Dry run for Dubs fans to Thurles

Tomorrow, while Dublin GAA fans thirst for victory in Thurles, they will have to endure alcohol-free trains.

Tomorrow, while Dublin GAA fans thirst for victory in Thurles, they will have to endure alcohol-free trains.

Either for drowning their sorrows or toasting their success in the All-Ireland quarter-finals on the way home, alcohol will be banned on all three special match trains to Dublin. Around 1,200 Dublin supporters are expected to travel on the special trains.

In contrast, Kerry supporters will have the luxury of the snack carriage which will have "a limited amount of alcohol".

"To be honest, we have never had problems with Kerry GAA supporters. Our main problem with Kerry is we don't have enough trains for people wishing to travel," an Iarnrod Eireann spokesman said.

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Previous Dublin away matches have led to incidents on trains and alcohol is felt to have been a factor. Iarnrod Eireann advertisements clearly state no alcohol will be sold or permitted on board match trains from Dublin.

Mr John Costello, secretary of the Dublin County Board, said he was far more interested in having adequate trains for supporters. As long as there were enough trains travelling and on time, he was not going to worry about the bar service.

Tickets from Kerry for the special trains, as well as for many of the regular services, have already sold out.

Gardai are advising people going to Thurles for the match to use different routes to last week. They suggest the N7 through Kildare, Monasterevin, the Portlaoise bypass, Mountrath, Roscrea, Templemore and Thurles.

There is also the N7/9 through Athy, Stradbally and Portlaoise; the N8, turning left at the intersection to the Meelick roundabout to Abbeyleix, Durrow, Johnstown and Urlingford; the N4 via Enfield, Kinnegad and kilbeggan, or the N52 via Tullamore, Birr, Roscrea, Templemore to Thurles.

Parking arrangements have been put in place close to Semple stadium, with 14 car parks in all. These were underutilised last week because people parked along the road up to three miles from the stadium.