The semi-finals of the Men’s and the Women’s All Ireland Football Championships are now known and all four games are down for decision on the weekend of the 14th and 15th August.
Dublin will face Mayo in both who raises the prospect of an intriguing Double Header between the two counties.
Two years ago the two TG4 All Ireland Ladies Championship semi-finals were played at Croke Park with Galway overcoming Mayo and Dublin doing the same to Cork. The ambition at the time was to build this day into a strong backup for the Final which was by this stage capable of attracting an attendance of over 50,000.
For the semi-finals at Croke Park, the likely attendance will be set at 24,000 which will be easily oversubscribed for the men on their own, given the history between the sides and the belief that Dublin are more vulnerable than at any time in their run of six consecutive titles.
The men’s Semi-Final has already been set for a 6 PM throw-in and will be televised live on both RTÉ and Sky Sports.
The Women’s semi-final will be shown live on TG4 but no time or venue has yet to be confirmed.
The GAA also needs to find a time and venue that same weekend for the Eirgrid U20 Final between Offaly and either Down or Roscommon and the Minor Hurling Championship semi-final between Kilkenny and Galway.
The second Senior men’s semi-final is scheduled for 3-30 PM on Sunday 15th.
Covid adds an additional measure of complexity with questions over whether it would be possible to host two broadcast teams in one venue for back to back matches.
It seems like common sense for fans of Mayo and Dublin that the two games should take place at the same venue on the same day but does that mean that the Women’s game would be played first in front of a crowd that might only be arriving in time for the Men’s game and therefore miss out in terms of regular supporters and atmosphere.
In an ideal world where the fans of the county would be blind to gender and see this as a unique experience not to be missed, again it is an easy decision but in honesty, we are probably not there yet and so you have to think of what is best for the players?
Could you have TG4 set up in Parnell Park and have the Women’s game played there in front of an appreciative and lively, fully focused attendance, and sell a joint ticket that would allow the maximum permitted number of fans (and players) then make the short journey to Croke Park for the Men’s game?
Or do you find a way to make the TV set up work in a covid safe manner and put both games on together?
There is a third option to play the Women’s semi-finals together at a neutral venue and rely on the appeal of the sport in its own right to attract the right attendance.
A decision on the timing and venue of the games is expected within the next day or two.
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