National Forum

Tullamore For Kerry/Meath. Ridiculous.

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Replying To dickie10:  "Just to drive the kerry folk in here more mad, a little known fact is Tullamore is actually in the Diocese of Meath!"
Neighbouring counties as well around Royaldunnes neck of the woods.

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 1065 - 06/06/2025 06:50:20    2615238

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Replying To kerry4sam25:  "We will win well regardless of venue. Our B team would beat a full Meath team."
You need to brush up the trolling skills lad. If you're going to pretend you're a Kerryman ya need to engage in cute hoorism. This is anti cute hoorism.

dakid (Australia) - Posts: 299 - 06/06/2025 10:30:27    2615270

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I think it may be dawning on some of the Kerry folk that this might actually be a real contest and the venue and injuries are feeding into this concern.
Perhaps the All Ireland championship competitiveness is making them feel uncomfortable and its not just a case of winning a few games and then losing a semi or final to Dublin or whoever is better than them. Munster is clearly the weakest province and that disparity in quality may continue to grow which won't suit Kerry.
The pack have got stronger so I sense a little worry in the Kerry camp.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 668 - 06/06/2025 10:43:09    2615275

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Replying To Aibrean:  "The venue should be as equidistant as possible from both counties. It's as simple as that. Don't confuse the nation.

This stuff about 'the majority of supporters' is a nonsense and, anyway, is very subjective.

The fact is Tullamore hugely favours Meath fans; that is wrong.

And, by the way, even Limerick is further from Tralee than Navan is from Tullamore!"
So you don't want the GAA to think about the majority of supporters? A very odd stance to take imo.

Meath will have more supporters in Tullamore than Kerry, but that would be true of any ground you could name, short of maybe Killarney or Tralee, because of the Kerry public's reluctance to get out and support their team outside of an All-Ireland final.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13810 - 06/06/2025 13:39:16    2615332

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Navan and Killarney both out because it has to be a neutral venue.

Limerick too far for the majority of supporters who will actually attend the game, and the Gaelic Grounds too big for the likely crowd anyway.

Dublin? Croker too big, and Tullamore handier for the majority of fans who will attend than heading into Donnycarney for Parnell Pk, when traffic and parking are factored in.

No, I think Tullamore was the smart choice for the majority of people who actually want to go to the match.

No point putting it closer to people who have no attention of going no matter where it is played."
There ate many people in Kerry that would like to attend the match and the fact is it will take some over 4hours to get to Tullamore. Yes its fine for the likes of me and others in Dublin but thats a very ling trek to and fro for a neutral venue.

Per head of population Mesamis I would say Kerry fams are better at attending matches than even Dublin supporters.156,000 versus 1.2 million and croke park in your own city has had small crowds recently even with Dublin playing.

If you think travelling 4 hours is fair then there is no point in me try to explain further.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3959 - 06/06/2025 14:32:15    2615340

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "There ate many people in Kerry that would like to attend the match and the fact is it will take some over 4hours to get to Tullamore. Yes its fine for the likes of me and others in Dublin but thats a very ling trek to and fro for a neutral venue.

Per head of population Mesamis I would say Kerry fams are better at attending matches than even Dublin supporters.156,000 versus 1.2 million and croke park in your own city has had small crowds recently even with Dublin playing.

If you think travelling 4 hours is fair then there is no point in me try to explain further."
About 6,000 Kerrys turned up for the Ros game in Killarney.
Official attendance 6,814.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2383 - 06/06/2025 14:42:19    2615341

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "About 6,000 Kerrys turned up for the Ros game in Killarney.
Official attendance 6,814."
Probably nearly lowest home attendance of all the group games so far. Would that six thousand turn up versus Meath even if it were in Thurles or Limerick. I'd very much doubt it. Expect about 10K Meath supporters in Tullamore.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 668 - 06/06/2025 15:03:07    2615347

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "About 6,000 Kerrys turned up for the Ros game in Killarney.
Official attendance 6,814."
What? For a town the size of Killarney and with Tralee just over the road. Was it raining heavily the same day? It was too early for Puck Fair. There surely must have been some goat-milking or some sheep-shearing contest on around the county that day to detract so much from the attendance, no?

