A chara, regrets, no tickets, money back

AS a member of Glen Rovers/St Nicholas hurling and football clubs in Cork I have been involved with the GAA for most of my life.

I am now in my 70th year. I have served as secretary and vice-chairman of St Nicholas FC.

I attended my first All-Ireland hurling final in 1946 and have not since missed a hurling or football final when Cork were involved.

This also applies to Munster championships. I attended the first Bord na nÓg meeting in the early 1960s with the late chairman, Dave Buckley, the late runaí, Derry Maher, and my good friend, Dave O'Brien.

I took charge of underage teams in both clubs for 35 years and served as a minor football selector for county teams on four occasions twice in the 1970s and twice in the '80s.

On these occasions I used my own car to transport players to training sessions and challenge matches all over the country, at my own expense and giving of my time willingly.

All through the years, when the GAA and Munster council were running schemes, I joined every one of them showing my extra support for GAA games.

On Monday, August 30, 2004, I submitted my application for two tickets, by hand at Páirc Uí Chaoimh before the noon deadline. The reply arrived on, Tuesday, September 7, with a pink slip 'A chara regrets, no tickets, money back.'

You may ask, why not apply to my club for tickets. Five years ago I retired to west Cork, and I would not be entitled to a ticket from my club.

Last Sunday evening, I attended an under-15 Bord na nÓg hurling final between Glen Rovers and Na Piarsaigh at Church Road. I saw how the mentors worked so hard to bring the teams to this standard; these are the people who should be entitled to the tickets from the clubs.

Where have all the All-Ireland hurling tickets gone?

Paddy Mulcahy

Ballylickey

Bantry

Co Cork.