Twenty-six years ago, the GAA tried to pretend that Italia 90 wasn't happening by proceeding with the Leinster hurling semi-final between Kilkenny and Offaly while Ireland laboured to a 0-0 draw against Egypt in Palermo. 17,000 turned up to the hurling that day. Offaly won, by the way, hammering the sickly Kilkenny on a score of 4-15 to 1-8.
Even last Saturday, Laois played Armagh at 3.30 (it was on telly, don't you know) at a time when Ireland were wilting against the Belgians in Bordeaux.
It is thus perhaps a measure of how big is Ireland's last 16 clash against France that the Leinster Council have pushed back the Croke Park double header featuring Kildare-Westmeath and Dublin-Meath.
Not alone that but they said today that the second half of the Ireland-France game will be transmitted on the big screen in the stadium. The full ninety might have been a bit much to stomach.
This move is obviously designed to ensure that supporters don't give Croke Park a wide berth on Sunday in favour of the Euros clash.
Soccer has been shown on the big screen at Croke Park before. Namely when a soccer match was in progress. The Irish football team, as we know, played their home games at the venue between 2007 and 2009.
However, it is the first time a soccer match will be shown on the Croker big screen during a Gaelic games event.