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2292 - 06/06/2025 15:28:12    2615355

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Am coming at this one from a completely neutral point of view, with no skin in the game whatsoever.

Taking Tralee and Navan as the starting points, the most equidistant from a journey time point of view would be Thurles. According to Google Maps, about 2hrs 30mins from both Tralee and Navan, so a five-hour round trip.

Also according to Google Maps, Tralee to Tullamore would be about a six-hour round trip. Killarney to Tullamore return would be less than six and a half.

Now, if you're a Kerry person going to that match, you're going to be out all day anyway. To me, if I was setting a day aside to go to a match, the difference between five hours and either six or six and a half hours wouldn't be a "make or break" one. Instead, it'd just be "do I spend all day going to that match and back, or do I just stay at home?".

Yes, there are other places in Kerry - e.g. Dingle or Waterville - that would have a longer trip to Tullamore and back. But those people are well used to long trips whenever they go outside the county anyway. Again, it'd be a case of "all day, or not at all?" rather than "X hours or Y hours".

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2918 - 06/06/2025 15:31:27    2615356

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "There ate many people in Kerry that would like to attend the match and the fact is it will take some over 4hours to get to Tullamore. Yes its fine for the likes of me and others in Dublin but thats a very ling trek to and fro for a neutral venue.

Per head of population Mesamis I would say Kerry fams are better at attending matches than even Dublin supporters.156,000 versus 1.2 million and croke park in your own city has had small crowds recently even with Dublin playing.

If you think travelling 4 hours is fair then there is no point in me try to explain further."
Playing it in Tullamore is unfair on the Kerry support that will go to the game from Kerry. I don't doubt that.

But the decision to play in Tullamore was made to suit the bulk of the supporters who will attend the game. For the many, not the few.

Had the game been played in Limerick or Thurles, both still a fair trip from a lot of Kerry, you'd have a drop in the Meath support, but that drop wouldn't be matched by the slight increase in Kerry support that you might get. Why go out of your way to accommodate a support that aren't going to attend?

Kerry only get a big support for the All-Ireland Final, or maybe a "big" semi-final against the Dubs. Only around 10k at the Munster Final in Killarney!

The Dubs support has nothing to do with it, but you are right that per captia it isn't amazing, but it can be big because of the sheer volume of us.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13810 - 06/06/2025 15:55:35    2615371

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Playing it in Tullamore is unfair on the Kerry support that will go to the game from Kerry. I don't doubt that.

But the decision to play in Tullamore was made to suit the bulk of the supporters who will attend the game. For the many, not the few.

Had the game been played in Limerick or Thurles, both still a fair trip from a lot of Kerry, you'd have a drop in the Meath support, but that drop wouldn't be matched by the slight increase in Kerry support that you might get. Why go out of your way to accommodate a support that aren't going to attend?

Kerry only get a big support for the All-Ireland Final, or maybe a "big" semi-final against the Dubs. Only around 10k at the Munster Final in Killarney!

The Dubs support has nothing to do with it, but you are right that per captia it isn't amazing, but it can be big because of the sheer volume of us."
To be fair to kerry - their traditional lack of attendance before finals was because semi finals were in August and now july - there are a lot of festivals on in Kerry in those months. June is quiet enough only Feile na mblath (its a long way from Puck fair) on next weekend. They would go as far as Limerick or Ennis

Its 5 hours from Valentia island to bettystown in Meath. Limerick is 2hrs 49min from valentia - so it would be the best choice - Tullamore isn't even on the way to Meath from Kerry, neither is Thurles. tullamore is 4hrs from Valentia and 2hrs from Bettystown - definitely not fair.
The GAA actually picked a stadium that put an extra hour on the journey for no reason

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1433 - 06/06/2025 16:17:31    2615375

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "What? For a town the size of Killarney and with Tralee just over the road. Was it raining heavily the same day? It was too early for Puck Fair. There surely must have been some goat-milking or some sheep-shearing contest on around the county that day to detract so much from the attendance, no?"
Was a fine hot sunny day.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2383 - 06/06/2025 16:19:55    2615377

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They should have chosen Nowlan Park.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2823 - 06/06/2025 17:29:44    2615400

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Playing it in Tullamore is unfair on the Kerry support that will go to the game from Kerry. I don't doubt that.

