Some supporters stunned at admission fee

Some Meath supporters were stunned when they arrived at MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan yesterday for a double-header of All-Ireland finals with a €15 admission price on the gate.

Meath had two teams on duty for the All-Ireland u-16 C final against Laois at 1.30 and the All-Ireland Junior B decider at 3.15 against Kerry.

The facilities at MacDonagh Park were reasonable with a stand for supporters although there was no perimeter fence to keep spectators away from the playing area.

It was noticeable on a number of occasions during some exciting stages in both games that some adults took up positions on the along the sideline in their enthusiasm to urge their respective teams to greater efforts.

Fortunately, there were no incidents of any type, but that was more due to good luck rather than planning on behalf of the organisers.

The host club had plenty of stewards on duty and there was ample parking inside the ground on a grass bank where many supporters parked cars for a good vantage point.

The venue was also equipped with an excellent electronic scoreboard and a clock for timing the game.

However, there was no public address to provide team information for the supporters who paid that hefty €15 admission charge and also, for two All-Ireland finals there was no national anthem played to add to the sense of importance of the occasion.

Two Camogie Association officials were present to conduct the presentations, but that was also a challenge due to the lack of a public address and it took away greatly from both presentation ceremonies.

Surely the Camogie Association could invest in a portable PA system that could be brought to venues where they decide to stage important games - it would enhance the experience of the big day for the 'lesser' players of the camogie world.

Perhaps that is part of the budgetary plans for 2014 - hence the €15 admission charge to a ground where the facilities were adequate but not worthy of €15 admission per person.

And while I'm at it, the match programme for the two games did not even include the usual items that you would expect - paths to the final and a little peice about camogie in the three counties that were involved.

The president's address and the piece from Liberty Insurance (sponsors) on page three were similar to what was in the programme for Saturday's All-Ireland Intermediate camogie semi-finals - Meath v Limerick at Banagher and Waterford v Galway at The Ragg.

 

Conall Collier