GAA:Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna is confident the playing surface will stand up to the rigorous timetable that sees 17 championship matches over the next three weekends.
In contrast to previous years, the pitch has not come in for criticism this season. The visiting professional players for the first ever rugby and soccer internationals there, in February and March, had no complaints about a surface branded dangerous by hurling managers during the 2005 and 2006 championships.
The championship enters its peak with six games this weekend - granted, this flurry of activity is unavoidable because of the rescheduled hurling quarter-finals - followed by six the following weekend and five on the weekend of August 11th and 12th.
There follows two matches on Sunday August 19th and Sunday August 26th for the All-Ireland football semi-finals, senior and minor, before the two finals in September.
Croke Park was closed for three weeks before the championship to ensure the pitch was in prime condition.
"The work we have done has been very successful," said McKenna. "Six games (in 24 hours) is a challenge, no doubt about that, but I think the team is up for it."
There are two dates put aside for GAA fixtures in October, an AIB exhibition game and the interprovincial finals, while the Irish soccer team play Germany (October 13th) and Cyprus (October 17th).
These internationals are preceded by a concert (The Police) on Friday October 5th.
"The pitch has performed a lot better this year than previously," said McKenna. "It's certainly softer and it's giving a lot more grip for the players.
"We still have a lot to go. It's still only mid-July. Into October we have two soccer matches as well as the old Railway Cup, and AIB have an exhibition game provisionally arranged.
"It's a huge amount of pressure on the ground staff but they are well capable of it. They got the pitch to a very acceptable condition. The challenge now is to maintain that. The weather hasn't been that benign either. They're working really at pace. Today you would have to say high marks but it's at the end of October that the real judgement will be."
Meanwhile, the Galway football chairman, Pat Egan, has stated a decision on the future of manager Peter Ford would be made in the next fortnight. Ford's three-year tenure came to a disappointing end with defeat to Meath last Saturday and he indicated after the game he would not seek another term.
"I know what he said but that was straight after the game," said Egan. "I'll talk to him over the coming days and a decision will be reached, but probably not until after the (Galway) races."
Croke Park Events
July 28th- All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals (x2) and All-Ireland MHC quarter-final.
July 29th- All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals (x2) and All-Ireland MHC quarter-final.
August 4th- All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals (x2) and Tommy Murphy Cup final.
August 5th- All-Ireland SHC semi-final, All-Ireland MHC semi-final and Christy Ring Cup final.
August 11th- All-Ireland SFC quarter-final and Nicky Rackard Cup final.
August 12th- All-Ireland SHC semi-final, All-Ireland MHC semi-final and All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.
August 19th- All-Ireland SFC semi-final and All-Ireland MFC semi-final.
August 26th- All-Ireland SFC semi-final and All-Ireland MFC semi-final.
September 2nd- All-Ireland SHC final and All-Ireland MHC final.
September 9th- All-Ireland under-21 hurling final and All-Ireland senior and junior camogie finals.
September 16th- All-Ireland SFC final and All-Ireland MFC final.
September 30th- All-Ireland Junior and senior women's football finals.
October 5th- The Police in concert.
October 13th- Euro 2008 qualifier (Rep of Ireland v Germany).
October 17th- Euro 2008 qualifier (Rep of Ireland v Cyprus).
