Successful Test places Gaelic Grounds in the shop window

LIMERICK’S Gaelic Grounds is in the shop window for more big games in 2011 after the successful staging of last weekend’s International Rules Test. That’s the view of GAA chairman Liam Lenihan.
While last Saturday’s first test between Ireland and Australia was largely disappointing as a contest, there was nothing, but compliments for the Ennis Road Stadium as a venue and the entire event management team.
“The whole idea was to showcase what we have,” said Liam Lenihan as the crowd over 30,000 made their way out of the ground after Australia won 47-40 ahead of next Saturday’s second and decisive test in Croke Park.
“The venue is there now and we are well able to run events and I hope the CCC (Competitions Control Committee) will take note in 2011. The more big games we get is good for the GAA and good for the city.
“We have a fine pitch and we have spent an enormous amount of money getting the place up to spec - we have fantastic lights, a fantastic pitch and a prime facility.”
While over 30,000 attended the unique contest between the stars of the GAA and the professionals of the AFL it was still someway short of the capacity of 49,000.
“To fill it is our aim. It is no good to fill it once or twice a year. We want to fill it at least half a dozen times a year,” said the GAA chairman.
“It was a wonderful night for Limerick city. We are delighted with the night. I have to pay tribute to everyone that helped out, to the Gardai, to the 300 voluntary stewards and the staff.”
While most expected fireworks on the pitch, the game proved largely uneventful.
“Unfortunately, the game was not that exciting until the last five to ten minutes. It took the Irish a long time to come to life,” accepted Lenihan.
“It was a great family night and a great family occasion with the atmosphere and the spectacle and entertainment helped by JP Dillion and Craig Willis out on the field and we were blessed with the weather as well.”

Ireland: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin); Ciaran McKeever (Armagh), Finian Hanley (Galway), Brendan Donaghy (Armagh), Sean McDermott (Roscommon), Graham Canty (Cork), Kevin Reilly (Meath) 1pt, Colm Begley (Laois), Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney Swans) 1pt, Leighton Glynn (Wicklow) 3pts, Stephen McDonnell (Armagh) 8pts, Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone) 7pts, Bernard Brogan (Dublin) 9pts, Tommy Walsh (St Kilda) 4pts, Martin Clarke (Down) 1pt. Interchange players: Emmet Bolton (Kildare), Kevin McKernan (Down) 3pts, Paddy Keenan (Louth), Brendan Murphy (Carlow), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Niall McNamee (Offaly), James Kavanagh (Kildare), Danel Goulding (Cork) 3pts.
Australia: Travis Varcoe (Geelong Cats); Bryce Gibbs (Carlton), Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney Swans), Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs) 6pts, Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs) 2pts, Kade Simpson (Carlton) 2pts, James Frawley (Melbourne) 3pts, Jack Riewoldt (Richmond), Garrick Ibbotson (Fremantle), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) 6pts, Sam Gilbert (St Kilda), Kieran Jack (Sydney Swans) 1pt. Interchange players: Todd Banfield (Brisbane Lions) 6pts, Brad Green (Melbourne), Eddie Betts (Carlton) 6pts, Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide Crows) 3pts, Dane Swan (Collingwood), Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans) 12pts, David Wojcinski (Geelong Cats), Paul Duffield (Fremantle).
Referees: David Coldrick (Meath), Brett Rosebury (Australia).

Jerome O’Connell