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.

Thus, the decision to open the splendid stadium for today’s Ireland-Wales game was as courageous as it was generous. However, it also reflects the GAA’s confidence in its sporting, social and cultural affinity with the plain people of Ireland.

Croke Park’s image as one of the finest stadiums in the world underlines the professional nature of this amateur body. In contrast, the FAI is professional in name only.

Confounding the nay-sayers, the GAA has nothing to worry about in opening Croke Park to soccer or rugby.

It is a win-win scenario.