Mayo fans Lawrence Daly, PJ Byrne, Adrian Maye, Mickey 'Mallet' Gallagher and Peter Duggan get ready in Claremorris yesterday for the All-Ireland Football Final against Donegal

Donegal's Karl Lacey signing autographs for fans after an open training session ahead of their side's GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final game against Mayo. Photo: Sportsfile

Donegal supporters have been hit with a ticket tax ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland football final against Mayo.

Every one of the 12,362 tickets distributed to clubs throughout the county over the last few days has been subject to a €5 levy, which will help to supplement the county's training fund.

The fund stands to gross over €60,000 from a measure right out of the Ryanair handbook of hidden costs.

Other counties have imposed such levies in the past, but some Donegal supporters feel disgruntled that they have already had an expensive summer following the county in a six-match campaign that has taken them in large numbers to Clones and Croke Park twice and Cavan.

The €5 levy will push the price of tickets for Donegal supporters up to €85 for the stands and €45 for Hill 16.

The levy is mandatory, and ticket purchasers will be entered free into a draw.

Supporters would appear to have no problem contributing towards the training fund through a variety of other avenues, but feel the imposition of a price hike on All-Ireland final tickets, which have already gone up by €10 in the last two years, is a step too far.

Still, the demand for tickets in both counties is unprecedented, even surpassing demand for last year's final between Dublin and Kerry.

Meanwhile, Lee Keegan (pictured) is unlikely to make the Mayo team as he continues to recover from the broken finger that ended his All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin.

Mayo won't finalise their team until later in the week, but Keegan looks to have run out of time. Chris Barrett and Richie Feeney are vying for the vacant position.

Neither side report any additional injuries ahead of the final.

Irish Independent