Ticketless Galway supporters make charity trek to Croker

Two hurling-mad Galway supporters take the road less travelled to the All-Ireland hurling final this weekend – cycling a homemade cart 170 kilometres to Croke Park . . . and they don’t even have tickets for the match!

Melvin Smith and Philip Coleman set-out from the main street of their native Ballygar this morning (Saturday) and will take it in turns to cycle their bicycle-powered makeshift cart to Dublin.

Last year and in 2015, the pair were part of a group of Galway fans who travelled to the Capital in search of Liam McCarthy in a souped-up car that was all decked out in maroon and white flags and paraphernalia. This year they decided to do something different, and so they stripped the car of its hurling props, and decorated a handmade bicycle cart instead.

The duo expect to arrive at Jones Road this evening at about 9pm.

Melvin and Philip will do the bulk of the cycling but they will be accompanied by a group of about 10 other fans mainly from Ballygar who will also help out along the way.

During the 170 kilometre journey, they stop-off in Athlone, Moate, Tyrrellspass, Leixlip, Maynooth and Lucan. They’re raising money along the way for three charities Alzheimer’s Association, Pieta House and Irish Cancer Society. Melvin, who works in Medtronic in the city, agrees it’s a mad thing to do.

“It is, and it was a last-minute thing the way the final fell this year and the semi-final replay but sure it’s a bit of craic and we hope to raise money for charity . . . We don’t have tickets for the match. They’re awful hard come by this year . . . but look it one or two nearly always turn-up,” said Melvin.