It was all about the Olympics at the weekend but still almost as many people attended Croke Park at the weekend as were at the Olympic Stadium for Britain’s Super Saturday.
Everything is local and never has this been more evident than in the surge of support and national pride behind the British team.  It is also the reason why gaelic football and hurling retain such a strong hold on the Irish summer.
The GAA entered the summer aware of the rival attractions lined up against it but has come through strongly with the established forces of the last two All Ireland winners Cork and Dublin facing semi final opponents in Mayo and Donegal that will bring hope and numbers to their semi finals, much to the delight of the major sponsors.
The health of the tournament though did not prevent former GAA President Sean Kelly outlining an alternative last week in the shape of a second level of competition for the so called ‘lesser’ counties.
He made the valid point that few will ever have the chance to lift the Sam Maguire but a second tier Tommy Murphy Cup would give a day in the sun and a genuine chance of autumn glory at Croke Park.
It would need to be handled as a separate competition, much as the Championship is to the Premier League in English soccer.  Teams parachuting in after failure in the early rounds of the top competition has done little for the prestige of the Europa League against the Champions’ League.
It would also give a national senior entrée to sponsorship for companies like Cadbury’s and Electric Ireland that support the U21 and Minor Championships and who show there is a commercial appetite below the high end of the Major Championship level.
The time to adapt is when you are at your strongest.  It is food for thought as the GAA congratulates itself on a job well done so far this busy summer.