Big games have been missing from the Gaelic Grounds for some time and it was immensely pleasing to see the venue full and providing exactly what it was built for.
For some time there has been much unease in relation to the Mackey Stand - many supporters find it a difficult place from which to watch a match.
The elevations are poor and are not in keeping with other major grounds.
The fact that the Gaelic Grounds got big games this year was good for the County Board and good for business people in the city, however the time has come to look forward and in doing so that will require the Mackey Stand to be knocked down and re-built all over again.
Some may say that that's over the top, but if we are to be honest this stand will not meet the requirements going forward.
Given the area covered by the Mackey Stand poor use was made of the space.
The dressing rooms would support that point - the dressing rooms as they are just don't match up to the standard on offer now at other major grounds.
Of course there are other areas of the stand that would need to be looked at, but overall the best option for the future is to knock it down.
A new look Mackey Stand would finish the job and give us a new modern stadium that would match the best in the country.

First purchased
The Gaelic Grounds was first purchased on October 9, 1926.
The twelve-acre site was purchased at Coolraine on the Ennis Road for development as a sports grounds.
Two years later it opened when two junior hurling games were played.
Big efforts were then made in 1932 with the establishment of a development committee.
The pitch was levelled and sideline seating was put in along with a boundary wall.
It showed great vision and it was rewarded with crowds of 50,000 and more coming to watch some great battles between Cork and Tipperary.
The Hogan Stand at Croke Park was put in place in 1958 and just three years later a record attendance of 61,174 witnessed the Munster hurling final between Cork and Tipperary.
It's estimated that another 10,000 spectators piled in without paying after the gates were broken down.
Around 1979 a major decision was taken to update the Grounds completely.
It took some time to get plans and planning sorted out, but the Mackey Stand was open for business in 1988 for the Munster hurling final.
Major construction work also took place around 2004 with a new uncovered stand and new terraces behind both goals.
That required a huge investment and were it not for the help of JP McManus the finances at the Gaelic Grounds would have been in a poor state.

From a financial point of view
The pressure from a financial point of view is now well and truly eased.
The Gaelic Grounds is run by a Limited Company and subject to correction they have about €1.5 million in the bank.
This money is safe in the bank while the County Board are paying interest for their overdraft.
Over the years many people have given of their time in relation to the Gaelic Grounds - however it's time to shake up things in the way this stadium is run.
For too long the work has been left to a few and if we are to move forward then changes will have to be made.
One would have to credit the efforts made for this year's Munster final, but what it showed most of all was that very little had been done for years and here we had County Board officers almost living at the venue in an effort to have it looking it's best for such a major game.

Best use of the area
With new ways of building best use could be made of the area where the Mackey Stand is located.
Taking down the stand and removing the current structures would allow the best use of space underneath the stand - dressing rooms, medical rooms, modern kitchen and meeting rooms could be slotted in and still have space left over.
The question must be asked are the right people in place to move the Gaelic Grounds forward to the next level?
Do we need new energy to push things on?
Is the current Mackey Stand draw outdated?
Yes many clubs need the money they make from the draw to keep their clubs going, but can we do better?
Some clubs have gone their own way and sell no tickets for the draw - they have instead done their own draws and the return on investment has proven much better for them.
Either way the Gaelic Grounds needs to be looked at because if action is not taken then we will fall behind and all major finals will be played in Thurles.
In relation to whether the right people are involved at the Gaelic Grounds I can only say I don't know - what I do know is that I have heard much comment and debate in relation to a so-called 'conflict of interest'.
The rumours are that some of the people involved don't want to see further progress because they are living in the area.
I am not sure if that's the case or not, but if it were true then the County Board would have to deal with it.
Going forward all committees elected to run the Gaelic Grounds should only hold office for five years, that way you will always have new energy and focus when new people get involved.
Making changes at the Gaelic Grounds won't happen overnight, but let's plan the future.

In five years time will we have replaced the old Mackey Stand with a new one?
Given the current climate it would be a very good time to be talking to builders and that would ensure value for money.

Michael O'Shea
The surface at the Gaelic Grounds was perfected this year, managers and players saw that at first hand and for that Michael O' Shea must be thanked.
The County Board showed leadership in getting O'Shea to sort out the pitch and it will need to apply that same leadership now to getting the final part of the Gaelic Grounds right.
Also is it not time we put names to the uncovered stand and the terraces?
Many great people have served Limerick hurling and football and maybe it's time they were honoured.
Next year will be a very big one for the GAA with the 125th celebration and to set the ball rolling I will suggest some people that the uncovered stand and terraces could be called after.

