The GAA’s handling of the sale of tickets for Clare’s All Ireland Hurling semi-final replay has been described as ‘a disaster from start to finish’.
Fans have reacted in anger after the coveted tickets were put on sale online and in selected stores yesterday, with very little advance notice, meaning many were left disappointed.
The Chair of the Clare County Board, meanwhile, insists they went on sale far too soon as Clare FM’s Gavin Grace reports:
Within a couple of hours of going on sale yesterday, stand tickets for Clare’s All Ireland Hurling semi-final replay with Galway were all snapped up.
As soon as news of the sale broke, any Clare supporters who could flocked to get their hands on tickets.
They were only made available on tickets.ie and in Super Valu and Centra stores, and lengthy queues were seen at a number of stores throughout the county with long waits online too.
But Clare Chair of the County Board, Joe Cooney believes more consideration should have been given to those who were at work and didn’t find out until it was too late.
In a statement to Clare FM, the GAA says the notice period given has been standard practice for quite some time, once match arrangements are confirmed.
It goes on to say that because of the short turnaround to the replay, distributing tickets through clubs would have been a considerable burden on county and club administrators.
But GAA fans around the Banner County have been in touch with Clare FM to express their anger at the handling of the sale.
Ballyvaughan listener Thomas Francis isn’t pleased with how the GAA approached it.
Meanwhile Cathy Farrant in Tubber says her sister is a lifelong Clare GAA fan and is one of the countless dedicated supporters that’s been left disappointed.
Tickets.ie, which is the authorised ticket seller for Sunday’s game, says none are currently available.
