Hill 16 Fence.

Christy Cooney has described the decision to erect a nine-foot barrier on Hill 16 to prevent pitch invasions at this year's All-Ireland final as a "last resort".

"We didn't want to have to do this, but we're left with no other option. For the safety of players, officials and patrons, this has become necessary," the GAA president said at a press briefing before yesterday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final at Croke Park.

"If you look at last year's All-Ireland final, the break came from the Hill, no place else. If the break hadn't come from the Hill, nobody else would have moved in the stadium.

"That was clearly obvious from all the research we've done and all the video evidence we have. It led us to believe that if we can control it there, we can control it everywhere else."

In order to reduce the opportunities for people from the stands to enter the pitch, the first four rows of seating all around the ground will be allocated to counties who are not competing in the finals on the basis that they are less likely to want to join in the celebrations.

The new raised fencing on Hill 16 will be in place for the second of the All-Ireland football semi-finals between Kildare and Down on August 29.


Unelss that fence is electrified if i am in the Hill come 19th September, i will be going over it.
Those people who are in the first 4 rows, well god help them also.

Think we should get a banner, it'll take more than a fence.

I can't believe there is one grass roots GAA man or women that would agree with this proposal.

It's setting Croke Park back 30 years. Cooney is well out of touch and whether you agree with pitch invasions or don't putting up possible death traps is not the way to go.

Not surprised one little bit. The GAA have said for a long time now that they dont want pitch invasions. This is not so much down to the damage of pitch, but the type of low life who decide to runon a pitch, subsequently fall & hurt themselves, and then decide to claim fro mthe GAA.
If you think this was Christy Cooney's decision Fionn, then your worse. The only way to prevent people running on the pitch/claiming is put the fence back up.

Ahh well, if the 1st four rows are full of Laois, Meath, Offaly & Sligo people it would be worth the sacrifice...................... :p

Most neutrals end up selling tickets to the AI finalist teams anyway so that'l be hard to police.

Gaa are goin back years with this draconian decision.82 years waiting to get out there(if we do) and now this happens this year .Us folk in the stand will have to get practising pushing.this could get dirty.

If we win I'll give a big wave from the pitch to everyone on the hill.

Putting up the fence, however tall, will not stop people from going on the pitch. All it will do is cause a crush against the fence and then for safety reasons they will have to open the gate.
If the GAA were giving out about the people claiming from them for falling on the pitch what will people do when they are after getting crushed on the Hill?
IMO this is just a waste of money.

ill moon the hill if we win the all-ieland from the pitch