Limerick chairman Liam Lenihan is hoping last Saturday night's successful staging of the International Rules first Test will encourage Croke Park chiefs to fix more games for the Gaelic Grounds.

The Ennis Road venue has been starved of big games in recent years, despite undergoing a major redevelopment, which saw its capacity increased to 49,500 and floodlights installed. The Gaelic Grounds was controversially overlooked for this year's All-Ireland under 21 hurling final which went to Semple Stadium instead, but Lenihan is optimistic of it being utilised on a more regular basis next year.

"It was a big disappointment for us about the under 21 venue," he said in The Irish Examiner.

"All the officials that were there from Croke Park on Saturday night and from the CCCC were very happy with what they saw. I hope when those people sit down to make their 2011 fixtures that we'll get more games. People keep on complementing us on the facilities and the floodlights enhance that.

"We got a crowd in excess of 30,000 on Saturday which we were happy with. At one stage during the week, we thought we'd only have 26,000 or 27,000, so to get over thirty is very good."

Lenihan also revealed that board officials will be holding discussions with new Limerick hurling manager Donal O'Grady and his football counterpart Maurice Horan about the prospect of staging more of the county's home National League games next spring under lights on Saturday nights. Currently there is just one game scheduled for a Saturday night - the NHL Division 2 tie at home to Westmeath on February 19. Tweet

Most Read Stories