List of non-Gaelic games played in Croke Park

The following is a list of non-Gaelic games played at Croke Park (formerly Jones's Road). The Gaelic Athletic Association formerly prohibited the playing of foreign sports at GAA-owned stadiums under Rule 42 of its rule book.

A rugby union match taking place at Croke Park during the 2007 Six Nations Championship

Grounds controlled by Association units shall not be used or permitted to be used, for horse racing, greyhound racing, or for field games other than those sanctioned by Central Council.[1]

— Rule 42, GAA rule book

While this wording remains as the current Rule 5.1(b), a footnote now reads:

(Note: Central Council shall have the power to authorise the use of Croke Park for games other than those controlled by the Association.)[2]

— Rule 5.1(b), Official Guide

In practice the rule was only applied to the sports of football and rugby, which were perceived to be rivals to the playing of Gaelic games.[3] Cricket was also banned, but Croke Park is too small for a cricket field. As such, several games of American football have been played with rule 42 in force, as well as a boxing match and a baseball game. The rule was officially relaxed in 2005 for the duration of the reconstruction of Lansdowne Road, to allow for the playing of Republic of Ireland football and Irish rugby internationals.[4] The Republic of Ireland football and Ireland rugby internationals moved into the new Aviva Stadium on the former Lansdowne Road site upon its opening in May 2010; the last international in either sport at Croke Park was the rugby team's 2010 Six Nations home fixture with Scotland on 20 March.

On 17 June 2010 the Australia national cricket team had a training session in Croke Park ahead of their One Day International against Ireland.[5]

American football edit

DateCompetitionTeamsScoreNotesAttendanceRef
1946Exhibition gameAmerican servicemen returning from World War II
21 November 1953US Air Force LeagueBurtonwood Bullets vs. Wethersfield Raiders27–0USAFE teams based in the UK, playing to raise funds for the Irish Red Cross.est. 40,000[6][7]
2 November 1996Shamrock ClassicNotre Dame vs. Navy54–2738,651[8][9]
27 July 1997American BowlPittsburgh Steelers vs. Chicago Bears30–1730,269[10][11][12]
30 August 2014Croke Park ClassicPenn State vs. UCF26–2453,304[13]

Association football (soccer) edit

DateCompetitionTeamsScoreAttendanceNotesRef
24 March 2007European Championship Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Wales  1–072,539First international goal scored at Croke Park by Stephen Ireland.[14]
28 March 2007European Championship Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Slovakia  1–071,297[15]
13 October 2007European Championship Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Germany  0–067,495[16]
17 October 2007European Championship Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Cyprus  1–145,500[17]
6 February 2008Friendly  Republic of Ireland vs. Brazil  0–170,000[18]
24 May 2008Friendly  Republic of Ireland vs. Serbia  1–142,500[19]
15 October 2008World Cup Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Cyprus  1–055,833[20]
19 November 2008Friendly  Republic of Ireland vs. Poland  2–361,000[21]
11 February 2009World Cup Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Georgia  2–165,000[22]
28 March 2009World Cup Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Bulgaria  1–160,002[23]
10 October 2009World Cup Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Italy  2–270,640[24]
14 October 2009World Cup Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. Montenegro  0–050,212[25]
14 November 2009World Cup Qualifier  Republic of Ireland vs. France  0–174,103Only Irish competitive defeat at Croke Park.[26]
Ireland's Record at Croke Park
CompetitionPlayedWonDrawnLost% Won% Lost
European Championship Qualifier422050%0%
International Friendly30120%66.67%
World Cup Qualifiers623133.33%16.67%
Total1346330.77%23.08%

Updated 2 June 2021

Baseball edit

DateCompetitionTeamsScoreNotesAttendanceRef
1946Exhibition gameBurtonwood Dodgers vs. Mildenhall Yankees3–4Teams of American servicemen based in England.[27][28]
25 April 1948Exhibition gameUSS Fresno vs. USS Johnston & USS Rush20–5Two teams from US Navy played a game of softball21,617[29]

Boxing edit

DateFightResultNotes
19 July 1972 / Joe Bugner vs Paul NielsenBugner wins by TKO in Round 6[30]
19 July 1972 Muhammad Ali vs Al "Blue" LewisAli wins by TKO in Round 11A documentary film was made about the fight, When Ali Came to Ireland (2012)[31]

