GAA eyeing more Premier League friendlies after success of United-Leeds clash 

FULL HOUSE: Manchester United and Leeds United players shaek hands before Wednesday's pre-season Friendly, Croke Park, Dublin. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

The success of Wednesday’s Leeds United-Manchester United friendly in Croke Park is likely to lead to further pre-season games involving Premier League clubs at the venue.

Just over 82,000 attended the first ever soccer club fixture at the Jones’ Road venue and there are already provisional plans for a similar fixture in 12 months’ time.

With no international tournaments next summer, the 2027-28 Premier League season is expected to start earlier. However, it is believed Croke Park would be in a position to accommodate the game if GAA’s Central Council gives the go-ahead.

The 2027 All-Ireland senior hurling and football finals are pencilled in for July 18 and 25 with the ladies football and camogie finals days expected to follow on August 1 and 8 respectively.

SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh could also be in the running for a game. Last year, Celtic faced Cork City in a pre-season friendly, while Ireland’s women’s team’s World Cup first round play-off against Kazakhstan has been confirmed for the Ballintemple venue in October.

Meanwhile, Tipperary’s 2010 All-Ireland SHC winning captain Eoin Kelly has been linked with the vacant minor hurling manager’s position in the county. The Mullinahone man and six-time All-Star was part of Liam Sheedy’s backroom team when Tipperary won the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2019 and was a Waterford coach/selector under Davy Fitzgerald for two seasons and during Peter Queally’s first year in charge in 2025.

Tipperary GAA have invited expressions of interest in the role, which Kelly’s former team-mate James Woodlock left to take over the U20s. Applicants have until Monday evening next to contact the county with their cvs.

Elsewhere, Longford senior footballers hope to be able call on Matt Duffy as he is returning home from Australia after three years.

Duffy signed for Carlton in 2023 but his progress had been impacted by an anterior cruciate ligament tear that he picked up playing for club Dromard in a county senior semi-final late that year.

The 22-year-old defender made 27 appearance for Carlton in the Victorian Football League over two seasons. “Matt came to us having never played Australian Rules Football and worked hard to get the best out of himself every day,” said Carlton’s general manager of football, Chris Davies.

“He showed a strong drive to learn and develop, and brought good energy to the playing group. The club wishes Matt all the best as he returns home to Ireland.”