120,000 expected for weekend action at Croke Park

Croke Park is set for its busiest weekend of the year, with 120,000 patrons expected through the turnstiles on Jones’ Road.

GAA top-brass are predicting a crowd of over 70,000 for tomorrow evening’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final double-header involving Donegal, Armagh, Monaghan and reigning champions Dublin, which would be the largest attendance in either code in 2014.

“We are not expecting a sellout, but we are confident of getting 70,000 into Croke Park. The Dubs always draw a massive crowd,” said a GAA spokesperson.

Donegal officials, meanwhile, envisage that in excess of 15,000 supporters will follow Jim McGuinness’ charges to GAA HQ.

Irrespective of crowd size tomorrow, attendance figures at this year’s football quarter-finals are set to report a sharp decrease by comparison with 2013.

Over 130,000 supporters flocked to last summer’s quarter-finals, with only 37,886 present for Mayo and Kerry’s progression last Sunday.

An attendance of 50,000 is forecast for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final between Kilkenny and Limerick.

Last year’s two penultimate round contests drew crowds in excess of 62,000, but GAA hierarchy expect a slight fall in figures.

“Somewhere in the region of 20,000 Limerick supporters will travel,” said Limerick chairman Oliver Mann.

“That figure would be somewhat less than last year. You have to take into account that the seniors and minors went up on the same day whereas this year the minors are going up on Sunday week. Limerick people are superb to follow their team. Sunday will be no different. A lot of clubs have availed of the family package. I’d say no more than 25,000, but certainly no less than 20,000 will travel.”

Mann says the build-up to the meeting with Brian Cody’s side has paled in comparison with the carnival atmosphere of 12 months ago.

“It is hugely noticeable how much more low-key the build-up has been. The hype is nowhere near the levels it reached last year.

“Last year there was a five week lead in to the semi-final. This year we have had only two weeks. It doesn’t give that much time for hype to develop. Last year there was a want for a game during the five week lay-off because the hype just built and built. There was no distraction. This year we lost the Munster final which meant a shorter break, and there was less of a buzz coming out of Munster because we hadn’t won it.

“People were talking about the Wexford win for around three days after the result and it was only the middle of last week before people began to sit up and realise we’re in an All-Ireland semi-final. All that has ensured there isn’t the same level of hype by comparison with 2013.”