If the GAA is business, Croke Park is showing disregard for its customers – it has become far too expensive for families
THE flaws of the ridiculous manner in which the GAA has attempted to wedge the entire inter-county season at all levels into such a short time frame have been exposed yet again.
Particularly for families, it has become far too difficult to support one's county to the same extent that it was possible to in the past.
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Babs Keating took aim at the scheduling of the inter-county season
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
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Tipperary beat Clare in Ennis
Credit: John Sheridan/Sportsfile
Tipperary fans were required to travel to Ennis on Saturday evening of last weekend for the Munster SHC game against Clare.
And none of them would have complained about that as they journeyed home after seeing a massive win for Liam Cahill's team. It was money well spent. But the same people were expected to get back on the road again on Wednesday night to see the Under-20s retain their provincial title at the Banner's expense in Limerick.
Tipp fans will have to put their hands in their pockets once more for today's senior game against Waterford in Thurles. And there are plenty of football fans among them who would have been in attendance for last night's Tailteann Cup fixture against Kildare in Clonmel too.
Because of the condensed nature of the calendar, passionate GAA followers are being priced out of supporting their county.
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With as many as four extremely important Tipp games taking place in the space of just over a week, nobody could afford to invest the time or the money to attend them all.
That is just one of many examples, as I'm sure there are people in other counties who have encountered similar scenarios recently.
Indeed, Cork fans will follow their senior team in great numbers today in Limerick, less than 48 hours after their minors played a Munster final in Thurles.
At a time when fuel prices are exorbitant, not to mention a sandwich and a cup of coffee in most restaurants setting you back in the region of €20, ordinary people are being squeezed.
Most read in GAA Hurling
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