Meanwhile, several highprofile names in Gaelic games have expressed concern about the suitability of Croke Park for other sports. The stadium will host its first ever rugby international on 11 February when Ireland take on France. The Irish team trained there this week and had no complaints, but amongst those offering a different view was former Clare manager Anthony Daly.

"To us it just seemed that no matter what boot you wore, you can't get any grip.

I don't know what that will mean for soccer but there will be plenty of skinned knees for the rugby lads.

Underneath it's still very hard and in a game like rugby, with that level of physicality, it is a worry because you are talking about guys' livelihoods."

Cork hurler Tom Kenny also expressed his concern.

"When you have to turn or stop suddenly, your feet just go from under you. But the other issue is the hardness of the pitch. Sometimes your studs sink in just fine but there are stages you are running and it feels really hard.

It's similar to when you are running out of the tunnel with your boots on. Those factors, if they are to affect anything, will affect the scrum. The force exerted is so great, either players' boots will dig in hard and find grip while tearing up the pitch, or their feet will just go from under them."

Ireland open their campaign in Wales next weekend but Malcolm O'Kelly is struggling with a knee injury. However there was good news as hooker Jerry Flannery came through Shannon's AIL League game against UCD.