Kerry in Croke Park

[Jo90]

On Sunday Kerry play their 18th game in Croke Park since '96 (including '04 League Final).
I was wondering how many of the previous 17 games people have gone to?
I've gone to 15 myself with the 97 and 98 semi-finals the missing entries.

[seamus]

Give us a list of the games Jo90 and I will tot it up. Don't think i have missed more than 3 or 4 though.

[animal]

Since 96 I've only missed the replay Vs Armagh in 2000 and the horror that was Meath in 2001. I was out of country for both but managed to catch them on TV.

[austinstacksabu]

Fair dues Jo90, I was just doing something similar myself.

In the modern era of 1996 - present, here is the semi final breakdown year on year:

Mayo Kerry
Meath Tyrone

Cavan Kerry
Mayo Offaly

Galway Derry
Kildare Kerry

Cork Mayo
Meath Armagh

Galway Kildare
Kerry Armagh

Meath Kerry
Galway Derry

Armagh Dublin
Cork Kerry

Donegal Armagh
Tyrone Kerry

Mayo Fermanagh
Derry Kerry

Totals:
Kerry 8
Mayo 4
Armagh 4
Galway 3
Derry 3
Meath 3
Kildare 2
Tyrone 2
Cork 2
Fermanagh 1
Cavan 1
Offaly 1
Donegal 1
Dublin 1

We've played one semi final replay, Armagh 2000, four finals, 1997 v Mayo, 2000 v Galway, 2002 v Armagh and 2004 v Mayo and one final replay, v Galway 2000.

On top of that, Kerry played quarter finals in 2002, 2003 and 2004 in Croke Park, versus Galway, Roscommon and Dublin. They also played the league final of 2004 there against Galway.

Looking at the list, we've played double the games there in All Ireland and league format than any other county (not counting Leinster games there).

[Jo90]

96 v Mayo
97 v Cavan
97 v Mayo
98 v Kildare
00 v Armagh
00 v Armagh Replay
00 v Galway
00 v Galway Replay
01 v Meath
02 v Galway
02 v Cork
02 v Armagh
03 v Roscommon
03 v Tyrone
04 v Galway
04 v Dublin
04 v Derry
04 v Mayo
I suppose I could throw in the 04 Club Final for bonus points!
Just realised I've counted wrong.
Kerry have played 18 times in Croke Park since '96.

[homerj]

been to 14 of these, missed the cork game and the galway game in 2002(was in england) and the mayo game 96. its some achievement that we have been in so many semi finals since 96

[lostinmayo]

I missed the 4 epic games in 2000, saw them all in a drunken state in Kings X in Syndey though, the day after the replay against Armagh, I couldn't even remember whether we won... i missed the Cork game aswell, was in Amsterdam. Missed the Derry game last year, pissed the Mayo people off "waiting for the final"

Think I made all the others, hard to know which was the worst defeat, i think maybe Kildare, although Meath was a sickener, Tyrone and Armagh weren't easy to swallow either, feck i just don't like losing, I'm an animal ;D

[austinstacksabu]

Was at all of them, including An Gaeltacht's loss - hardest to take was the Armagh defeat - Meath was a strange affair, Tyrone just confirmed what we already knew in the back of our minds.

Happiest moment. '97 was the first All Ireland final I attended and I got a great kick out of it, of seeing Maurice at his best, of winning after the black years, of seeing Kerry support like I'd never seen before. 2004 was more relief than delight, that we'd recovered from Armagh, Meath and Tyrone. But for pure pleasure, the greatest moment was the 2002 semi final. Bliss, delight, you name it.

[buck02]

I'll throw a spanner in the works - didnt we beat Down (?) in the league 1/4 final in Croke Park in 97? We definately played either the 1/4 or semi or maybe both their that year.

[Jo90]

Yeah and the semi-final was against Laois I think, part of double header in Croke Park. Wasn't at either anyway.
Completely forgot about those - you've a great memory Buck02!

[austinstacksabu]

Some memory man there - well, I'll clarify so - missed those two games!

[buck02]

Yeah I missed those two games too - thats why I remember them!! Been to all Kerry's championship games in Croker since 1986, although before Mayo in 96 that was only 3 games! Also made the 87 league final defeat to Dublin.
Most memorable game for me was the replay against Armagh in 2000 while Meath a year later is one I'd most like the get the Men in Black memory erasing treatment to.

[lostinmayo]

I don't remember those games atall, and I was living in Dublin at the time and I'm sure I would have been at them, but absolutely no recollection, remember the final well though, standing in the middle of Pairc Ui Chaoimh singing football's coming home. Big change form winning the league final last year, the players did a warm down after the game as they did every game, a pure sign that it was only a stepping stone.

[kerrydoc]

been to all of them apart from the two league games in 97. found defeat by tyrone hardest to take. dunno what was best one- maybe 97, as i dont really remember 86, altho i was at it. winning in millennium was pretty special also. so many good memories!

[Attacking Wing Back]

I missed the first all ireland final against galway in 2000 due to work commitments..was there for the rest though

[Catrionaosullivan]

Wow dats some records by ye! ye are all by far the counties finest supporters! it's a credit 2 ye for making the long journey to croker each year.

My 1st time in Croker was at the meath game in 01' at the age of 12. I still remember it well and always will!

4 yrs on i consider myself privileged 2 have only missed 1 game in croker since (roscommon in 03') as at 16 not many people have the wonderful experience of being there.

Looking forward 2 Sundays game! got my ticket and place on the bus. Sud b a great 10th time and after Mayo's performance against cavan, I'll hopefully b witnessing my 7th Kerry victory in Croker!

And strangely as i think of it the only 2 games i missed dis yr (due 2 school) Kerry lost (cork nd donegal).

[kingdomkerry]

yeah i missed 3 semi finals against meath, cork and tyrone cause i was on holiday.

[Jo90]

catrionaosullivan said:

Wow dats some records by ye! ye are all by far the counties finest supporters! it's a credit 2 ye for making the long journey to croker each year.

My 1st time in Croker was at the meath game in 01' at the age of 12. I still remember it well and always will!

4 yrs on i consider myself privileged 2 have only missed 1 game in croker since (roscommon in 03') as at 16 not many people have the wonderful experience of being there.

Looking forward 2 Sundays game! got my ticket and place on the bus. Sud b a great 10th time and after Mayo's performance against cavan, I'll hopefully b witnessing my 7th Kerry victory in Croker!

And strangely as i think of it the only 2 games i missed dis yr (due 2 school) Kerry lost (cork nd donegal).

You've a very good record for a 16 year old. I had only 2 visits to Croke Park at your age - the '84 and '86 final.

[scoobydo]

been to 12, missed everything since roscommon 03, was away for over a year, sunday is my first trip to the new croker, excited!

[austinstacksabu]

Fair dues Catriona, by 16 I'd only been to Croke Park twice, Kerry '84 semi v Galway and '88 football semi final Cork v Dublin (a great Stacks juvenile trip).

KingdomKerry - you might want to have a look at Keith Duggans article earlier this year which explained what it was to be a Kerry football fan (even though he comes from Donegal). There was one piece which explained how everything was built around football, including holidays, weddings, baptism etc. I think he finished it by saying that a Kerry fan wakes up in January with three dates in their mind, their birthday, their mothers birthday and the All Ireland final.

Think you'll have to rethink your holiday strategy - Greece is still quite warm in October as is Floriday :-) :-)

[buck02]

Re the two "lost" league games in '97, managed to track down the score of the Loais semi final 2-13 to 1-10 but cant get a scoreline for the Down game. Only memory of it was that Kirby was man of the match and we won comfortably, 7/8 points.