By Niall McCoy
ULSTER GAA officials are expecting one of their biggest semi-final crowds in recent years when Armagh meet Cavan at St Tiernach’s Park this Sunday. A number of factors offer confidence that a large crowd will descend on Clones.
Both counties have large fanbases who haven’t seen their team in an Ulster final in a long time. The match is not live on TV and an even contest is expected. The weather forecast, while not perfect, isn’t too bad either.
Ulster GAA have told Gaelic Life that they are anticipating a crowd of “18,000 to 20,000” but there is still optimism that they can break that 20,000 barrier.
It will be a welcome boost after last year’s semi-finals attracted just 10,122 (Fermanagh v Monaghan) and 12,051 (Donegal v Down).
Only three of the last 20 Ulster semi-finals – including replays – have broken that 20,000 barrier, Monaghan v Armagh replay in 2014, the Tyrone and Cavan replay in 2016 and the meeting of Tyrone and Donegal two years ago.
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