And so it has come to pass. They warned us it was on the way, if we didn’t behave and do as we were told a draconian solution would have to be found – but did we listen? “No” appears to be the answer.

Last Saturday the GAA hierarchy announced that fencing would be reintroduced to Croke Park, specifically at the Hill 16 end. The story was broken in a low-key manner, and it took some time for its implications to register with people. The reality is that now we are going to have a nine foot edifice caging in the “animals” just in time for the second All Ireland semi-final between Kildare and Down. Those of a cynical disposition may be inclined to surmise that this fixture was chosen deliberately, as the previous week’s encounter between Dublin and Cork would have presented the GAA with 12,000 Dubs in a state of apoplexy at their new surrounds on the Hill.

The whole situation has not been helped by conflicting messages emanating from Croke Park. Christy Cooney has been saying over the last few days that the reintroduction of fencing is not because of the unsavoury incidents after the Leinster football final, while other press releases seem to indicate that this event was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. I suspect that the truth lies somewhere between the two. (The idea of just fencing in the Hill doesn’t make sense though, as the Meath/Louth post-match incursions emanated from the stands, not the terraces.)

My view is that fencing is a massively retrograde step. If you have the time, go on to the internet and have a look at some of the horrific images from the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. This was an event that saw 96 Liverpool supporters lose their lives, due to the fact that they were fenced in. Another article would be needed to go into the events of that fateful day in Sheffield in greater detail – suffice to say that fencing played a major role in the disaster that unfolded.

Following the disaster on the Leppings Lane terrace that afternoon, Lord Justice Taylor’s report banned the use of fencing, as well as making all-seater stadia a prerequisite for teams in the top two flights of English football. Today, there seems to be some support for the reintroduction of terraces – but not fencing.

The Bundesliga in Germany is a prime example of how terracing can be safely used in soccer – most clubs in the top flight in Germany have terraces which can be made all-seater for European club games (UEFA still insists on all-seater stadia for their competitions).

Back to Croke Park. It has been one of the wiser moves on the part of the GAA that they chose to keep the terracing element of our most famous stadium. It adds greatly to the atmosphere and is also a cheaper option for supporters in comparison to the stands. Anybody who has stood on the new terrace can vouch for the fact that it is well structured, with adequate crowd barriers, good stewarding and fantastic view points. It is safe, and if anything were to go wrong on the terrace it is only a few steps to the safety of the pitch.

That will all change now with the advent of fencing. Caging in people as if they were animals may eventually cause them to behave in that way. The environment of fencing is akin to a cage, looking through iron bars, your freedom restricted.

There is no way that fencing is the solution to the issue of pitch invasions. The hurling final between Kilkenny and Waterford/Tipperary will throw up a winner who will be celebrating a unique achievement. The Cats will either have reached the pinnacle of the sport in winning five in a row, or their conquerors will be celebrating denying them that achievement. Thus, picture the scene on Hill 16, where fans will be in a state of frenzied excitement. Those at the back will surge towards the front, eager to get on the pitch. With the fencing in place, those at the front of the terrace will have nowhere to go, and a bottleneck will ensue (in previous years they could flow onto the pitch).

How is fencing going to solve the problem? It will create a dangerous scenario, perhaps even putting people’s lives at risk - a pointless exercise.

My view is that the pitch invasion after the All-Ireland finals is a uniquely Irish event, and we should do all we can to maintain it – but in a controlled manner. I’m no legal eagle, but surely if the GAA put it on their match tickets that patrons enter the pitch area after matches at their own risk, this would cancel out the possibility of any compensation claims being made by injured fans?

The only way that the pitch invasion will ultimately be stopped is by a change in culture – legislation that makes it an offence to invade the pitch, with a heavy fine ensuing, would also work. But these are long term solutions.

For the moment 'messers' Cooney and McKenna appear to be in a headlong rush to do away with the invasions. The irony is that they may only end up doing greater damage in the long run.

Treating fans as animals will only serve to antagonise them – show them respect and they will reciprocate. There is a danger that in these corporate led days the GAA is becoming too sanitised, losing a bit of what made it unique.

The fact is that the GAA hierarchy would be better off allowing pitch invasions – in an orderly manner. Why not let on each section of the ground in a pre-planned sequence? That would be a more realistic approach rather than putting a nine foot fence between 12,000 people and the pitch.

Have a look at those pictures from Hillsborough and see what fences achieve. It’s not the way to go Mr Cooney…


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