A MASSIVE trawl is well underway by Limerick hurling supporters in search of precious tickets for Sunday week’s historic All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Croke Park.
Unlike any other championship fixture this season, there will be no public sale of tickets, which are as scarce as hen’s teeth.
The approximate breakdown of tickets for the 82,000 sell-out All-Ireland Final is: county allocations (60,000); premium/corporate (10,000); provinces (355); overseas (470); former GAA Presidents (800); camogie (140); ladies football (100); rounders/handball (200); sponsors (1,000); media (325); schools (2,250); third-level (240); local residents (200); national referee panel (130); jubilee teams (70), and others.
‘County allocations’ also include non-competing counties, so in realistic terms, Limerick will receive an initial allocation of around 20,000, with the possibility of more in the run-up to the showdown. It’s the norm for hurling supporters from across the country to attend finals, irrespective of the contestants.
Limerick Chairman Seamus McNamara and Secretary Michael O’Riordan are likely to negotiate with their counterparts in other counties, such as Kerry and Dublin, on a potential of a ticket swap for our All-Ireland Football Final allocation.
In Limerick, tickets will be distributed through clubs, who, on average, can anticipate between 100 and 250, depending on size (i.e. senior, intermediate, or junior and panel representation) and such.
Tickets will be allocated from the weekend onwards.
Stand tickets are pitched at €90, while entry to the standing area of Hill 16 is €45. There is no reduction in price for OAPs/Students/Children.
For those without tickets, preparations are underway to show the final on the big screen at the Gaelic Grounds.
Travel tickets too are a rarity, with most rail and bus services completely booked out. However, keep it close to your chest, there’s always the option of flying out of Kerry Airport on Sunday week (11.05am departure) and overnighting in the capital, but that too is both scarce and costly, with more travel options available for the return leg the following morning/afternoon.
Club Limerick – the fundraising are of Limerick GAA – is to host Preview Nights at Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel Adare and the Castletroy Park Hotel on Tuesday and Wednesday nights of next week, respectively.
A table of ten, to include meal, is priced at €2,000 and information is available from Club Limerick Chairman Seán Scanlan at 087-7639436.
