GAA predicts 20,000 turnout at Croker double-header

The GAA expects a crowd of 20,000 for Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 1 semi-final double header at Croke Park.

Kerry and Cork fans aren’t expected to travel in huge numbers, with Mayo and Down supporters being relied on to provide most to the attendance.

A number of pre-sold tickets have already been purchased for the games.

Cork PRO Tracey Kennedy said the crowds at their home games this year wouldn’t suggest a big following from the county in GAA headquarters.

“Our attendances haven’t been great, to date. While we would be hoping for a good crowd to go to the game, realistically that wouldn’t appear to be the case.”

Although it’s a repeat of the 2010 All-Ireland final, Cork have beaten Down comprehensively in their last two league matches, winning by 13 points in February and 11 last year. In last year’s fourth round qualifier, they eased past James McCartan’s team in Croke Park by 12 points.

While Mayo drew with Kerry at the weekend, it was against a weakened Kingdom team who had already qualified for the last four. Their recent record against Mayo is impressive, beating them by nine points in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final and four in the league game in Castlebar.

Semi-finals were introduced for this year’s Division 1 campaign in an attempt to avoid dead rubbers as well as create an extra revenue stream.

The last Division 1 semi-finals were held in 2007 involving Donegal-Kildare and Galway-Mayo at Croke Park. The games drew a crowd of 23,209.

Should Kerry and Cork win their respective semi-finals on Sunday, the game is likely to be staged again in Croke Park.

According to the Croke Park website, the Division 1 and 2 football finals are pencilled in for GAA Headquarters on that date but are subject to change.

Interestingly, Kerry have an existing home-away agreement with Cork for league play-offs and it’s their turn to enjoy home advantage.

Cork beat Kerry in the 1997 league decider in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

A similar arrangement with Tipperary sees Cork’s hurlers face last year’s All-Ireland runners-up in a Division 1 semi-final in Semple Stadium on Sunday week.