By Cathal Dervan

GAA: Croke Park is about to open its doors to “foreign” sports, but the home of the GAA is struggling to attract the punters for some of our native sports. The All-Ireland ladies finals were witnessed by just 25,665 fans on Sunday, and organizers now fear they may need to move the game away from headquarters this time next year with over 30,000 needed just to make opening the doors viable. It would be a shame to see the GAA move some of their showcase games away from Croke Park, but they may have no choice in the near future.

SOCCER: Guess who’s traveling to Cyprus with the Irish media for the big game on Saturday? Why none other than the former Ireland boss Brian Kerr, the man who claims we hounded him out of his job when it was results and Ireland’s failure to qualify for the World Cup that really brought about his downfall. Brian’s working for TV3 at the game and staying in the media hotel, which should make for a few interesting comments around the resident’s bar.

SOCCER: The great Liam Brady was bemoaning the lack of young talent coming out of Ireland right now on a visit to Dublin this week to promote the apartments Arsenal are now building on their old Highbury ground. Currently the top youth team coach with the Gunners, Brady knows what he is talking about, but the good news is that he is confident that Anthony Stokes, on loan at Falkirk from Arsenal, will come good.