Soccer in Croke Park - A win-win landmark for the GAA

IF the GAA’s decision to open Croke Park to rugby was historic, the significance of today’s soccer match in the heartland of Gaelic sport is mind boggling.

When it comes to the crunch, soccer is the real enemy as far as the GAA is concerned. They are acutely aware of the extraordinary appeal English soccer has for Irish kids.

When county teams reach an All-Ireland final, young fans don the green-and-gold of Kerry, the black-and-amber of Kilkenny, or the red-and-white of Cork. But the strips of Manchester United and Liverpool are constant fashion icons.