It’s been months of preparation for Minor stars across the country, but the big day has finally arrived, with the Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship Final’s just around the corner. The counties have done battle in their provinces, and now four teams have made it to the hurling and football finals, as they go in pursuit of the ultimate Minor accolade. This is All-Ireland Minor Final weekend. This is the Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship Final. This Is Major!
With Cork and Galway doing battle in the hurling, and Derry and Kerry contending the football final, there promises to be two wonderfully competitive games in store for those making the trip to Croke Park. To get you ready for the Minor final’s, we’ve listed seven things you’re likely to see on your way to Croke Park, and at the game itself, on All-Ireland Sunday.
7 Things You’ll See at The Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship Final
1) Hats, Scarves and Headbands
A given as you make the walk towards Croker, All-Ireland Minor Final Day just wouldn’t be the same without the sound of someone screaming out “hats, scarves and headbands”. Show your support for your county by grabbing all three!
2) The Picnic Stop
With fans travelling to Dublin from Cork, Derry, Galway and Kerry for the Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship Finals, expect one or two picnic stops along the way. Whether you opt to wait until you arrive in Dublin, or make a stop along the way, a trip to Croke Park for the Minor final isn’t the same unless you pencil in a break for some sandwiches and tea.
3) Grown Men with Face Paint
Aside from Halloween, All-Ireland Minor Sunday is the only other day of the year when you can expect to see thousands of grown men do their best Ultimate Warrior impression by painting their faces in the colours of their county. As the final whistle draws closer, expect to see the pristine paint look more like war paint as the pressure begins to take its toll.
4) Bodhráns
Another given on the biggest day of the GAA Minor calendar, whether you’re walking past Quinn’s or McGraths, or standing on Hill 16, you’re sure to see (and hear) supporters from both teams at full voice, with the Bodhrán player acting as the orchestra conductor for the day.
5) Stars of the Future
Another thing you can be sure of seeing at both the Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Hurling and Football Finals are stars of the future. Two of Waterford’s current senior stars (Austin Gleeson and Shane Bennett) helped the ‘The Decies’ to an All-Ireland Minor title in 2013, where they defeated Galway, while the current Galway panel includes two Minor stars from Galway’s All-Ireland Minor winning team from 2015 – Sean Loftus and Thomas Monaghan.
When Dublin line-up against Mayo in the senior football final, we’ll see players who have helped their county win All-Ireland Minor titles as recently as 2012 (Dublin) and 2013 (Mayo), with Eric Lowndes (Dublin) and two-time Young Footballer of the Year Diarmuid O’Connor (Mayo) looking to drive their county to success. With so many hurling and football stars beginning their GAA journey in the All-Ireland Minor Final, you’ll be sure to see some stars of the future cross the white line for Cork, Galway, Derry and Kerry in the Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship Final.
6) Fanatical Fans
When it comes to sports fans it’s hard to top GAA fans, especially when it comes to All-Ireland Sunday, and when it comes to the Minor final, you know you’re going to be surrounded by fanatical fans. From fans cheering on their family members to proud clubmen and women, you’ll find a wide range of fans beaming with pride that their county has made it to the big one!
Read more to find out the 10 supporters you’ll find at every GAA Minor game.
7) Proud Mammies
Speaking of fans, there’ll be none prouder than the mums in the stand as they watch their son cross the line for the biggest game of their careers. These women have played a big role in the journey to Croke Park, so expect to see them take a vested interest from the stand, as they show their vocal support throughout.
Find out more about the role that GAA mums play in their sons Minor journey by reading our article on 7 things all GAA Minor mums will be familiar with.
Check out our video below of some Major GAA Mums:
Share Your Favourite Things About GAA All-Ireland Minor Final Day
Let us know your favourite thing about All-Ireland Minor Sunday, and your favourite All-Ireland Minor moment with us on the Electric Ireland NI Facebook and Twitter page using #GAAThisIsMajor.