A common money maker for sporting clubs these days is to sell the naming rights of their home ground – the JJB, Reebok Stadium, Walkers Stadium. It seems the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (IRFU and the FAI) are going down this route. The chairman, Philip Browne, announced at a media briefing yesterday:

At the briefing Browne also announced the appointment of the US specialist company Wasserman Media Group (WMG) who have been appointed to evaluate and ultimately market the naming rights for the new stadium. WMG were responsible for the deal between Arsenal FC and Emirates Airlines which combined stadium naming rights with a shirt deal.

Personally I think its disappointing but I suppose I should stop being sentimental and move with the times.

How does KitKat Crescent grab you?

“Own your very own piece of Irish History”

I don’t bloody think so. The last time yours truly checked, a rusty old turnstile or a dusty/unwanted rugby magazine wasn’t an historical item.

If you have never been to Croke Park for a GAA football or hurling match, going along this weekend is highly recommended. Saturday is a football quarter final double header and Sunday features three hurling games. Croke Park is a very impressive venue and even if you don’t support any of the competing teams, a great atmosphere is guaranteed.

Saturday August 5th

All Ireland Senior Football Quarter Finals
2.00pm – Armagh v Kerry
4.00pm – Cork v Donegal

Sunday August 6th

All Ireland Minor Hurling Semi-Final
12.30pm – Cork v Galway

Christy Ring Cup Final
2.00pm – Carlow v Antrim

All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final
4.00pm – Cork v Waterford

Tickets can be purchased on the GAA website and Ticketmaster and from Mc Caughey’s Shop on Clonliffe Rd. and Benny’s Shop on Emmet St. in the Croke Park area on the day of the matches.

Dublin etched their name on to the Delaney Cup for the second successive year in front of 81,754 (754 of which were Offaly Fans) in a sun drenched Croke Park yesterday.

A slow enough start saw the Dubs go behind by 0-3 to 0-0. But the Dubs gained momentum with 4 unanswered scores to see Offaly draw level on 0-4 a piece. The first half ended scrappy with each side exchanging points leaving the score at 0-6 each at the end of 35 minutes.

Dublin upped the pace in the second half and again scored 4 unanswered points. Offaly’s case was not helped by the sending off of mid-fielder Alan McNamee for 2 bookable offences and thus the Dubs continued their onslaught winnign comfortably in the end 1-15 to 0-9.

Note to Dervla – G’waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan MAYO!

Dublin have named the same 15 players who started in their demolition of Laois at the Dubs last outing in Croke Park. While the same 15 players will be starting, there have been some positional changes.

The Dubs also welcome back now fully fit Darren Magee, Stephen O’Shaughnessy and Paddy Christie who have been named among the substitutes. Demand for tickets in the capital alone has surpassed 45,000 already and there is sure to be close to 75,000 in Croke Park for Sunday’s Leinster Final.

What better team to give Croke Park it’s first full house of the season than the Super Dubs. Dublin meet last years beaten Leinster finalists Laois in front of a packed 82,500 house in Croke Park this Sunday with a throw in time of 2:00. Dublin will be looking to improve greatly on their lacklustre first round defeat of Longford in Pearse Park. Defensive holes were a major concern for Pillar Caffrey who now looks certain to call on the services of one Stephen O’Shaughnessy who was the most impressive defender from Dublins 2005 All Ireland campaign.

One thing’s for sure – It’ll be an excellent game!

Ok, this is a strange one to come back home to! I’ve been glancing through my emails in the sunshine this afternoon, and in my inbox I received notification that UCD AFC are tonight launching a new, and curious initiative! They are granting free access to tonights Premier League soccer match between themselves and Derry City, to anyone who turns up at the gate wearing a Leinster Rugby Jersey!

Now, perhaps they’re desperately scraping the barrell to gain new fans, perhaps they’re finally realising that rugby really is a much better sport than soccer (c’mon, I had to!), or, perhaps they’re just being genuienly nice guys, and embracing all traditions! Either way, I think it’s a great idea, and though I’m a bit late getting around to posting this, if you’re looking for something to do this evening, in the beautiful Dublin sunshine, grab your Leinster Jersey and get yourself over to Bellfield.

If I hear of this happening again in the future, I’ll do my best to get it to you sooner!

Jaysus! 

Pele’s coming to town!

R