The hunt for elusive tickets for Sunday’s mouthwatering All-Ireland senior final has intensified in the last few days as fans clamour to be at what many expect to be the most attractively paired hurling final in years.
More than 25,000 Galway fans will get into Croke Park on Sunday but as many again are expected to travel to the capital in the hope of finding a last gasp ticket.
However, the GAA has warned punters to be wary of buying tickets from unofficial sources for inflated prices, despite the obvious temptation of being at the match which could see Galway win their first senior title since 1988.
In order to ease the pressure, the Galway City Business Association in association with EZ Living Furniture has arranged for the game to be shown on the EZ Living big screen at the Meyrick Hotel end of Eyre Square on Sunday. Organisers have advised patrons to get to the square early in order to gain a good vantage point, and to obey the direction of stewards.
Win or lose, the Galway senior and minor teams are expected to receive a hero’s welcome when they return to the west on Monday evening. They will travel by coach down the motorway and symbolically, they will mark their return to the county by diverting to Ballinasloe where they will make their first public appearance and greet fans.
It is believed that the team will leave the motorway at Ballinasloe to mark their return to the county. Then they will proceed straight to Galway city and to a heroe’s welcome at Pearse Stadium where upwards of 25,000 are expected to attend.
A minute’s applause is being organised by fans in the sixth minute of Sunday’s final as a tribute to former county star Tony Keady who passed away suddenly earlier this month.