Tommy Quaid
The uncovered Stand could be called after Tommy Quaid, a man who gave such service to his county.
For 16 years he was the number one goalkeeper, but he was much more than that. He played a huge part in the five year plan - that plan was good to Limerick hurling and football.
Let it be with club or county Tommy Quaid always gave his best and what better way to remember a man who gave so much to Limerick hurling?
Great players of the past like Jackie Power and Timmy Ryan of Ahane also come to mind. However the man who showed the greatest vision of all, Noel Drumgoole, also deserves to be honoured in such a way.
Indeed for the two terrace ends it may be fitting to name them after someone still with us.
Why do we have to wait for people to die to honour them?
Many people will have their own views as to who the various parts of the grounds should be named after, but either way we should follow the road that most counties have and pay due tribute to some people who have given great service to the GAA in Limerick.
Many times clubs and counties fail to see the time and work people give and just by doing something small we acknowledge their efforts.

Senior hurling championship
The senior hurling championship swung back into action last weekend and while we had some good hurling the overall standard was poor enough.
Ahane showed they are still very much in the mix and they will be hard to beat going forward.
Murroe-Boher were unable to match them as Niall Moran had one of his best days ever for Ahane.
When on form this man makes it look easy.
Overall Ahane are a big strong team and we should see a cracking contest when they face Doon in the quarter-final.
Patrickswell brushed aside Tournafulla in their game, showing craft and skill Patrickswell were never in trouble.
Tournafulla, to their credit, were short many players and, despite the scoreline, they showed their pride in getting a team on the field.
We expected much from Na Piarsaigh in their game with Garryspillane - in the opening half, backed by a very strong wind, they played some fine hurling and led at the break 1-9 to 0-7.
They should have scored more in that opening half, they had chances, but at times took the wrong option.
David Breen showed his talents when he hit some great points from frees and from play.
This man has the ability to serve Limerick well in the future, his height backed up with good hands makes him the ideal choice to wear number 14.
Garryspillane can thank TJ Ryan, he scored 1-10 and anytime the ball came his way he left the Na Pairsaigh defence at sea.
He showed his experience time and again and won most of the high ball that came his way.
However the rest of the forwards need to get more involved.
Ballingarry will provide a stern test when they meet in the quarter-finals and unless their six forwards produce, they will find it hard to march on.

Credit to Kilmallock
Credit to Kilmallock they had the pitch in great order.
They began working early Sunday morning and it showed in the way the pitch held up during the two games.
The County Board made a poor choice in playing the games last Sunday when most people wanted to see the Cork v Kilkenny game.
The supporters stayed away and this should never happen again.
Taking supporters for granted is not a good idea.
Croom, who lost last year's county final, had to give way to a very well organised Western Gales outfit.
Croom have shown poor enough form in 2008.
They parted company with their first manager and it was always going to be difficult for a new man to shake things up in mid-season.
Western Gales now face Adare and that will be a cracking contest.
Adare are the form team, but with every game Western Gales will get better. If they get a run on a team they will cause problems regardless of who they play.
The west have many fine hurlers and playing Adare will give them a chance to display their talents.

Croke Park
On the National scene both Kerry and Kilkenny are still on course to win three in row.
I was in Croke Park last Saturday and never did I see such rain fall at the venue.
Long before the rain we had tears of joy when Wexford overcame Armagh to move on to the All-Ireland football semi-final.
I was in the Wexford dressing room after the game and it special to see just how much the win meant to them.
I asked their young manager Jason Ryan how has he got Wexford this far?
"A lot of hard work from the players, but most of all we had honesty. We worked for each other - no one bigger than the team because where you have lads doing their own thing and not willing to be team players you will not win," he explained.
Sound words of advice from a very young manager.
Kerry produced another super display to overcome Galway.
The quality of football in the rain was outstanding and they are getting better with each game they now play.
Who can stop Kilkenny?
They showed once again just how good they are. Cork were with them for about 25 minutes, but then they slipped into a new gear and blew them away.
It will take a superb effort from either Tipperary or Waterford to overcome them.

Best wishes
Finally, we send our best wishes to the McCarthy family in Mungret who last week suffered the loss of the great Tom McCarthy. Tom was a great GAA man and loved Limerick hurling.
To his family and friends we extend our sympathies.