Dublin players, from left, Emma Strappe, Rachel Brennan and Ellen Gribben lift the Brendan Martin Cup after the 2023 TG4 LGFA All-Ireland Senior Championship Final. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Ladies football chiefs are anticipating a Croke Park attendance of 30,000 to 35,000 for their showpiece day of the year – a notable reduction on recent years.
Kerry and Galway will provide the headline act in Sunday’s All-Ireland senior final at 4.15, preceded by the Louth v Fermanagh junior clash and intermediate showdown between Leitrim and Tyrone.
Galway were also involved when a new LGFA attendance record was set in 2019, losing to Dublin in front of 56,114 Croker fans. Since Covid, All-Ireland crowds have hovered around the mid-forties, with 45,326 attending last year’s triple-header topped by the senior clash of Dublin and Kerry.
Galway are chasing only their second senior crown and a first in 20 years. Kerry are hoping to end a 31-year All-Ireland famine – a 12th title would also see them edge back ahead of Cork in the SFC roll of honour.
However, there’s a full round of men’s club championship games in the Kingdom this weekend, with the county SHC final also taking place on Sunday, which may obviously deter some from making a long trek to the capital.
There is also a Sunday afternoon forecast for rain, while the cost of living crisis has been cited as another disincentive, even though actual ticket prices are not the issue.
Whereas tickets for senior football and hurling finals reached the €100 barrier this year, adult admission for the ladies’ flagship day is set at €30, with a €15 tariff for juveniles, students or OAPs.
