Ephie Fitzgerald fears flat Croke Park atmosphere

Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald is fearful the first-ever staging of the All-Ireland ladies football semi-finals at Croke Park will be totally devoid of atmosphere given a crowd of between 5,000 and 10,000 is expected at GAA HQ this Sunday.

Ephie Fitzgerald fears flat Croke Park atmosphere

Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald is fearful the first-ever staging of the All-Ireland ladies football semi-finals at Croke Park will be totally devoid of atmosphere given a crowd of between 5,000 and 10,000 is expected at GAA HQ this Sunday.

Mayo face Connacht champions Galway in the opener (2pm), with All-Ireland champions Dublin meeting league winners Cork at 3.45pm. But if Mayo and Galway supporters decide to head away after the first game, it may well be the case that the second game, a repeat of the 2018 All-Ireland final, is watched by less than 5,000 patrons.

“The only concern I would have is the crowd,” said Cork manager Fitzgerald, who once again reiterated his wish that more people would come out and attend ladies football games, the All-Ireland final aside.

“There is a brilliant atmosphere there for the final when there is a crowd of 40,000 or 50,000. I just wonder how big of a crowd will be there on Sunday, I don’t think it will be huge. You had the hurling final last weekend and the men’s football final is the weekend after next, which Dublin is involved in, so I don’t know how many you are going to have there this weekend.”

Although he expects his charges to be playing in front of a near-empty stadium, Fitzgerald believes it was the right move to bring the last-four games to Croker.

From a players’ point of view, the girls are delighted to be playing in Croke Park, there is no issue there. That is where everyone wants to be. I just wish we’d get more support there, to be honest.

“I do think if you have 5,000-10,000 in Croke Park, they are lost in a stadium that can hold 82,300. It won’t lend to a great atmosphere.”

He added: “It is expensive to go to these games, whether by train, car, or bus. Then, there are match tickets and feeding the family, so it is going to cost you a few hundred quid. And with the games on television, people tend to stay at home a lot and watch these things.”

Fitzgerald foresees an incredibly tight game on Sunday and said his players have taken confidence from their Division 1 league success, which included a 1-18 to 2-14 extra-time semi-final win over Dublin.

“The league has given us more confidence and given the younger girls more confidence. But look it, over the past four years, we’ve played each other twice in the championship, and we won one and they won one. We’ve played several times in the league and it is always close. Sunday will be more of the same.

“Dublin will be strong favourites. That’s understandable. They are a lot further down the road than we are. We won the league and Munster championship so there has been good progression there for our girls.

"We know the task ahead of us. We know they are very, very strong, physically, and are an athletic team. They know one another inside and out.”

There will be unreserved seating in the Lower Hogan Stand for Sunday’s semi-final double-header, which will be the only section of the stadium open to supporters on the afternoon. Adult tickets are priced at €20, €10 for students and OAPs, while juveniles go for €2.

more courts articles

Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told
Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van

More in this section

14-man Mayo overcome Galway in Connacht U20 Championship 14-man Mayo overcome Galway in Connacht U20 Championship
A general view of Cusack Park 22/6/2019 Dublin and Kildare make strong starts to Leinster MFC
Bobby Nugent 21/1/2024 Bobby Nugent snatches Roscommon a draw with defending Connacht U20 champions Sligo
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited