Calls for GAA to review All-Ireland final ticket system as Cork and Tipp fans scramble for seats

Irish Examiner

18-07-2025

The GAA has been urged to review its All-Ireland final tickets system to give the competing counties a bigger slice of the allocation.
The call comes amid unprecedented demand from Cork and Tipperary for what's been dubbed the hottest ticket of the summer — a ticket to Sunday's hugely anticipated All-Ireland final, the first between the two great Munster rivals.
As Pat Ryan's team sets out to end a 20-year drought and make up for the heartbreak of last year's agonising one point defeat to Clare, fans are travelling in huge numbers to support their beloved Rebel County, but thousands more have been left scrambling for tickets.
The Irish Examiner understands Cork County Board received a direct ticket allocation of 17,000 tickets, with a further 3,000 season-ticket holders dealing directly with Croke Park.
Clubs have reported phenomenal demand for tickets, far outstripping their allocation, and they have been struggling to cope with the volume of requests.
All the additional train services laid on by Irish Rail from the city's Kent Station to Dublin's Heuston are sold out.
Cork superfan Cyril 'The Bird' Kavanagh has not yet secured a ticket to Sunday's final. Picture: Chani Anderson.
There are reports some fans planning to drive will leave at 4am on Sunday in a bid to avoid queues at the motorway toll booths that caused 80-minute tailbacks near Fermoy ahead of the semi-final against Dublin two weeks ago.
Such is the demand, that 20,000 free tickets to Sunday's Rebels Fanzone event in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where the match will be broadcast live on big screens, were snapped up just three hours after their release on Thursday morning.
Croke Park has a capacity of just over 82,000, but unlike other games, All-Ireland final tickets do not go on general sale — the GAA distributes them instead.
Last year, just over 10,500 were given to premium and corporates, 12,000 were distributed to smaller groups like the Croke Park residents, referees, and press, with the largest chunk allocated to supporters through the county boards, down to the clubs, and eventually into the hands of club members through draws or raffles.
Just over 59,200 were allocated to counties, with the finalists getting the largest allocation, and season-ticket holders who attend at least five championship games and club members getting priority.
Tipperary superfan James 'Sid' Ryan, front, with his nephew, Jason Murphy, and neighbours Daragh and Connor O'Donnell, in the garden of his blue and gold house on the Cashel Road. Picture: Stevie O'Donnell, Tipperary Mid West Radio
The GAA has insisted it's the fairest way of allocating tickets for what is a national event, with stand tickets costing €100, and terrace tickets costing €55.
But Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said it should be reviewed, and more should be done to ensure fans who attend the challenge matches, the league games, and others, like underage coaches and club activists who have devoted their lives to the game, have a better chance of getting their hands on an All-Ireland final tickets.
'Cork is the best supported GAA team in the country, and their fans travel in huge numbers,' Mr Gould said.
'The scenes in Croke Park for the semi-final prove that. But there will be thousands of disappointed fans out there because of the way the final tickets are distributed.
'There has to be a better way. There should also be a greater allocation of tickets to the counties that are competing in the final, especially when it comes to the large GAA counties like Cork and Tipperary.'
His comments came as it emerged some of the GAA's most recognisable fans, the sombrero-wearing Cork superfan Cyril 'The Bird' Kavanagh and Pa 'the Piper' Hurley, have not secured tickets yet.
Cyril, who finally managed to source a ticket for last year's All-Ireland final just days before the game, said he had not given up hope yet of bagging a ticket for Sunday's final.
Across both counties, homes and businesses have been decked out in county colours as anticipation builds.
Oak Fired Pizza's Sarah Loane said fans heading to the Rebel Fanzone event on Sunday would be able to get their hands on a Hoggie from the company's Marina Market outlet. Picture: Chani Anderson
In Cork, award-winning pizza company Oak Fired Pizza has created a new pizza inspired by Cork talisman, Patrick Horgan.
The Hoggie, the brainchild of hurling mad Chris Wholley, who works in the company's headquarters in Clonakilty, is a homage to the ace forward, and comes fully loaded with fior di lette cheese, topped with pulled ham hock, thinly sliced pancetta, and chorizo, and drizzled with sweet honey.
Oak Fired Pizza's Sarah Loane said fans heading to the Rebel Fanzone event on Sunday would be able to get their hands on a Hoggie from the company's Marina Market outlet.
Meanwhile, well-known Tipp supporter James 'Sid' Ryan has gone all out for his county team by painting his house on the Cashel Road outside Tipperary town blue and gold, by painting the path leading to the front door all blue, and stencilling it with giant gold letters spelling out "the home of hurling".
And if that wasn't enough, he's also laid out a giant 40ftx30ft Tipp flag on the front garden.
'Tipp will have to stop Cork scoring early goals. We're in with a right shout, so we are. I think we're good enough to win after that,' he told Tipp Mid-West Radio.
He will be a guest on RTÉ's Up for the Match programme on Saturday night.
The game will also be shown live on a big screen at the Kickham Plaza in Clonmel.