McKenna promises Hogan Stand lights won't go again

Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna yesterday explained the loss of floodlights at Saturday's rugby international and gave assurances it would not happen again.

During the Six Nations fixture between Ireland and Italy, which fortunately had a 2pm kick-off, big-screen coverage and floodlighting were lost on the Hogan Stand side of the ground.

"We had a power outage of about 50 minutes towards the end of the first half of the match," he said. "The power came back on towards the end. What was disappointing from our point of view was that the floodlights went down.

"We investigated that thoroughly and it turned out to be an operating error in how the floodlights were set up.

"The lights are being checked now and they will not go down in the future even with a power outage. On the positive side, all of our emergency lights kicked in and everyone was in a safe, comfortable environment until we got the power back.

"The spike in the area that came through the system and tripped out our circuit breakers - we're resolving that situation as well so that we can accommodate that type of surge.

"It was obviously a disappointment for those in the Hogan Stand, particularly the floodlights, but that has been addressed for Wednesday (tonight). The floodlights are 2,500 lux so even at half usage we were very comfortable for BBC and RTÉ and Italian TV.

"They were happy with the light coverage, but, personally, I wasn't happy that the situation happened. It won't happen again."

Tonight's Ireland-Brazil soccer friendly has sold 70,000 tickets, even though the visitors will field a weakened side.

McKenna also stated he expected the aggregate attendance at Croke Park in 2008 to exceed the record numbers of 2,200,000 achieved last year.

Meanwhile, Wexford manager John Meyler is waiting anxiously on a fitness report on Darren Stamp. The Oulart player injured his knee in a practice match this week and is an availability doubt ahead of Sunday's opening NHL fixture in Walsh Park against Waterford.

Ciarán Kenny will definitely miss the match, as he broke his hand in a challenge match with Leinster club champions Birr some weeks ago and won't be ready to resume his place on the team for another fortnight.

The experienced trio of Declan Ruth, Rory McCarthy and Michael Jordan are still in hibernation and there have been little indications yet as to whether they intend to return.

"I'm not back training with the team yet and I just don't know to be honest what I'm going to do, said Ruth. "I have a small time-frame to make up my mind and I'm considering every option. The manager deserves every chance to plan with or without me.

"I'm getting a bit older and it's more difficult to maintain the fitness levels. It's about hunger now at this stage, but even the body itself is starting to tell me at times that I should be leaving now.

"I'll make up my mind over the next couple of weeks," added the 31-year-old. "I never had any intentions of partaking in the early stages of the league in any case and it was always going to head towards the latter end of the campaign before I would consider a return.

"There's a decade behind me now and I've taken a lot of knocks physically and mentally, which all take their toll. Sometimes you might have to realise enough is enough and you might have to let the next generation come along and do something."

Des Mythen is another resting. "Des has a hamstring problem and we have to get it right so we're not hurrying him," said Meyler.

WeekendFixtures

Friday

O'Byrne Cup

Final: Dublin v Longford, Parnell Park, 7.30pm, M Deegan (Laois). Extra-time if necessary.

Saturday (2.30pm unless stated)

National Football League

Division Four - Antrim v Kilkenny, Casement Park, 7pm, S McNamee

(Tyrone); Tipperary v Clare, Ardfinnan, M Condon (Waterford); Carlow v Offaly, Dr Cullen Park, S Doyle (Wexford); Waterford v Wicklow, Dungarvan, M Meade (Limerick); London bye.

O'Byrne Shield

Final: Laois v Kildare, Portlaoise, 7.30pm, P Fox (Westmeath). Extra-time if necessary.

Leinster MHL

Kildare v Laois, Thomas Davis, 5pm, T McCarthy (Dublin); Wicklow v Westmeath, St Brigid's, 8pm, D O'Donovan (Dublin); Louth v Fermanagh, Darver, 1pm, M Bartley (Meath).

All-Ireland JHC

Final: Moyle Rovers (Tipperary) v Conahy Shamrocks (Kilkenny), Croke Park, 6pm, P Green (Galway).

All-Ireland IHC

Final: Thomas Larkins (Galway) v Clonkill (Westmeath), Croke Park, 7.45pm, C McAllister (Cork).

Sunday (2.30pm unless stated)

National Hurling League

Division One A: Waterford v Wexford, Walsh Park, J Sexton (Cork); Dublin v Antrim. Parnell Park, J McGrath (Westmeath); Cork v Kilkenny, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, M Haverty (Galway).

Division One B: Limerick v Laois, Gaelic Grounds, M Wadding (Waterford); Galway v Clare, Pearse Stadium, S Roche (Tipperary); Tipperary v Offaly, Thurles, J Owens (Wexford).

Division Two A: Kerry v Westmeath, Tralee, J O'Mahony (Limerick); Roscommon v Kildare, Athleague, E Shaughnessy (Galway); Wicklow v Mayo, Arklow, D O'Donovan (Dublin).

Division Two B: Down v Carlow, Ballycran, J Devlin (Tyrone); Meath v Derry, Páirc Tailteann, D Magee (Down); Armagh v London, Killeavey, B McSweeney (Cavan).

Division Three: Tyrone v Donegal, Omagh, O Elliot (Antrim); Longford v Sligo. Pearse Park, J O'Rourke (Monaghan); Bye, Louth.

Division Four: Fermanagh v Monaghan, Tempo, R Mathews (Antrim); Leitrim v Cavan, Ballinamore, P Green (Galway); Bye, South Down.