Grassroots support puts GAA way out in front

WHAT’S the major difference between GAA sports hurling and football and the others, the likes of rugby, soccer, hockey?

Grassroots support, that’s what it is. Over the weekend we’ve had the semi-finals of the AIB AIL rugby club playoffs, Divisions One, Two and Three.

I saw one of the televised Division 1 games, the Limerick derby between Shannon and Garryowen. Magnificent rugby it was, outstanding skills by two top-class sides. Great drama at the finish too, with first Garryowen kicking an extremely difficult penalty from wide right, to take what looked like a game-winning lead, only for Shannon to power downfield, hold onto the ball through multiple phases, and force a penalty that WAS indeed the match-winner.