All-Ireland final: Armagh fans go the extra mile for tickets

An Armagh GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) supporter is making the ultimate sacrifice for his son ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland final against Galway.

Demand for tickets in the Orchard County has reached a fever pitch ahead of Sunday’s clash at Croke Park.

Fergal O’Brien and son Egan attended Armagh’s semi-final win over Kerry earlier this month.

But Fergal, like many in Armagh, is still in the hunt for a ticket despite ensuring Egan’s trip from London to Dublin for the final will be rewarded.

„My son Egan, who works in London, and I were at the Kerry semi-final and an hour after he left, he rebooked a flight from London to come to the final,” Fergal told BBC News NI.

“I have received a firm promise from an anonymous source to get him a ticket.

“I didn’t get a ticket.

“I’ve made friendly requests from Kerry to get a ticket to Donegal, Limerick, Cork, Dublin.

„I sent a request to a friend in Ottawa, Canada, but they said 'sorry it’s already gone to a fan in Galway’.”

Clubs in Armagh are allocated 240 tickets each for the final, as are teams in Galway.

Demand at Armagh is high, with one club, CaryGroupon, posting on social media that it had received 932 requests for tickets early on Monday, urging supporters to be patient.

„Please search for tickets wherever you can as we may not fulfill all requests,” it added.

Tickets for the All-Ireland Football Final are not available through general sale.

Fergal O’Brien said „If you’re not attached to a club, it’s very difficult to get one”.

“I was the cultural officer at Mullaghbann GAA Club for 10 years. I don’t need special privileges – there are deserving people,” he added.

„I’ll be at the back of the queue – but I want to be in the queue!”

He said he attended the 2002 final with Econ when Armagh beat Kerry to win their only All-Ireland title.

He recalled that year „Eacon was watched by his primary school teacher Benny Tierney” playing in the All-Ireland-winning team.

“I’ve already booked a bus to Dublin for the final – I’ve got one of the last six tickets on the bus.

„When Eoghan comes to Dublin he’ll go straight to Croke Park for the final and if he doesn’t have a ticket I’ll go to the nearest bar and watch it.”

Armagh GAA’s public relations officer, Finbar Burns, said the county had been inundated with ticket requests from across the island of Ireland and beyond.

„Some of them are Armagh expats who haven’t played in years,” he added.

“It’s our first All-Ireland final in 21 years since 2003 and it’s sparked a passion in them.

“Even with the amount of emails I get personally, you’d think I was a ticket machine.

„It’s very exciting, but unfortunately not everyone will have a ticket.

“I got an email from someone from Boston in the US who goes to every match and they come back home for the finals.

„One quarter-finalist and semi-finalist from Central Europe has already booked a flight to the final.”

Each district receives a quota of tickets, which are filtered down to their clubs.

Earlier this year, the GAA announced an increased price structure for All-Ireland football and hurling finals.

Stand tickets now cost €100 (£85), up €10 from 2023. Tickets for the Hill 16 terrace are €55 (£46), €5 more than last year.

On Monday, TransLink announced the addition „Bus Special” From Newry, departing the city at 11:00 BST on Sunday and returning at 20:00, „seats are snapped up quickly”.

It said other special services for the All-Ireland GAA football final were already „popular”, with two special trains, a special bus from Armagh and another from Newry „all sold out”.

TransLink has also increased the capacity of regular enterprise services to support fans.

It recommends pre-booking the special bus for the finals to secure a passenger seat.

„Enhanced company services are also exceptionally busy on that day and we recommend that those wishing to travel make reservations in advance,” the company added.