Let’s be honest, all Galwegians were all a little nervous settling into our seats yesterday afternoon. 

It’s a decade since soccer made its Croke Park debut when Ireland faced Wales but the occasion didn’t have the same impact as rugby’s appearances at GAA HQ.

FACE IT, you were spoilt last year. You turned up or tuned in for routine and were treated to riot.

On the first Sunday in September, 31 men will take to the pitch in Croke Park to entertain us in the All-Ireland senior hurling final. 

Leinster SFC final

Who said Kilkenny don’t do tactics?

Mayo captain Keith Higgins believes players should have an opportunity to speak to all referees about decisions during games. 

I often compare refereeing to playing.

Commuters that use the Maynooth, M3 Parkway and Sligo services will face disruption at the end of the month as maintenance is carried out.

Tommy O’Connell was chatting to a couple of friends in the Croke Park Hotel an hour or two before last year’s All-Ireland final when Jimmy Magee passed by. One of the friends buttonholed Magee and, pointing to O’Connell, asked him why this man had a place in hurling history.

It was the day of the first 70-minute All Ireland final.

It started out as a joke but it became deadly serious.

We were originally minded to write about Henry Shefflin’s contribution here.

In 1996 Tipperary minor hurling manager William Maher captained the Premier to All-Ireland minor glory.

Dublin 1-12 Laois 0-12

The official in charge of replays on Croke Park’s big screens has admitted he only re-showed Eoghan O’Gara’s point for Dublin on Sunday because he believed it was a wide.

It might have been the third of its kind in as many years but never has this Cork team given a clearer message that they are not to be messed with.

2011.

THE All-Ireland football final. 82,300 spectators. The final whistle.

FOR those dreading the rush to embrace the artificial intervention of technology into the storied corridors of Croke Park, there’s always Colm Cooper.

THOMAS CORCORAN kept Roscommon in line for a repeat of their 2006 All-Ireland title success with two spectacular free-kick conversions at Croke Park.

Michael Moynihan pays tribute to Waterford legend Ken McGrath on his retirement from inter-county hurling

IT WASN’T just the slate-grey skies and buffeting wind which created the chilly, sterile atmosphere that followed Sunday’s All-Ireland final in Croke Park.

A STEWARD who was struck by a plastic bottle during the chaotic scenes after last Sunday’s Leinster SFC final has warned that a repeat of such incidents will lead to the GAA struggling to get people volunteering to work in Croke Park.

THERE was a distinctly solemn atmosphere when I arrived slightly late for the start of this year’s Annual Congress in Newcastle’s Slieve Donard Hotel.

CROKE Park Stadium Director Peter McKenna has strongly rejected Dublin county board chairman Gerry Harrington’s suggestion controlled pitch invasions should be allowed at GAA HQ.

GAA chiefs were left red faced yesterday after it emerged that Cork were inadvertently credited with victory in the All-Ireland SFC final against Kerry at Croke Park.

KILKENNY defender Michael Kavanagh admits he is in favour of the traditional Liam MacCarthy Cup victory presentation in the Hogan Stand and empathises with fans wishing to come on the pitch.

Two former champions, Monaghan and Mayo, advanced to the semi-finals of the TG4 Ladies All-Ireland senior football championship with varying degrees of difficulty in last Saturday’s quarter-finals at Croke Park.

ST VINCENT’S completed a remarkable renaissance yesterday at Croke Park when they prevailed by a point in a compelling All-Ireland club final.

THE LATE Bill Shankly famously said that “some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

CORK 2-11 TIPPERARY 3-14

Clare 1-16 Limerick 1-23

COUNTY Chairman Gerry Harrington last night jumped to the defence of the Dublin players criticised for taunting their opponents and inciting the crowd during Sunday’s Leinster SFC triumph over Laois.

Michael Moynihan was wowed by last night’s fly-on-the-wall documentary on the Irish rugby squad.

TWO POINTS is no longer the most dangerous lead when time is running out in Croke Park. Ireland were four up with time nearly up in yesterday’s historic Six Nations clash with France only to see Vincent Clerc score a sensational match-winning try.

... THE signs are there. Subtle indications. Oblique hints. You’re not getting hit over the head or anything, but if you have eyes to see you’ll see that the day is fast approaching and the portents are all around.

Plans are underway to build a new train station in Dublin's north inner city, to ease traffic congestion around the Mater Hospital.

Cork have retained their TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC title in dramatic fashion against Armagh.

Tipperary 2-18 Galway 2-7

THE BIGGEST weekend of the 2006 GAA calendar looms large on the horizon, but the questions over relegation, promotion and semi-final spots continue to lie in the shade.