The countdown is on and demand has reached a fever pitch as tickets are sought for Armagh’s All-Ireland final against Galway on Sunday.
With only 240 tickets available for each club in Orchard County, supporters are appealing for help from friends, family and fans around the world.
Fergal O’Brien says he has now secured himself a ticket for the All-Ireland Final from an “anonymous source” after sending pleas to friends from around the world to get them.
“Now I have two tickets for me and my son Eoghan and we will be sitting together in the Cusack Stand at the final,” he said.
“Eoghan is over the moon that we will be together.
“I wish everyone success in getting one.”
“My son Eoghan, who works in London, and I were at the Kerry semi-final and an hour after he left, he rebooked his flight from London to go back to the final,” Fergal told BBC News NI.
Before securing a ticket for himself, Fergal “put in friendly requests from Kerry to Donegal, Limerick, Cork, Dublin”.
He even asked a friend in Ottawa in Canada, but he already “went to a fan in Galway”.
Demand has outstripped supply in Armagh, with one club, Carrickcruppen, posting on social media early on Monday that they had received requests for 932 tickets, asking supporters to be patient.
“Please continue to look for tickets wherever possible as we will not be able to meet all requests,” he added.
Tickets for the All-Ireland Football Final are not available through general sale.
Before he knew he would be able to join, Fergal said “if you’re not connected to the club, it’s very difficult to get”.
“I’ve always been the cultural officer at Mullaghbawn GAA Club for 10 years. I don’t want any special favors – there are other people who deserve it,” he said.
“I’ll be at the back of the queue – but I want to be in the queue!”
Public relations officer with Armagh GAA, Finbar Burns, said the county had been inundated with requests for tickets from across the island of Ireland and beyond.
“Some people from the Armagh diaspora who haven’t played the game in years,” he said.
“This is our first All-Ireland final in 21 years, since 2003, and it has reignited the passion in them.
“Even the number of emails I get personally, you’d think I was a ticket machine.
“It’s a big interest but unfortunately there won’t be tickets for everyone.
“I got an email from Boston in the US from a guy who used to go to every match, he came back for the final.
“There are also people from Central Europe who are in the quarter-finals and semi-finals who have booked flights to the final.”
How are All-Ireland football final tickets distributed?
Each county receives an allocation of filtered tickets to its clubs.
Earlier this year the GAA announced an increased price structure for All-Ireland football and hurling finals.
Stand tickets now cost €100 (£85), up €10 from 2023. Tickets for the Hill 16 terrace are €55 (£46), up €5 from last year.
How is the public transport situation from NI?
On Monday, Translink announced it had an addition “special bus” from Newry, leaving the city at 11:00 BST on Friday and returning at 20:00, with “seats snapped up quickly”.
It said another special service provided for the All-Ireland GAA football final had “proved popular”, with two special trains, a special bus from Armagh and another special bus from Newry “all sold out”.
Translink is also increasing the capacity of regular Enterprise services to support fans.
It is recommended that passengers book a special bus to the final as soon as possible to secure a seat.
“The company’s services, which have been improved, were also very busy on that day and those wishing to travel are advised to book in advance,” the company added.
When is the All-Ireland football final?
The 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, between Armagh and Galway, takes place on Sunday 28 July at 15:30 BST.
For those not lucky enough to get tickets for the match at Croke Park in Dublin, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and BBC Two Northern Ireland. Coverage begins at 3:00 p.m.
On the ground in County Armagh
I have spent most of the day at the Carrickcruppen GAA club between Camlough and Bessbrook – which is a real hotbed for GAA – and there is this All-Ireland final everyone can talk about.
Especially the tickets.
As with all other clubs, tickets are limited and demand outstrips supply, so the hundreds of fans here are sure to be disappointed.
But with rumors of a second ticket being given to GAA clubs, many are hopeful.
Others have said that while they will be disappointed if they do not get tickets, they are excited to watch Orange County fight for Sam Maguire.
Caroline Loughran, who is a member of Carrickcruppen GAA Club, is “on the hunt” after being unable to get tickets for herself and her two children, despite her husband and son receiving tickets.
“I’m still hoping; fingers, all crossed, that we get tickets,” he said.
Caroline said it was “difficult” that some fans couldn’t attend.
“We’ve played a lot of games all year, and it’s just disappointing that the club doesn’t receive enough, even half of the same amount to cover all the members.
Someone who has been “lucky” enough to get a ticket is coach Ciara McGill, but none of her family can get one, so she has to go to Sunday’s final on her own.
“They’re basically like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. They’re gold dust, but I think it’s a bit of a blood bath to get tickets,” she said.
“I’m texting half the country now to my family members. I’m married to a Donegal man so I’m calling in favor of all the places. Anyone I know… but unfortunately they don’t come up with anything,” he added.