The All-Ireland finals are still a few weeks away, but the annual ticket scramble is already beginning to loom.
In hurling, Galway face Cork and Limerick take on Clare in the semi-finals. In football, Dublin meet Kerry while Mayo face Louth.
Once those games are decided, attention will quickly turn to one of the most difficult questions in Irish sport: how do you actually get an All-Ireland final ticket?
How To Get All-Ireland Final Tickets And Where They Actually Go
Unlike most championship games, tickets for the All-Ireland hurling and football finals are not made available through a standard public sale.
Instead, tickets are allocated through the GAA’s own system.
The GAA’s own ticketing information notes that tickets for the All-Ireland hurling and football finals are allocated to county boards and clubs.
Each county board receives an allocation, with the competing counties receiving the biggest share. Those tickets are then filtered down to clubs, and from there to club members.
That means, for most supporters, the best chance of getting a ticket is through their local club.
Clubs generally receive their allocation from the county board and then distribute tickets through their own internal process. Depending on the club, that may involve draws, priority for volunteers, officers, players, long-serving members or a combination of different methods.
Demand almost always far exceeds supply.
Where The Tickets Went In 2025
GAA Ard Stiúrthóir Tom Ryan’s annual report included a breakdown of how the 82,006 capacity was distributed for the 2025 finals.
County allocations accounted for the vast majority, with 57,490 tickets going through various county boards not just the two competing counties.
There were also 3,781 season tickets and 2,381 term tickets.
Premium and corporate accounted for 10,528 tickets, while schools and educational bodies received 2,220.
Sponsors received 1,190, while 914 went to Ard Chomhairle and Iar-Uachtaráin.
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Other allocations included 480 for overseas, 360 for provinces, 254 for press, 212 for rounders and handball, 200 for Croke Park residents, 188 for mini games, 148 each for match officials and the national referees panel, and match day/Vertigo, 140 for Camogie, 100 for Ladies Football, 78 for Jubilee teams, 74 for TV and radio, 60 for health bodies and Sport Ireland, and 820 for staff and sub committees.
The report listed the number available for distribution as 71,478 with premium and corporate making up the remaining 10,528.
Why There Is No General Sale
Every year, there are calls for All-Ireland final tickets to be put on general sale.
However, the GAA has consistently maintained a club-first approach.
The organisation’s argument is that the All-Ireland finals are the showpiece occasions of a grassroots association, and that the people most involved in clubs and counties should have the best chance of attending.
It also avoids the chaos that can come with general sales for high-demand events, where online queues, resale markets and inflated prices can quickly become major issues.
The system is far from perfect for supporters, particularly those in competing counties who are not club members, but it remains the clearest route to an All-Ireland final ticket.
How To Improve Your Chances
The best route is through your club.
Supporters should contact their club secretary once allocations are confirmed. County boards will communicate details to clubs after the final pairings are known.
Being a club member gives you a better chance, though it is far from a guarantee. In most clubs, demand will still outstrip supply.
Season tickets and term tickets are another route, but those need to be secured well before the final stage of the championship.
Occasionally, a small number of tickets can become available outside the usual routes if allocations are returned, but supporters should not rely on that happening.
Who To Contact
Supporters looking for All-Ireland final tickets should contact:
Their local GAA club secretary
Their county board
Official GAA ticketing channels only
Supporters should also be careful of unofficial resale offers, particularly on social media.
The finals may not be set yet, but once the semi-finals are decided, the race for tickets will begin properly.
For most people, the answer remains the same as ever.
Start with your club.
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