Offaly supporters up in arms after missing out on sold-out U20 hurling final as Michael Duignan apologises to Faithful fans

Some supporters trying to get their hands on tickets via Ticketmaster, the GAA's official ticketing outlet, encountered some difficulties online as many Faithful fans were unable to acquire tickets for the much-anticipated clash.

Social media is awash with Offaly supporters trying to get their hands on tickets with the Kilkenny venue of Nowlan Park clearly unable to handle the demand in the midlands.

Offaly landed the Leinster U20 title against Dublin in Portlaoise last Wednesday night with just over 15,000 officially in attendance, although that number is likely to have been closer to 20,000 with children taken into account.

Nowlan Park was selected as the match venue earlier this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of James Nowlan's death with the winning trophy also named after the former GAA president.

A statement from Offaly GAA on Sunday night said: “We hope that additional tickets may become available in the coming days. We will keep supporters updated on any new developments."

What has angered Offaly supporters further is that several Tipperary clubs posted through their social media channels that an allocation of tickets for the game was available to them.

Lorrha & Dorrha, Roscrea and Toomevara were among the clubs that had advertised tickets online whereas many Offaly fans have been unable to get sorted through Ticketmaster.

Speaking to the Offaly Express this morning, Offaly GAA chairman Michael Duignan revealed that Faithful chiefs were advised by Croke Park and Ticketmaster not to take such an allocation.

Offaly supporters were instead encouraged to buy tickets online, although that has not worked out as they planned.

“Tipperary took numbers for their clubs, the advice we got was not to do it. I don't know in hindsight if that was a good or a bad call. Should we have taken an allocation for our clubs? Duignan said.

"Maybe we should have, I am not sure. It would have caused a lot of hassle for clubs and would only have shifted the problem. Tipperary felt Offaly would have a huge crowd there and were trying to ensure they had a decent crowd.

"The advice we got was that tickets to clubs would be all over the place and it would be better for people to buy online themselves. Offaly wrote to clubs and told them this on Friday. There was no comeback about it.”

Duignan insisted that yesterday's surge for tickets was "crazy in terms of demand" and he hopes that tickets seep back into the system over the coming days that allow genuine Offaly supporters to attend the high-profile tie.

"My biggest concern is the people who go to all matches. I hope the really genuine people get there. The game is sold out but hopefully tickets will come free near the time. I do believe tickets will be in circulation but we will have to see,” he said.

“Ticketmaster have said their system didn't crash. They were even shocked at what happened in the first ten minutes. We had no control over it but I want to apologise to everyone who didn't get looked after.

"We want everyone from Offaly at the match but there is only so much we can do. I spoke to Jarlath Burns (GAA president) this morning and he said the demand was unbelievable.

"People are frustrated and I do apologise if they didn't get tickets. We are very concerned that everyone gets to the match. It is a very unusual situation for the GAA.

"Offaly have broken the mould in terms of support going to these games. The average attendance at a normal U-20 All-Ireland final would be 7,000/8,000, 10,000 max.

"Evidence is beginning to filter through that there are tickets out there. It doesn't mean all genuine people are sorted at the moment. Hopefully they will be.”

Two years ago, Tipperary and Offaly met in an All-Ireland minor final in Nowlan Park, a game which the Premier won in dramatic fashion through a last-gasp Paddy McCormack goal, when over 20,000 were present.

Given that Nowlan Park hosted a Bruce Springsteen concert two weeks ago that clearly had a negative impact on the playing surface at the O'Loughlin Gaels end, the unwillingness to look at a bigger venue to cater for a huge Offaly support has also angered fans.

Wexford senior hurling manager Keith Rossiter also expressed his disbelief at the condition that the pitch was in after the Model men fell narrowly to Kilkenny in last Sunday's Leinster SHC clash.

Today's Sports News in 90 Seconds - 28th May