But the decision to play in Tullamore was made to suit the bulk of the supporters who will attend the game. For the many, not the few.

Had the game been played in Limerick or Thurles, both still a fair trip from a lot of Kerry, you'd have a drop in the Meath support, but that drop wouldn't be matched by the slight increase in Kerry support that you might get. Why go out of your way to accommodate a support that aren't going to attend?

Kerry only get a big support for the All-Ireland Final, or maybe a "big" semi-final against the Dubs. Only around 10k at the Munster Final in Killarney!

The Dubs support has nothing to do with it, but you are right that per captia it isn't amazing, but it can be big because of the sheer volume of us."
Maybe the gaa did pick Tullamore as they thought they d get more fans in .Regardless though Meath have nt brought huge support either.
Yes Kerry fans as a rule are the best for attending games but down through the years when the championship was knockout games v Cork would be a sell out.
The group games had little or no jeopardy sso far m for Kerry but next weeks game has a bit as the winner goes straight to a quarter final so Kerry would have a bit more support that normal if the venue was better suited.Even Portlaoise has a train line.

I just think its unfair especially on the older generation that would have liked to have gone.Anyway as I say it does nt affect me but surely the gaa could be more accomodating.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3959 - 06/06/2025 18:03:40    2615403

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Probably nearly lowest home attendance of all the group games so far. Would that six thousand turn up versus Meath even if it were in Thurles or Limerick. I'd very much doubt it. Expect about 10K Meath supporters in Tullamore."
10k?? There was a decent Meath support in The Hyde last week in a game Meath fans were rightly confident about winning but there was an attendance of about 7500 in total! Where are all these supporters coming from for a game against Kerry?

D.Hyde (Roscommon) - Posts: 284 - 06/06/2025 18:43:12    2615410

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "They know few will travel from Kerry no matter where but lots from Meath will go if it's not too far."
Exactly, the GAA economists crunched the numbers and Kerry's old refrain "ah, we'll wait for the final" was a vital part of the equation.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1111 - 06/06/2025 19:21:04    2615411

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "They dont as the games have no bearing on each other.The results of either game does not affect positions of other.The top 2 teams in the group will be Meath and Kerry and Rossies and Cork fighting for third position."
Not necessarily, should Roscommon beat Cork and Meath lose to Kerry, then Meath and Roscommon will be level on points, 3 pts each and having played out a draw last day, then score difference will decide second and third place. Therefore both games must be played at the same time.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1111 - 06/06/2025 19:30:15    2615412

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Replying To kerry4sam25:  "We will win well regardless of venue. Our B team would beat a full Meath team."
Ha, tempting fate there……we won't always lie down…..and I feel the worm is about to turn…

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1111 - 06/06/2025 19:36:30    2615413

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Are you suggesting there may be as many Kerry supporters as Meaths at this game or what are you talking about being subjective? Will you not be travelling as a result of the venue?
I'm beginning to think perhaps Kerry just don't want to play a game in Offaly for some reason."
Sush, don't tell them yet but Seamus Darby is the top groundsman in O'Connor Park…..

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1111 - 06/06/2025 19:41:38    2615415

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Replying To D.Hyde:  "10k?? There was a decent Meath support in The Hyde last week in a game Meath fans were rightly confident about winning but there was an attendance of about 7500 in total! Where are all these supporters coming from for a game against Kerry?"
Expect Meath supporters to travel in force for this game with momentum building. Remember Meath actually borders Offaly and a big difference between going to Hyde and Tullamore. Also a few Offaly folk will no doubt pop in aswell and maybe another few midlander colleagues. These will all be supporting Meath and the benefit of seeing the likes of Clifford live would add to the interest.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 668 - 06/06/2025 20:31:27    2615421

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