Sir, – On Saturday, I travelled from Dublin to Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, to see the Kilkenny vs Offaly hurling match, the first GAA match to be broadcast by Sky Sports. We are Dublin supporters but over the past two years have travelled to many provincial stadiums to watch some wonderful hurling matches, many not involving Dublin.
The bonus of small stadiums “down the country” is that children can go onto the pitch after the match, ask the players to sign their hurls, and puck a ball about on the same pitch their heroes were battling on just minutes before. It does more to generate a passion for hurling in my children than any amount of cajoling from their father.
However, at Nowlan Park on Saturday evening, we found that wire-fencing had been erected between the fans and the pitch. Gates onto the field were locked. Five minutes before the end of the game, the following announcement was made; “Fans are not to come onto the pitch at the end of the game as Sky Sports need to conduct post-match interviews”.
The GAA say that the participation of Sky Sports will enhance the GAA. If the demands of Sky and their armchair fans are to take precedence over the experience of fans who make their way to stadiums, come rain or shine, then I strongly disagree. – Yours, etc,
JOHN RYAN,
Ballymun Road,
Dublin 9.