Saturday, 7 August 2010 14:25 The Central Council of the GAA have endorsed a recommendation to increase the height of the front barrier at the Hill 16 end in Croke Park to 2.8metres. The decision has been made after the unsavoury incidents that followed Meath's victory in the Leinster Senior Football final as referee Martin Sludden was attacked by supporters. GAA President Christy Cooney warned last month that something had to be done about pitch invasions for the safety of players and fans. Dont think this is the way to go.
extra stewarts around the perimeter could have been another option but i suppose this is an option that shudnt fail
The last time I'll set foot in Croke park if they do. I never went on to the pitch even after the plan b signs went up cos couldn't be arsed. . How come all other sports can keep them off the pitch but not them tits.
looks like they are not arsed bout keepimg them off cos if they were the fans wouldnt be on the pitch
Funny thing was most of the "fans" who attacked the ref seemed to come from the stands, and not the Hill.
I think its the only sport where a pitch invasion is the norm,so untill they educate the fans on the dangers of this it will happen again and again, If the gaa think its going to get away with putting a 2.8 meter fence up in a standing area and not have any problems they really are stuck in a time warp. 3 sides of the stadium are amongst the best in europe and then the hill there on its own,they should fcuk it off now and just have an all seater.
They prevented the invasions for a few years when the presentations took place on the pitch due to the revamp of the Hogan. As has been saud not enough is being done to prevent it. Get legislation in place and if necessary start to prosecute a few to make examples. On another note , has anyone heard of any action being taken against those who attacked the ref in the Leinster final. It's not like it would be hard to identify them.
Why are the fencing off only the hill? Seems like the last place that they should realistically should be fencing off! The hill is always over crowded on big match days and this could be very dangerous!
Saw a tv show last week about a day in the life of Croke Park, filmed on day of football final. When the final whistle blew there was a crush of fans being held back from invading the pitch for (I think) 30 seconds. This was to enable the stewards to create an exit route for the players so they aren't mobbed. Once everything is in place, pitchside gates are opened to let the fans rush on. Accident waiting to happen. Also showed the potential danger when 80,000 fans leave at the same time down a few streets.
I've never been to a gaa game in croker but I noticed that at the Ireland games it is a tight ground when you're trying to get out. Not only the tight streets around it but the aisles where the steps are seemed very narrow to me too. The hill definitely affected the atmosphere in the ground too. I know it's probably a big tradition for a lot of people but it definitely takes the look off the ground.
Have played there and go to all the matches as well only time I went on the pitch was 2008 for the 3 in a row when we were in the front of the cusack stand and it was the only way out with a 6yr old kid as we could not get back up the aisle as the crowd coming down was huge. Also for such a new stadium it is impossible to get out quickly after a game there is not enough exits to the back of the stand. Fencing hill 16 will eventually cause serious injury to someone. When they were building the hogan stand they had fencing on the other stands. They were ordered to remove them for the soccer and rugby.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOrXmd68TRE 2000 All Ireland football Final. Fencing on the hill, none at the other 3 sides of the stadium, Presentation on the pitch. No invasion. GAA fans need to get it out of their heads that they have a "right" to invade the pitch.
i cant see them getting away with that ive been on the hill when its dangerously over crowded and to put fences up on top of that would be just asking for someone to be seriously injured or even killed.
why cant they just make an example and start prosecuting a few every time it happens, enough €200 fines and court appearances people will get the message. I think fencing the hill will create more problems than it will solve.
in fairness there was a gate that was not meant to be open a member of the public opened it that what was causing the crush outside