<< NEWS /  CROWD OF 80,000 WOWED BY SHOW

Date entered: 02/02/2009

By Fiach Kelly Independent.ie
Monday February 02 2009

THE size of the crowd was mentioned numerous times over the course of Saturday night's anniversary spectacular at GAA headquarters.

All 79,161 of them were reminded that there were more in Croke Park than at Old Trafford, or even last night's Superbowl in Tampa, Florida. And Croker wasn't even full to capacity.

Even the gridiron fans at the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers would have been impressed with the entertainment on offer on Jones's Road with fireworks and half-time music on display.

There was also a full-blooded contest that no-one had a right to expect in the last weekend of January, which warmed the spirits on a cold night.

It was an incredible way to properly begin the association's 125th anniversary year.

Dublin and Tyrone took to the pitch wearing retro-style jerseys, only to throw them aside when the real business began. Tyrone were awesome in the first half, Dublin excellent in the second and, ultimately, unfortunate to lose the first league game of the season.

At half-time, MC Hector O hEochagain (who joins the ranks of Ollie Murphy and Graham Geraghty as one of Hill 16's favourite Meathmen) introduced the musical act as a "bowsie from Offaly". We were preparing for another rendition of 'Ber Cowen is a TD' but were mightily relived to see Mundy, rather than our dear Taoiseach, amble out onto the pitch.

Mundy's rendition of last summer's monster hit 'Galway Girl' with Sharon Shannon went down a treat and even provoked a display of middle-aged jigging and clapping unseen at Croker since Neil Diamond's last visit to headquarters.

A video montage after the match was somewhat painful for Dubs.

The flashback that got their biggest cheer was of a youthful Jason Sherlock, almost 14 years ago during the capital's last Summer of Sam.

But Tyrone supporters roared at a fresher memory -- Owen Mulligan's spectacular solo goal against Dublin in 2005.

Then came the fireworks, and for all the cribbing about the €500,000 price tag, it was a night to forget the recession and just enjoy the show.

Blowout

Amid all the sparkles and bangs during the evening's entertainment, there were always moments when you knew you were at a GAA match rather than an NFL blowout.

Chief among them the 'fogra' -- a staple, almost, of all GAA fixtures -- for the benefit of the person who left his of her car in the wrong place outside the stadium.

The owner of an 02 D registered silver Volvo was told at half-time that "the gardai want that car moved immediately".

It would be hard to imagine the Tampa Police Department or the NFL being so considerate.





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