A GAA-backed computer football game was selling briskly on its debut yesterday, despite being dubbed an "inferior" product and an "injustice" by the Gaelic Players' Association.
Sony PlayStation's Gaelic Games: Football features generic players rather than identifiable individuals - the only GAA star involved being commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh. But the game was flying off shelves in shops, easily outselling other new titles like the World Wrestling Federation's SmackDown.
Fans of All-Ireland champions Tyrone were among the most enthusiastic customers. In Omagh, a shop called Game opened for two hours at midnight on Thursday to cater for demand.
Sales assistant Christopher Moore said more than 100 customers availed of the special opening to buy the product and by close of business yesterday, the store expected to have sold half the 1,000 copies it ordered.
"It's the biggest thing we've had for years. Only Grand Theft Auto (San Andreas) would have been close to this," Mr Moore said.
In the Gamestop shop in Tralee, Co Kerry, it was also "going very well", a spokesman said, while HMV in Henry Street, Dublin, said the €54.99 game was easily the biggest seller yesterday.
But the GPA, which had offered its co-operation if real images were used, accused the GAA and Sony of "degrading" Gaelic football players in comparison to athletes from other sports.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/d408b07e-0ff8-4a26-8878-74aec64dccc4.png)