Viva Aviva as stadium’s day of reckoning finally arrives

MARTIN MURPHY never doubted that this day would come. While the Aviva Stadium had its detractors, once planning permission was granted, the stadium director could visualise the gates opening at 1pm as they do today for the O2 Challenge between a Connacht/Munster selection and a team representing Leinster/Ulster (2.30pm).

The attendance has been capped at 45,000 but it will be a full house of 50,000 for the next two games, when Manchester United will take on the cream of the National League crop, before the Republic of Ireland play host to Argentina.

Having watched the stadium grow before his eyes since construction began in May 2007, Murphy now faces a completely different set of challenges.