In today’s Hospital Pass, it’s fair to say that Padraic Maher wants a robust All-Ireland hurling final, while there are some downright extortionate prices being demanded for All-Ireland football final tickets.
You get the feeling that the post-match coverage that greeted Dublin v Donegal last Sunday was met with no more than a sneer from the hurlers of Tipperary and Kilkenny who are preparing to do battle this weekend.
Amidst all the negative vibes expressed about the primitive tactics on display was an appreciation of the physical effort and intensity expounded by both teams, as if its like had never been witnessed on Croke Park’s hallowed turf before.
Hold on a minute here, had they not seen the last two All-Ireland hurling finals? Sure, the quality of hurling in both games relegated the need to focus on the physical aspect to the background, but on both occasions, the contact between the blue and yellow and black and amber jerseys was enough to make not only hurleys, but bones shatter.
Not to worry, both teams will have a chance to show that they are equally if not more macho than their football counterparts this weekend and they intend on taking it. Padraic Maher certainly does, anyway.
Speaking ahead of the game, a beefed up Maher, who was described in The Irish Independent this morning as “bursting out of every limb” elaborated on just how much he relished going toe to toe with the Kilkenny boys and at the same time, attempted to break the record for the number of times he could say the word ‘physical’ in a short space of time.
“Teams are training that way to be more physical and I think referees are buying into it as well,” Maher said while beating his puffed-out chest.
“For me, it is the best way to have it because all the players are getting to express themselves with their hurling and physically as well.
“Against Kilkenny it’s such a physical game. I suppose you only feel the hits on the morning after because they are such high intensity and you are so into the game at the time.
“Kilkenny are going to bring a massive physical edge to the game. I thought we brought that last year and we are just concentrating on bringing it this year again.”
Trust us, this will be no mere Cat fight. We can’t wait.
Extortion – GAA style.
You want two tickets to the All-Ireland football final later on this month? No problem, that will be €1,600 please. Oh you don’t want premium, stand will do? OK, €1,500 is fine. You don’t want those either? Right, I have two for the Hill for €800, final offer.
A tad excessive, perhaps? Welcome to the world of extortion, GAA style. That’s right, with well over a fortnight to go until the football decider, the website needaticket.ie are charging prices ranging from €400-€800 for All-Ireland football final tickets.
Incidentally, with only three days to go until the hurling final, tickets are available for the comparatively paltry price range of €225-450.
This would suggest that there’s one particular reason behind the price hike for the football final and that’s the presence of the Dubs, which will no doubt lead to a massive demand from fair-weather Metropolitan fans looking to hop aboard the bandwagon and savour the Dubs’ first final appearance since 1995.
Needaticket.ie are determined to cash in on what will likely be an unprecedented demand and good luck to them; they’re almost certain to find some gullible/desperate Dublin fans willing to part with a rather hefty lump of cash to be present on the big day. Indeed, you’ll probably hear even more astronomical figures being bandied about as the third Sunday of September draws nearer.
We just hope the real supporters don’t miss out as a result.
