LOI vs GAA intercounty as a spectator experience

GAA intercounty matches tend to have less of a thuggish following so I prefer attending that myself.

They are quite different, at least as a Dub. Going to LOI games since late 80s. Love the ritual. Pre match pints, the game and post match analysis with the lads. Especially great craic for the away games like Cork, Sligo or Derry.

The Dubs feels closer to a Premier league game. Huge stadium, big crowds etc.

Both enjoyable experiences. Personally prefer the LOI experience as it feels like a smaller close knit community of die hards.

I'd say that's a feature of football. Goals are usually relatively rare events over 90 minutes. GAA, basketball etc there is a constant stream of scores harder to get overly excited, except at critical moments at end of the game.

Attend both from time to time. Would think LOI is a better spectator atmosphere becasue bar the Dubs nobody sings at GAA matches and sometimes the atmosphere can be dead enough during periods of the game relative to the amount of people there. Some of the songs LOI fans sing can be funny as fcuk and there is a general sense of diivellment about winding up the other set of supporters. You just dont get that at GAA matches.

I do go to a hurling semi final most years though and provided the scoreline is close the atmosphere at those matches can be electric, people are on the edge of their seats as the game ebbs and flows. The only problem with hurling though lately is that the players have gotten so good now it is just ridiculously easy for them to score from huge distances without even leaving their own half. Id admire the skill but its become like a ping pong type points shootout from 70 yards out, the GAA need to address this to encourage more exciting plays.

To be fair, ADP, the violence that occurred before that cup final was by Bohs fans. I wouldn’t expect any crowd “trouble” before, or after, a game involving any LoI clubs bar Shamrock Rovers or Bohemians.

Both of those sides seem to “ape” the hooligan type of behaviour that went on in England during the 80’s. They even sing their songs with an English accent.

I can’t remember the last time I heard of any violence occurring at a game involving any other club. The fact that both Rovers and Bohs have had their supporter numbers bolstered by a large number of ex-Manchester United “fans” has only increased the level of English-style support.

This could well change should United stop being so bad. Those ex-United fans could, just as easily, go back to supporting Man U from the pub should that club’s fortunes change dramatically. Unfortunate, this would mean fewer numbers attending LoI games. Fingers crossed these fickle, “fair weather”, ex-United fans stick with their new clubs but I’d have my doubts.

I am a GAA head really but the bit that was really a culture shock for me at my visit to Tallaght as neutral for a LOI match (out of curiosity nice day as well) - it was the segregation!

When I was asked was I home or away fan? I nearly laughed out loud. My first thought was 'I am Irish sure!' But as a Dub I went to the ‘home’ support. It did seem laughable to me that a couple of hundred Dundalk fans were herded in the ‘away’ end.

It was really foreign to me in that sense. At a GAA match regardless of level, a major part of the craic of it is fans mixing.

Good natured comments flying back and forth from both sides. Many shake hands at the end of the game, after sharing sweets and stuff.

At away games in the GAA the locals quiz you about what route you took there, any up and coming players on your team etc. You as the away fan get an insight into their team ‘Jayus who is that young fella?’ you ask.

All that is lost because of segregation at LOI games. And I believe it creates a ‘them and us’ culture among fans. Which might explain the thuggish behaviour of fans, some experienced in the LOI. That segregation culture is surely a part of it?

I have never attended Irish soccer and never intend to. I probably won't ever attend another soccer game in my life unless I just happened to want to visit the stadium.

GAA has its bad points too, there is a lot of gate keeping involved when there is a game that has a shortage of tickets. The club GAA people feel bitter towards casual county fans.

Another thing with big GAA games is the buses of rowdy youths that come. For example I was insulted for no reason outside Croke Park this year by a group of loud mouthed girls. I was just walking minding my own business and this girl shouted "he is sexy isn't he" and all the girls laughed. I am a fat unattractive man so obviously they were trying to degrade me. It is funny that the GAA slogan is "where we all belong", maybe they should change that to "where we all belong, unless you don't look like the typical GAA fan".

You should have said something worse back to those GAA fans.

I played Gaelic football for 20 years, never played soccer apart from 5 a side, but much prefer LOI now, have been to a good few LOI games this year, I have only been to 1 GAA game this year and wont be at any more.

The backwards passing and 30 men in 1 half has ruined Gaelic football for me, most games are boring to watch in my opinion.

Some serious thugs playing Club GAA in my experience, they use it as an excuse to assault people.

The segregation thing in football definitely isnt English culture exported, it is needed abroad in most instances. Years back was at a Rio derby in the Maracana between Flamengo and Botofago which are both suburbs of Rio just a few kilometers apart. But they hate each other with a vengence to the point violence is a very real possibility and at a minimum there'll be a ruck with fans and the police at half time while they wait for the second half. At the match all the Flamego fans I went in with were all in plain clothes, then when they get into their section in the stadium their football jerseys come out of their pockets and they throw them on- they cant risk wearing a jersey on the way to the game in case something kicks off. A lot of Rio football rivalries are underpinned by rival favelas and their drugs gangs fighting between them for territory so its its on a whole different level to anything you would ever see in England.

