Gaelic Games Digest

Lights attract record crowd:Over 63,000 tickets have now been sold for the National Football League game between Dublin and Tyrone in Croke Park on Saturday, February 3rd, the first under floodlights at the venue.

The record for a regular national league game is 54,000, when Dublin hosted Armagh in Croke Park in 2003. The overall record is the 1993 league final between Donegal and Dublin, which was a repeat of the previous year's All-Ireland final. Throw-in is at 7pm, with the stiles opening at 5pm.

Meanwhile, the date for the McGrath Cup football final between Cork and Limerick has been changed to January 27th at 7.30pm under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Codd set to skipper

Robbie Codd looks set to be appointed as Wexford senior hurling captain for the coming year. Younger brother of retired former forward Paul, Codd played well in recent challenge matches and stood in for the toss against UCD last Thursday night and Toomevara last Sunday.

The Rathnure clubman has impressed team management with his willingness and scoring returns from the full-forward position recently. In the UCD and Toomevara games Codd struck 4-7.

This Sunday's Walsh Cup tie against Antrim will be played at the St Martin's GAA pitch as Wexford Park is out of commission due to drainage works.

Canty making target

Cork defender Graham Canty is on target to be fit in time for the Munster Senior Football Championship opener against Limerick on May 20th.

Canty ruptured cruciate knee ligaments on July 16th last year when Cork defeated Kerry in the provincial final replay.

The Bantry player underwent surgery in September and recently returned to light training.

Curran on road to recovery

Tipperary defender Paul Curran will be fit in time for the start of next month's National Hurling League after undergoing surgery to his foot.

Curran was part of the Mullinahone team that contested the Munster intermediate club football semi-final against Kerry's Ardfert last month.

The full back delayed going under the knife until Mullinahone's run in the competition came to an end. He returned to training last Sunday morning as a group of players took part in a session in Nenagh.

Forward Séamus Butler is carrying a calf muscle problem but apart from that, team manager Michael "Babs" Keating has reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday's Munster SH Cup semi-final against Clare in Meelick.

Venue change for Galway

The venue for Galway's opening game in the National Football League against Derry on Sunday week has been switched because of a clash with the Galway International Motor Rally. The game was scheduled to go ahead at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe but has now been switched to Pearse Stadium in Salthill.

Kerins brings in big cups

The Heineken European Cup will sit alongside the Liam MacCarthy Cup and a host of other major GAA trophies for the first time at a fundraising event in Limerick next Sunday.

Proceeds will go to the African charity set up by Galway hurler and footballer Alan Kerins. He founded the Alan Kerins African Projects charity after taking three months leave two years ago to work voluntarily with AIDS-affected children in Zambia.

Also on view will be the four provincial senior football championship cups, the All-Ireland under-21 and minor cups in hurling and football, the national league trophies in both codes, along with the All-Ireland club crowns.

Former rugby internationals Mick Galwey and Moss Keane; former Wexford hurler Tony Doran; Jamesie O'Connor of Clare; Tipperary legend John Doyle; Kerry's Dara Ó Sé; TJ Ryan, Mark and Barry Foley of Limerick; Galway's Tony Regan and Eugene Cloonan are all expected to be present. The event will take place next Sunday in the Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine, Co Limerick, and will run from 10am to 5pm. Admission is €20 for adults, 10 for juveniles and €25 for a family.

FIXTURES

TONIGHT

Connacht Senior Football League:NUI Galway v Mayo, Ballinrobe, 7.30, D Mullaney (Sligo).

SATURDAY

Walsh Cup:Laois v Dublin, Rathdowney, 2.30, M Bartley (Meath). Connacht Hurling League final:Galway Development v NUIG, 2.0, P Breen (Galway). Connacht Hurling Shield semi-final:Roscommon v Sligo IT, Ballinode, J McGrath (Mayo), 2.0.

SUNDAY

All-Ireland Club Football Championship quarter-final:Dr Crokes (Kerry) v St Brendan's (Britain), Ruislip, 1.30 (extra-time if necessary). Dr McKenna Cup semi-final:Armagh v Donegal, Healy Park, Omagh, B Toland (Derry), 2.0 (extra-time if necessary). O'Byrne Cup final:Dublin v Laois, Tullamore, 2.0. O'Byrne Shield final:Longford v Athlone, Longford, 2.0. Walsh Cup: Wexford v Antrim, Piercestown, 1.30, J Guinan (Kilkenny); Westmeath v Offaly, Mullingar, 2.0, A Stapleton (Laois); Kilkenny v UCD, Thomastown, 2.0, J Owens (Wexford). Kehoe Cup (Extra-time in all games if necessary):Wicklow v Louth, Arklow, 2.0, S Whelan (Wexford); Kildare v DIT, Newbridge, 2.0, D O'Donovan (Dublin); Carlow v Athlone IT, Carlow, 2.0, F Morrissey (Wexford); Meath v Mayo, Navan, 2.0, R Holohan (Kildare). McGrath Cup final:Limerick v Cork, Newcastle West, 2.0, P Sheehy (Kerry) (extra-time if necessary). Munster SH Cup semi-finals (extra-time if necessary):Tipperary v Clare, Meelick, 2.0, C McAllister (Cork); Waterford v Cork, Dungarvan, 2.0, J Ryan (Tipperary).