THE MAN BEHIND THE WIRE: Offaly GAA should consider on-site access for games

IT looks like the days of cash being accepted at turnstiles in GAA games are over. Spectators must now buy their tickets in advance online and this system is probably here to stay.

Things change and technology moves on. Slowly but surely, Ireland is moving towards a cashless society with the vast majority of payments now done by bank cards – from major purchases to minor ones such as a newspaper or litre of milk.

Those things don't tend to change once they become the norm and people will adapt but it does create problems for some supporters, particularly older ones.

There is a small percentage of people who simply don't know how to buy tickets online and some of them may not even have bank cards. They are at a stage of life where they don't want to and won't change while they also want the flexibility of being able to make a last minute decision to go to a game – at this time of year in particular, weather conditions and their general form will dictate whether they go to a game and hopping into a car fifteen minutes before throw in and going is ruled out for them with the advance tickets system.

Admission increases approved as Offaly GAA games to remain “cashless”

It does make sense for the GAA, both nationally and locally. Handling cash at games, particularly big ones where gate receipts are significant is far from ideal. If a person buys a ticket and then can't make it for whatever reason, the GAA still has the revenue.

It reminds me of years ago when email was introduced as the system of communication for County Boards and clubs, replacing notification by letters. Some clubs were adamantly opposed to it, making some of the above points about online tickets and the hardship it would cause some less technologically minded club officials.

Former Clara GAA chairman Michael Sheridan was among the opponents at the time, yet him and his club very quickly adapted to it and accepted the wisdom of being able to get information out at the tap of a button.

The GAA community will adapt to the new system. There is very few people who can't get someone to sort a ticket for them if they want to go to a match and as one person remarked last week, they will have to buy tickets online if they want to go to a concert or for a lot of events. There is simply no pay at the door option.

There were problems in Birr last week for the National Hurling League game between Offaly and Cork. There were problems with the Ticketmaster website and it prompted Offaly GAA to put out an alternative way of purchasing online tickets and Birr GAA Club to provide a tap and pay facility at the gate.

The provision of a tap and pay facility would be a fair compromise. Encourage people to buy their tickets online in advance but have an alternative in case of online breakdowns and for the more spontaneous supporter.

It may not be feasible to have a tap and pay facility at every junior hurling fixture in the county but it would be possible to have it for every game in O'Connor Park and big ones at other venues.

The GAA may be a huge business but it fills an essential community and social role in the lives of many people. That should be retained and it is crucial that all supporters can supporters can get easy access to a game.

This week's answers are:

1 – Name the Rhode and Edenderry footballers that have played in and managed senior championship winning teams against each other?

Answer: Peter Brady and Pat Daly.

2 – Who captained St Rynagh's to their first senior hurling title in 1965?

Answer: KK Kenny.

3 – When Offaly defeated Carlow in the 1966 Leinster SHC, who scored four goals?

Answer: Tony Dooley.

4 – Sean Lowry played in All-Ireland senior football semi-finals under three different managers. Name them?

Answer: Fr Tom Gillooly, Eugene McGee and Liam O'Neill.

Answers in the next column. With thanks to former referee Carthage Buckley for supplying the questions.