GAA fans snap up tickets

News: The GAA have confirmed that virtually all the premium-stand ticket-holders who were given first refusal on tickets for Ireland's Six Nations games against France and England at Croke Park next February have taken up the offer.

As a loyalty incentive, those companies and individuals who bought 10-year premium tickets for GAA matches in Croke Park were also offered the chance to buy them for the France and England internationals, and according to a GAA spokesman yesterday, "at least 95 per cent have responded positively. Practically everybody has taken up the offer."

All told, 8,701 tickets for premium seats which were priced up to €110 on level five of the Canal and Cusack stands were offered to over 2,500 GAA 10-year ticket holders, most of whom, according to the GAA spokesperson, were companies who bought in bulk.

Meanwhile in the women's World Cup in Canada, Ireland suffered their second defeat when they went down 24-11 to the US, one of the top seeds, yesterday. But they will be heartened by a much-improved performance that sees them hugely confident of overturning South Africa on Friday.

A terrible start from the Irish saw them concede two quick-fire tries within 14 minutes. Both were converted by Kristin Baja.

But the Irish clawed their way back into contention with a penalty from Grace Davitt before the break.

Baja put the US further out in front when she skipped over just after the break, but Gillian McAllister put Ireland right back in the hunt with a try on 53 minutes when the Ulster prop crashed over from a lineout.

Davitt then knocked over her second penalty to push the score to 19-11, and suddenly with less than 10 minutes to go Ireland were searching for a score that would give them a bonus point.

They almost clinched it with less than a minute to go but America turned over possession from a lineout and Phaidra Knight had a clear run to the line for her second try.

IRELAND: J O'Sullivan; J Feighery, L Cantwell, G Davitt, A Greensmith; SJ Belton, T Rosser; F Coghlan, Y Nolan, G McAllister, C Mahon, G Healy, O Brennan, R Boyd, J Neville. Replacements: J Lonergan for Nolan (48 mins), M Barrett for McAllister (58 mins), R Foley for Healy (79 mins), E O'Sullivan for Brennan (63 mins), N Ni Chaidhain for Belton (77 mins).