Rugby union edit

DateCompetitionTeamsScoreAttendanceNotesRef
11 February 20072007 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  France17–2081,572First try scored by Raphaël Ibañez. First Irish try by Ronan O'Gara.[32]
24 February 20072007 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  England43–1381,611Ireland's first & largest win in Croke Park[33]
2 February 20082008 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  Italy16–1175,387[34]
23 February 20082008 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  Scotland34–1374,234[35]
8 March 20082008 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  Wales12–1675,000[36]
15 November 20082008 Autumn internationals  Ireland vs.  New Zealand3–2277,500Ireland's largest defeat in Croke Park[37]
22 November 20082008 Autumn internationals  Ireland vs.  Argentina17–368,352[38]
7 February 20092009 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  France30–2182,000[39]
28 February 20092009 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  England14–1382,000[40]
2 May 20092008-09 Heineken Cup Semi-Final Munster vs. Leinster6–2582,208At the time a World record attendance in club rugby union.[41]
15 November 20092009 Autumn internationals  Ireland vs.  Australia20–2069,886[42]
28 November 20092009 Autumn internationals  Ireland vs.  South Africa15–1074,950[43]
6 February 20102010 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  Italy29–1177,686[44]
13 March 20102010 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  Wales27–1281,314[45]
20 March 20102010 Six Nations Championship  Ireland vs.  Scotland20–2380,313Last try scored by Tommy Bowe. Last points by Dan Parks (78th min penalty)[46]
4 May 20242023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup Semi-finals Leinster vs. Northampton Saints20–1782,300Record attendance for a Champions Cup fixture[47]
Ireland's Record at Croke Park
CompetitionPlayedWonDrawnLost% Won
Test Match421150%
Six Nations1070370%
Total1491464.29%

Updated 26 May 2021

Special Olympics edit

YearDatesCompetitionTypeSeason# of SportsNotes
200321–29 June2003 Special Olympics World Summer GamesSpecial Olympics World GamesSummer23[48][49]

References edit

  1. ^ 2003 GAA Guide showing pre-2005 wording of Rule 42 Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine University of Edinburgh GFC. Retrieved on 17-01-08.
  2. ^ Current GAA rules, p56 Archived 6 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ The odd couple: Soccer and GAA remain bitter enemies The Irish Independent. Published on 24-03-07. Retrieved on 24-11-07.
  4. ^ GAA Congress Rule 42 decision welcomed RTÉ.ie. Published on 16-04-05. Retrieved on 24-11-07.
  5. ^ RTÉ report of Australian cricket visit
  6. ^ "Canal End redevelopment and American Football". www.crokepark.ie. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  7. ^ Toms, David (16 March 2015). "'It Was Strange, But Tough!': American Football's debut in Ireland, 1953". Sport in American History. Andrew McGregor. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  8. ^ "No. 19 Notre Dame 54, Navy 27". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Games Played in Ireland". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2007.
  10. ^ "STEWART FINE FOR STARTERS". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Irish see Steelers defeat Bears, 30-17". Deseret News. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  12. ^ "23 Years Ago, The NFL Invaded Croke Park On A Sunday Evening". Balls. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Penn State stuns UCF, wins opener on Sam Ficken's game-winning FG". ESPN. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Rep of Ire 1-0 Wales". 24 March 2007.
  15. ^ "Republic of Ireland 1-0 Slovakia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  16. ^ RTÉ Sport: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Germany Archived 15 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "All results | Football". TheGuardian.com.
  18. ^ "Skysports".
  19. ^ [1] BBCi. Published on 08-01-15. Retrieved on 08-01-17
  20. ^ "ROBBIE KEANE HEADS WINNER AGAINST CYPRUS". FAI. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Poles survive pulsating finish". Sky Sports. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Keane at the double for Irish". Sky Sports. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Republic of Ireland 1-1 Bulgaria". Extra Time. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  24. ^ "ITALY STUN IRELAND WITH LAST MINUTE EQUALISER". FAI. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Republic of Ireland vs. Montenegro Match Report – Wednesday October 14, 2009". FBREF. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  26. ^ "RTE". RTÉ.ie. 14 November 2009.
  27. ^ This is no time for the GAA to circle its wagons Irish Independent. Maurice Hayes. Published on 15-04-05. Retrieved on 19-01-09.
  28. ^ "O'Malley's baseball seed flourishing in auld sod". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  29. ^ "International Softball – USS Fresno 20 USS Johnston & USS Rush 5 – Croke Park Dublin 1948". EIR Ball. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  30. ^ "Joe Bugner : Boxer". boxrec.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013.
  31. ^ "When Ali took his show to Dublin". 17 July 2008.
  32. ^ "SIX NATIONS - Croke Park, 11 February 2007, 15:00 local, 15:00 GMT". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  33. ^ "Six Nations 2007". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Match report: Ireland edge to narrow win over Italy". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  35. ^ "Match report: Ireland heap woe on Scots". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  36. ^ "Wales keep Grand Slam dream alive". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  37. ^ "All Blacks on course after turgid victory". espnscrum. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  38. ^ "Ireland prevail over ill-tempered Pumas". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  39. ^ "Ireland open with victory over France". espnscrum. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  40. ^ "Ireland down England to keep dream alive". espnscrum. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  41. ^ "Leinster 25-6 Munster". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  42. ^ "Late heroics earn Ireland a draw at Croke Park". Irish Times. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  43. ^ "South Africa tour in England/France/Ireland/Italy 2009 2009". espnscrum. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  44. ^ "Ireland labour to opening win". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  45. ^ "Clinical Ireland carve Wales apart". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  46. ^ "Gutsy Scotland deny Ireland a Triple Crown". espnscrum. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  47. ^ "Lowe hat-trick sees Leinster survive late Northampton surge at Croke Park". the42. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  48. ^ Watterson, Johnny (1 April 1999). "Games expected to attract 30,000". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  49. ^ O'Connor, Wayne (6 June 2016). "'He made the Special Olympics a success'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 November 2021.