Gold Dust

Two weeks to go until the all Munster All-Ireland Football Final between Kerry and Cork. The natives will be making their travel and accomodation arrangements, some with a promise of a ticket and others in hope of one. The quest to secure the magic ticket takes a nasty twist in the build up to the big day though.

The All-Ireland final is a national event and so attracts the attention of the masses regardless of their affiliation to club or county. Everyone wants a piece of the action and often the tickets fall most easy into the hands of those who have done the least to get such access.

I've sat at All-Irelands looking at lads in the stands who couldn't name even one of the players on the pitch, nevermind naming one of the players from their own club's team. They're not members of the association and are pure bandwagon fans, of the Munster Rugby variety.

The All-Ireland final is not a tourist attraction, it's not something where it's nice to be part of the occasion or any of that rubbish. It's a day where all those in the participationg counties should be rewarded for their efforts lining pitches, training teams, running lottos and doing all the other dirty jobs that help lay the foundations that a county's success can be built upon.

However, some of these men and women will be left watching the match sitting on their couch or on a bar stool outside Croke Park because they couldn't get into the big house. It's unbelievable to think that there are people who watched the Cork footballers in Dungarvan back in May and watched Kerry in some of the more unglamourous venues through the qualifiers, that won't be able to get themselves a ticket.

It rests easy on the conscience of those on a weekend jaunt up to the Capital though, because they haven't a clue. They haven't a clue what happens behind the scenes in the Association, haven't a clue how much a ticket would mean to the lad in New York, Sydney, Cape Town or in any of the other outposts where are exiles are scattered. If they knew then they should hang their head in shame when they pass through the turnstile on the third Sunday in September.

Now don't get me wrong, the big match shouldn't be reserved for just those people from the participating counties. There are Counties where the people's passion burns as brightly as anywhere but they're team may never get to the big show. The All-Ireland is an occassion for them too and they should, without doubt, get access to tickets. In the end, it is the G.A.A.'s big showpiece, a day for everyone...everyone in the Assoiciation.

Personally, I'd never attend an All-Ireland where Cork weren't involved. I'd never deprive a County man the chance to support his team on the day. Like most of the lads at home, I am still without ticket though. Am i worried? Not really. If you have the energy and are resourceful enough then you will unearth one. The feelers will be out everywhere from Kinsale to Limerick to Cavan to Longford.

Should I be depriving a lad at home at ticket? I don't think so. I've trained my share of teams, been an officer of my club and done my share in the past, and will in the future. I'm not living in Cork at the moment but I was in Fraher Field in May and I'd have been at more of the other stops if I was living at home. I'll turn over every stone and it will be all the more enjoyable to take my seat on the 20th, because in the G.A.A. we know that nothing worthwhile comes easy.