Croke Park will continue to stage the All-Ireland club finals at junior and intermediate level, despite the cost of opening the stadium to such small crowds.

A combined attendance of around 10,000 showed up for the football finals last Sunday and the hurling finals the Sunday before, yet stadium director Peter McKenna believes that more than justified opening Croke Park.

"First of all it completes the circle," said McKenna, "in that all levels of the GAA, from Cummann na mBunscol to women's and camogie and right up to the senior championship, can now aspire to play in Croke Park.

"And I believe it was very, very successful. Of course it doesn't make financial sense to open the stadium for 4,000 people, but we have to look at the games in their totality. We've got our cost base very well covered now, so we can afford to do these things, and it's important for the GAA that we do.

"It was also Seán Kelly's initiative and he should be thanked for that.

"But we've already received a large number of letters from the clubs involved expressing how thrilled they were to be able to come to Croke Park. The atmosphere was great despite the small crowds, and it was the first time I ever saw people come down from the premium level so they could be closer to the pitch."

While just under 4,000 showed up for the hurling finals, there were around 6,000 on Sunday to witness Ardfert of Kerry beating Loughrea in the junior final and Inniskeen of Monaghan beat Caherlistrane of Galway in the intermediate final.

Perhaps more importantly for McKenna, it also proved Croke Park's surface was well able to hold up to winter conditions.

"Yes," said McKenna, "the pitch was perfect before and after, and we had very little slippage, which should ease some people's fears about playing matches here at this time of the year. In fact it was a top-class surface and I think the groundsman more than delivered on getting a pitch that holds up under all conditions."

McKenna also confirmed the planning application for the new floodlights would be submitted by the end of next week, as they await the report of an independent study into the impact of the lights on the area.

"If we get a clear run on the planning then the lights should be ready for the International Rules next autumn, and in plenty of time for the rugby internationals in early 2007."

Croke Park normally needs a crowd of around 35,000 just to cover the costs of opening and running the stadium on match days, but such pressure has eased significantly in recent years as non-GAA events, such as conferences and concerts, make a growing contribution to the stadium income.

This weekend, for example, Croke Park stages the Fás Opportunities 2006, with the career and education exhibits throughout the stadium expected to attract around 50,000 people between Friday and next Monday.

The Ulster Council, meanwhile, have launched their modernisation programme, which will see €11 million go to Gaelic games in the province over the next three years. The funding will go toward installing floodlights at the main county grounds and also support the recent appointments of hurling and football development officers.

Around €6.5 million is coming from the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

Galway boss Conor Hayes is hoping some of his walking wounded will be available for Sunday's match with Limerick at Pearse Stadium.

Wing-back David Hardiman and centre-forward David Forde may be return from injury, while midfielder David Tierney, who starred for Loughrea in the All-Ireland junior football final, should also be available.