Ireland wins first two matches in Australia’s International Rules Series

Aussie Rules players no match for GAA players

There are those who believe that instead of investing in the annual hybrid games, the GAA should consider bringing a marquee fixture abroad on a regular basis to somewhere likeMelbourne or, more realistically, New York as it did with the famous 1947 All-Ireland football final at the Polo Grounds in New York and many subsequent league finals in the 1940s ’50s and ’60s

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Historically, those trips were wonderful celebrations of the strengthening Irish Diaspora. A similar approach today, in an age of mass global communication, would give the GAA the chance to showcase the best of Gaelic football and hurling to a wider audience with the potential for serious follow up at grass-roots level and the potential for commercial support as a result.

The annual participation of New York in the Connacht championship already provides a platform on which a greater level of interest could be constructed by bringing the best of our games to the city.

Notre Dame is expecting at least 20,000 Fighting Irish fans to ‘invade’ Dublin next September for their clash with Navy. Think of what it would be like if Dublin were to take on Kerry in a National Final

Stateside with local and national sports media forced to take notice? What if American sports fans could witness a Kilkenny v Tipperary hurling clash first hand?

Worth pondering as we watch Ireland, almost inevitably, regain the Cormac McAnallen Cup on the Gold Coast next Friday.

Incidentally, Ireland’s second Test, being broadcast in Ireland on the Irish language television site TG4, can be watched on-line internationally on the Australian Rules Football website here.
 

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Nster.com