Hurling fans from both Galway and Clare are unhappy over after the GAA decided to sell tickets for Sunday’s (5th August) All-Ireland hurling semi-final replay through shops and online only.
Tickets were expected to be made available on Monday (30th July) afternoon but were released earlier while both county boards found out they’d get only a limited number to distribute to clubs for players.
Semple Stadium, Thurles’ official capacity is 46,000 but 54,191 attended last Saturday’s (28th July) drawn encounter and understandably, interest is high after the epic 1-30 apiece draw after extra-time.
Stand tickets sold out for Clare Galway replay. Lots of kids won't get to go now. Croke Park will be half full at the same time for a game of no consequence. After the best hurling weekend ever, it feels like another own goal for the #gaa to promote the game
— Tomas Forde (@TomasForde) July 30, 2018
Also, many are angry that the game was fixed for Croke Park on the Bank Holiday Monday (6th August) with headquarters not in use. And some commented on how Croke Park was being used for a dead rubber football Super 8s tie between Dublin and Roscommon on Sunday.
With supporters having to go through registered Centra and SuperValu stores to buy tickets, queues have been reported throughout the two counties while others have been caught at work and don’t have the opportunity to get to a shop.
Also, delays online have led to some people waiting nearly two hours for their turn to get the coveted tickets and the main stand in Thurles is reportedly to be full already.
It is a joke that Croke Park will have about 20,000 fans in it on Sunday for a dead rubber game between Dublin and Roscommon and tickets are virtually sold out for the all Ireland hurling semi final replay in Thurles that only holds 46,000. #Hurling #GalwayClare
— Conall McGinnity (@ConallMcGinnity) July 30, 2018
“It is a joke,” added his Clare counterpart Joe Cooney. “There are a lot of genuine supporters out there, especially elderly people who can’t go online to order their tickets. I believe there are big queues, I was talking to a man who had to wait two hours online before his turn came around.”
It’s all happening at Fitzpatrick’s SuperValu!! Crowds going mental for the All Ireland Hurling replay tickets! Buy early, buy often @ClareSenHurlers #clarehurling #hurlingtothecore pic.twitter.com/Xhm6oESxsk
— Cara (@lennonsghirl) July 30, 2018
For those who miss out, the game is LIVE! On RTE2 and will also be broadcast in full on Galway Bay FM.
Galway face Clare in the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-Final Replay on Sunday, 5th August. Throw-in at Semple Stadium, Thurles is 2pm.
GALWAY GAA: Hurling Semi Replay LIVE on Television as Under 21 Moves https://t.co/T1xHCvFp8o
— Galway Daily (@GalwayDaily) July 30, 2018
