Tickets for All-Ireland finals are like gold dust and the three-week build up normally involves a desperate scramble to secure that highly-coveted piece of paper.
The fan fare around it gets worse when one of the counties involved has not been to the showpiece event in a while.
Unfortunately though, thousands will have to settle for the couch or the pub when watching their heroes take to the field on All-Ireland final day.
https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/the-14-stages-of-hunting-down-an-all-ireland-final-ticket-93886
Limerick are back in the hunt for Liam MacCarthy after an 11-year absence, and as you can imagine tickets are in high demand.
The county already has a huge following, but the reality is that, on All-Ireland final day, there won’t be enough tickets to go around.
However, the Limerick City and County Council have decided to air the match via big screen at the Gaelic Grounds for those unfortunate Treaty men and women who won’t make it to the final.
There will be a Big Screen in #Limerick to watch the All Ireland Hurling Final. In conjunction with @LimerickCLG the big screen will be in the Gaelic Grounds. Free tickets available from lunchtime today from https://t.co/beYgkO5q2y. pic.twitter.com/fFVLcIhf2Q
— Limerick Council – Comhairle Luimnigh (@LimerickCouncil) August 8, 2018
SportsJOE caught up with Mayor James Collins of Limerick Council this morning, who discussed the process behind the decision to screen next Sunday’s final.
“There has been such a demand for tickets that the council in association with Limerick GAA has decided to put a screen up in the Gaelic Grounds for a live showing of the All-Ireland final” said Cllr Collins.
“We are putting TV screens in front of the Mackey Stand, we will be able to fill the whole of the stand, it is a free event, it’s family friendly and because we are using the stand it is not dependent on the weather.”
After their epic win over Cork in the semi-final, super sub Shane Dowling pleaded with fans to leave the players to get ready for the final, something that Cllr Collins highlighted to us.
“We had been in discussion with Limerick GAA, it’s not just as easy to announce it as you need to make sure health and safety is in order, but we also wanted to work with the GAA, as the team management and players had asked us to try not over-hype their involvement, which is difficult as it’s the All-Ireland,” said Collins.
“So anything we have been doing has been in conjunction with the GAA and in accordance with their wishes. They were more than happy to make their stadium available for the game, and we worked with them to try put the event in place.”
"I really hope we're not just going to get to the final to march behind the band. I want Limerick to go all the way." pic.twitter.com/EcM1Jc8sm3
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 29, 2018
Limerick council is now calling on local business’ to get behind their county next Sunday as they take on reigning All-Ireland champions Galway.
“The buzz is amazing and I am sure it is only going to build more and more, we are calling on local business’ to go green, to try and turn Limerick city and county green for the final and get behind our hurling team,” said the Mayor.
This fantastic opportunity offers those unlucky souls who won’t make it up Jones’ Road next Sunday the option of watching it at the home of Limerick GAA with their fellow county men and women. The atmosphere is sure to be electric.
Tickets are indeed free and available from tickets.ie and go on sale from 1pm today.
