games as Rovers, who finished the night seven points clear of the Gypsies and eight ahead of Derry, who meet Stephen Bradley's side in Tallaght in their next outing. READ MORE There were reports of clashes between both sets of supporters outside the ground in ugly scenes which marred a match between two sides hoping to ignite a title race. But it was the Brandywell turf that ignited when a flare was thrown over the Southend Park stand during the first half, scorching the artificial surface and causing a lengthy delay in play. Play stops at the Brandwell after a flare is thrown onto the pitch. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho Tiernan Lynch handed a debut to former Hull City fullback Brandon Fleming, who was one of three changes from last week's FAI Cup win over Treaty United. He replaced Shane Ferguson, while hat-trick hero Liam Boyce regained a starting berth at the expense of Gavin Whyte, who was a notable omission from the squad. Carl Winchester was also back at the expense of Adam O'Reilly, who dropped to the bench. Alan Reynolds made sweeping changes, seven in total from the team which thrashed their Leinster Senior League opposition Killester Donnycarney in the cup. Bohs were enjoying plenty of possession in the early stages but Derry almost capitalised on a quick counter attack on 12 minutes with a move started and finished by Akinyemi. The Londoner found the run of Duffy with a clever ball over the top and when the ex-Celtic winger cut it back to Liam Boyce the striker fluffed his lines. Akinyemi tried his luck again from distance two minutes later but Chorazka saved comfortably. SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry 25/7/2025 Derry City vs Bohemians Derry's Michael Duffy with Bohemian's Niall Morahan and Ross Tierney Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty The striker was in the thick of the action once again when he found Duffy in space with a neat flick, but the Derry winger dragged his strike on his right foot narrowly wide of the post. The flare caused a five-minute delay on the half-hour mark, much to the annoyance of the players, but eventually the flame was extinguished and play resumed. Bohs carved out a great chance in stoppage time when Ross Tierney's delicate touch from Mounteny's cross set up James Clarke but his strike from 12 yards was saved by Maher. Derry broke when Liam Boyce played a ball over the top for Akinyemi to run on to and the striker got in behind the last man but his shot was saved brilliantly by the outstretched leg of Chorazka. The Polish goalkeeper couldn't do anything about Akinyemi's next effort on goal though, as the Englishman towered above his marker and headed Duffy's cross into the corner of the net for a timely breakthrough. Diallo tried his luck from just inside the penalty box with the last action of the half but drilled his effort wide of the post. SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry 25/7/2025 Derry City vs Bohemians Derry's Afolabi Akinyemi reacts after a missed chance Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty Bohs were back on level terms just seven minutes into the second half as Tierney got on to the end of James Clarke's cross from the right and volleyed past the helpless Maher. Duffy's curling free-kick from 25 yards was gathered comfortably by Chorazka and substitute Adam O'Reilly fired a blistering effort over the bar as Derry tried to get back on top. Robbie Benson came agonisingly close to finding the corner of the net in front of a packed North Stand with a glancing header from Duffy's cross with 10 minutes to go. The second-half subs were making an impact and Danny Mullen raced on to a ball over the top of the Bohs defence but his effort on the half volley was beaten away by Chorazka at the near post. From the resultant corner kick Alex Bannon rose at the back post but again Chorazka parried it clear. It was as close as Derry came to finding a winner as the teams shared the spoils. Elsewhere, Sligo Rovers came from two goals down to clinch a 3-2 win over troubled Cork City at Turner's Cross, while Waterford defeated Galway United 4-2 on the road. DERRY CITY: Maher; Connolly, Bannon, Todd; R Boyce (Benson 69), Diallo (Frizzell 90), Winchester, Fleming; Duffy, L Boyce (Mullen 69) Akinyemi (O'Reilly 57). BOHEMIANS: Chorazka; Mountney (Smith 67), Byrne, Kavanagh, Flores; Morahan, Devoy; McDonnell (Parsons 74), Tierney; Clarke (Whelan 74), Rooney. Referee: Damien MacGraith.