Have seen similar situations between Boca and River Plate in Buenos Aires and at AC Milan was on the Curva Nord terrace and it is full of outright neo nazis complete with SS tattoos who would start a fight with opposing fans just for looking at them.

England is tame in comparison.I go to a Spurs game most seasons as a mate has season tickets there and afterwards in his local it is 50-50 Spurs Arsenal supporters there most of who work together, live near each other and some are related, etc. Never any problems. Remember being on a bus from Anfield when 10 Arsenall supporters were on it, thought there might be trouble but there was nothing but slagging between them and the scousers, all good natured stuff and handshakes all around.

I kind of like the segregation thing in football, its what gives the atmosphere its edge. But obviously some groups take that way too far and into violence.

The LOI can be v enjoyable to watch, but some of it can be very boring with so few scores. You tend to have a few more yahoos following soccer too, loud and senseless types, although that is very much a minority.

GAA championship hurling would be light years ahead of the LOI, but early in the year the gap would be smaller.

So for me the GAA is a good bit better, especially hurling, but LOI definitely worth going to also.

These kind of hillbillies make me cringe at the GAA to be honest. "Theres the team, go on Tipp" ffs and too tight to buy food in Dublin, have to bring sandwiches, they would probably prefer to spend their money on cattle feed than treat themselves to a nice meal in Dublin. lol

You are aware that is literally an ad for ham sandwiches? Did you expect Denny to make an ad showing people going to spar for a 5e sandwich?

they're lost when they get to Dublin for a match, they would struggle trying to order food with all the quare foreign ingredients we have in Dublin. Ham and butter and white bread made at home is about all they can handle.

You missed your chance. The young wans from the country love fat unattractive men. You could have banged the whole busload of them if you had been on the ball. I think your issues in that area and many posts on the topic stem from not realising all these missed opportunities

Haha 'there is no such thing as a bad game of hurling' etc.

Yer man above, made his debut for Madrid at the then new Tallaght Stadium against Rovers and all! From what I recall there was a great buzz about the place, atmosphere must have been great.

It's funny you mention watching a good EPL or UCL soccer game on telly being great. I have always found that they're not half as glossy in the flesh without the TV production. GAA games compare very favourably in comparison as a spectator at a game.

The Champions League is fantastic entertainment all the same come the knockout stages.

Yeah but part of the craic of going to a football match is being segregated it's own way. The chants, making rude gestures at the away supporters, getting a coach/train to an away with your fellow supporters then sitting with them at the game and the drinking is all part of the craic. It's more a lads culture whereas as GAA is more for families.

This would all be diluted if fans were mixed. It would a bit like American sports probably.

I'd agree with that. Whatever about Croker there is no need for so many GAA stadiums around the country to be above 30k.

GAA county boards seem to go for quantity over quality. You'd swear we were living in a tropical climate with so many stadiums having 3 sides uncovered.

Nothing better than leaving the house with the headband on. The sign of a true fan.

Get to the game and clap a bit and if you lose it doesn’t really matter.

Far better than a League of Ireland match with fans chanting, pyro, tifo displays and bitter rivalries.

Who do that soccer lot think they are?

No football economy because nobody including our government would invest in the product. The GAA have governments by the bôllocks..that’s why in the main LOI spectator facilities are so basic compared to the GAA.

GAA brings a lot of money to the exchequer but they also as an organisation make significant profits pre covid.

so you need to wonder why the taxpayers need to be propping them up with such substantial government grants.

I like the fact that supporters can mingle at GAA matches either inside or outside the ground .I can see that having the same supporters together inside can enhance the atmosphere as well .There has been a bit of growth of aggro at soccer matches I feel over the last few years I speak as a Bohs supporter especially when it's versus Rovers and the chanting for me is not family oriented which is a pity .

Lol, got a good laugh out of that- the government gave the fai €30m of a bailout not two years ago because it was such a shambles. Also worth noting this article:

"Irish football receives €1.2m more in government funding than rugby and GAA combined, figures released by Sport Ireland have shown."

Irish soccer is a shambles because of the FAI, certainly isn't the gaa or the government's fault at all

The hard facts are the GAA in most parts of the country is round for donkeys years and generation after generation will tog out or support the club their father or granfather did in years previous. It covers all demographics in parishs and thats more evident in rural ireland. Lots of GAA people follow other sports but their club and county brings out an allegiance passed from generation to generation.

In limerick Rugby would be on a par particulary in the city but both Hurling and Rugby have huge crossover support and get on fine in the main , not all this bitching the LOI go on about blaming everyeone else for their poor facilities/support.