1, Ticket Allocation: As usual, demand for All-Ireland tickets far outweighs supply. But where do they go? Last year, 49,095 tickets were available between the four main stands - the New Cusack (20,957), the old Hogan (15,605) the Canal Stand (10,410) and the Nally (2,123). This was how the distribution was broken down:
2, County Allocations: 16,549; Competing Counties: 16,883; Long term tickets: 5166; Extra allocation for competing counties: 5080; Councils and Committees and Ard Chomlairle: 366; Committee members and former presidents: 501; Provincial Councils: 290; Handball: 135; North American Board: 131; New York: 131; Canada: 10; Australia: 54; Bord Failte: 98; Universities: 193; Secondary Schools: 562; Vocational Schools: 590; Bunscoileanna: 137; Teachers Executives: 72; Public Representatives: 101; Camogie Association: 108; Cumann Gaelach na Monarchan: 108; Cumann Gaelach na mBan: 18; Rounders: 12; Psychiatric Hospitals: 36; Army and Gardai: 86; Staff and Sub Committees: 261; Sponsors: 230; Advertisers: 72; Media: 280: Minors: 70; Key Stewards: 50; Jubilee teams and INTO Skills: 297; An tArd Stiurthoir: 238; Hogan Press seats: 100; Other Hogan Stand unsaleable: 80.
3, Women's Semi-Final: Meath travel to Parnell Park tomorrow for the women's All-Ireland semi-final with Waterford (3.30) with hopes of making it fourth-time lucky. It's the fourth successive semi-final appearance but they have yet to make it through to the final.
The six-point win over Dublin in the provincial final appears to indicate that this may be the year they can do it. The foundation for that victory was laid in the opening 10 minutes, most notably with the scoring frenzy of Elaine Duffy. Equally effective of reaching the target was Emer McAuley, Christine O'Brien and Darina Shaw.
Waterford, meanwhile, are back in search of yet another final appearance. Wing forward Catriona Casey will start her first inter-county championship game since breaking her leg against Monaghan in the All-Ireland semi-final last year. The Munster champions have the better championship record but Meath appear to have the momentum this year to progress to the final and meet defending champions Mayo.
4, Medals: In one of those rare breaks from GAA tradition, Croke Park announced yesterday that for the first time, the losers of Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final will be presented with their runners-up medals immediately after the game at the mid-pitch presentation ceremony.
Usually the defeated finalists would receive their medals well after the curtain had come down on All-Ireland Sunday, but the GAA President Sean McCague will now present the players of either Offaly or Kilkenny with their medals before presenting the Liam McCarthy Cup to the winning captain. It will still be sometime later, however, before the winners receive their medals. As with tradition, there are engraved and dated before being passed on to the winning county.
