Financial hit worth it for a more inclusive Croke Park

The idea of opening an 82,300-capacity stadium and turning on high-voltage floodlights for no more than a couple of thousand people doesn't make much financial sense.

If fact it doesn't make much sense at all. The GAA see it differently and are doing so twice this weekend - starting with the All-Ireland club junior and intermediate football finals on Saturday evening, and again on the Sunday for the corresponding hurling finals. They would save some money by not using the floodlights on Sunday, but GAA president Nickey Brennan insists it's all good policy and something they'll be doing more of.

"I believe it's essential we play these games in Croke Park," said Brennan. "We've gone even further this year and will play the two football finals under lights. Maybe next year we'll play the hurling on the Saturday night.

"Of course we're talking about a much smaller crowd, but it's every bit as important that Croke Park is open to these people as it is anyone else, be they inside or outside the GAA body. And I think it dispels the notion that because other sports are in Croke Park now it means some of our own guys will be squeezed out. That's not the case. Croke Park is still the national GAA stadium where our games will always get priority, irrespective of what happens down the road.

"We do take a hit financially, but that's totally irrelevant. As far as the promotion of the association goes, and the importance of these clubs, this is a debt we owe them.

"I've said on numerous occasions that Croke Park should be made available to as wide a remit as possible. Last year Leinster had all their under-14 development squads in Croke Park for a full day, and they're coming back this year. Connacht are doing the same. I'd love to see the colleges finals and third-level finals played there as well. With the lights there now there are all sorts of possibilities."

All four games are attractive. In hurling, Robert Emmett's attempt to become the first London club to win an All-Ireland club title when facing Connacht champions Killimordaly in the intermediate final, preceded by a junior final that features Kilkenny's Danesfort against Clooney Gaels of Antrim.

In football, the junior final sees Duagh of Kerry play Tyrone side Greencastle, which starts at 6pm, followed by another Kerry team, Ardfert, against Derry challengers Eoghan Ruadh at 8pm.

"This is a huge occasion for the eight teams that will be involved over the weekend," added Brennan. "Ardfert are coming back having won the junior title last year, which is a great achievement, but I would have to mention Clooney Gaels as well, from Antrim. That's a club with a remarkable background, and if ever a club has overcome the most severe obstacles in its existence, and got to Croke Park, then this is it. You can talk about fairy tales but this is the ultimate to what can be achieved.

"I know people came up to me at last year's finals, and were almost in tears at the prospect of their club playing in Croke Park. St Patrick's Day is great as well, of course, but to me this is the ultimate GAA in action."

The president also clarified some issues surrounding the use of Croke Park for other sports beyond 2008: "We're all awaiting the outcome of the planning application for Lansdowne Road. But the 2005 congress motion allowed central council to make decisions on the use of Croke Park during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road. If that gets the go ahead then central council can comply with that decision on a year by year basis. So there is no issue there about going back to congress, once the Lansdowne Road redevelopment does take place.

"If for any reason the Lansdowne redevelopment doesn't go ahead, well then the 2005 congress motion is no longer relevant, and we have another day's work altogether. Clearly congress does come back into play then."

Brennan updated the progress of a new committee set to deal with the area of player burnout, and which is expected to recommend the abolition of the under-21 grade.

"They'll want to consult with various parties, like say the medical side, county managers, third-level colleges. We'll take views from anyone, basically, and hope to have something to work off by the summer.

"There's a parallel exercise taking place in the whole club-versus-county scene. There's a document being prepared at the moment on that, which will be sent out after congress for consumption, with a view to preparing some motions either for the 2008 congress, or a special congress, if it comes to that.

"But I have expressed a similar view in the past about the under-21 grade, and that maybe it was time to look at minor moved up to under-19, and doing away with under-21. The bottom line is there's an acceptance now that players in this bracket are under enormous pressure, particularly the more successful players, because club, county and third-level competitions have all become that bit more competitive. We have a duty of care, and we have to stand up and accept something has to happen."