Football Championship to break million barrier

The millionth spectator at this summer's All-Ireland football championship will pass through the Croke Park turnstiles this weekend.

Saturday's eagerly-anticipated quarter-final clash between Leinster champions Dublin and Ulster runners-up Tyrone is expected to draw a sell-out 80,000 crowd to headquarters.

To date, 933,000 football fans have attended championship games although the turn-outs for this years' qualifier ties are notably down on last year's figures.

Overall, the recent qualifier series - which numbered 24 games - attracted 180,000 fans, 37,000 less than 2004.

The hurling championship has drawn 395,000 spectators to grounds around the country since May.

Last year's combined football-and-hurling spectator total was 1,914,756.