Club finals go all-ticket to avoid repeat of 2004 fiasco

THE All-Ireland club finals will be an all-ticket affair to avoid a repeat of last year's embarrassing fiasco when thousands had to be allowed into Croke Park free of charge to avoid a possible crush.

GAA officials decided against an all-ticket policy last year as they expected a crowd of between 22,000 and 25,000 for the football and hurling deciders. More than 38,000 turned up.

With only the Hogan Stand and Canal End open, fans became agitated at the delay in paying in through the 30 available turnstiles before a decision was taken on instructions from the Gardaí to open more gates "for health and safety reasons" 10 minutes after the throw-in for the hurling final.