Online scammers target fans seeking All-Ireland hurling final tickets

BEWARE: Scammers are populating social media in the hope of taking advantage of desperate supporters seeking All-Ireland senior hurling final tickets.

Scammers are populating social media in the hope of taking advantage of desperate supporters seeking All-Ireland senior hurling final tickets.

As demand in Cork and Clare to watch Sunday’s game wildly outstrips demand, false accounts, like those seen prior to last year’s All-Ireland finals, are appearing under the “ticket fairy” hashtag requesting that those interested in purchasing the tickets directly message them.

Several posts on Twitter/X, which are published from different accounts, are identical in message with no apparent interest in the GAA, while a number of them appear to be based in the UK.

“Selling 2x tickets to the GAA All-Ireland Senior hurling final at Croke Park Dublin on Sun 21st July” reads one.

Another states: “I’m looking to sell 2 tickets to the GAA All-Ireland Senior hurling final for Sunday 21st of July at Croke Park, Dublin. Kindly send me a Dm if you’re interested”.

Tickets for All-Ireland finals have been distributed by Croke Park to the participating counties, season ticket holders, premium and corporate, Croke Park term tickets, sponsors, provinces and overseas former GAA presidents.

Over 32,000 tickets have been issued to Cork and Clare with several thousand issued among the other 30 counties with clubs holding draws for tickets as a mean of raising funds. Cork clubs reported receiving tickets on Saturday morning.

On Tuesday night, Offaly GAA confirmed they had no more tickets to give out. “Please note that Offaly GAA has now distributed its full allocation of tickets for next weekend's All Ireland Hurling Final. 

"Offaly GAA Officials or Administrators are not in a position to deal with any further ticket requests from Clubs or individuals within or outside the County.”

Club members who have received reissued links/codes for tickets have until Wednesday 1pm to purchase them or they are returned to Croke Park. Hill 16 has been sold out since Sunday.

Meanwhile, former Westmeath manager Jack Cooney is said to be part of Brian Flanagan’s ticket for the vacant Kildare position.

Former U20 Lilywhites boss Brian Flanagan is the firm favourite to succeed Glenn Ryan who stepped down from the senior role in June after three years.

Cooney left the Westmeath position in June 2022 to take up the games development lead role with the GAA. He had guided The Lake County to a Tailteann Cup that year having been in charge for four seasons.

The Coralstown-Kinnegad clubman had previously been a selector to Luke Dempsey and Páidí Ó Sé in the county. He was also a selector/coach to Rory Gallagher in Donegal.

Johnstownbridge man Flanagan brought ildare’s U20s to an All-Ireland title last year, finishing runners-up the season before and claiming back-to-back Leinster championships., Flanagan last October coached Summerhill to their first Meath senior football title in 10 years having helped them to the final in '22.

Speaking last year having stepped down as the county’s U20 manager, Flanagan expressed his interest in senior management. “I have no plans just yet, but I am keen to get back into senior management, whether that is club or inter-county I don’t know just yet.”

Flanagan was assisted by former Kildare star Emmet Bolton and Mark Scanlon in his U20 term. Brian Lacey also worked with Flanagan before stepping up to join Ryan’s senior backroom team this past season.