Ireland ready to prove the perfect host for World Cup

Sitting in the stand in Semple Stadium as Cork and Tipperary contested a wondrous draw in an electric atmosphere back in 1987, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if rugby was the number one sport in Ireland, writes Donal Lenihan.

My mind drifted back to New Zealand and Australia, where I had spent the previous month competing in the first ever rugby World Cup and visualised playing against New Zealand in hurling’s greatest arena.

Fantasy? It certainly felt that way back in 1987 but the fact that there is even the slightest chance it could actually materialise shows just how far we have travelled in less than 30 years. Ireland playing England at Croke Park on that emotionally charged day back in 2007 changed everything and for that, the GAA community deserves immense credit.