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PSU’s trip to Ireland finalized

Plans have been finalized for Penn State and Central Florida to play a game next season in Dublin, Ireland, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The official announcement for the game will come Sunday, the newspaper reported, and the contest will take place next year at Croke Park.

The date of the game has yet to be revealed, although it’s expected to be the season opener for both teams in late August.

Penn State and Central Florida will play this season at Beaver Stadium on Sept. 14.

The series between the two teams is a natural one since Central Florida coach George O’Leary is a good friend and former boss of Nittany Lions coach Bill O’Brien. O’Leary was the head coach at Georgia Tech when O’Brien was on the staff there.

Since Penn State cannot play in a game bowl because of NCAA sanctions, O’Brien has spoken repeatedly about rewarding the players with a regular-season game in an exotic location. Croke Park, built in 1913 and renovated in 2004, seats 82,300.

Travel packages for fans looking to make the trip to Ireland are expected to be released Sunday along with the official announcement.

Those interested in going will find the trip to be expensive.

According to Expedia.com, a roundtrip flight to Dublin for late August this year costs about $1,200 per person from the University Park airport, and about $1,100 from Pittsburgh. Prices likely would be in that ballpark next year, as well.

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