The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) continues a Roadshow
to promote the Lory Meagher, Nicky Rackard, Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh Cups and
Competitions, this time visiting Ballinderreen GAA – the home club of Joe
McDonagh. 2019 is the second year of the Joe McDonagh Cup, with Carlow taking
home the silverware in its inaugural year.
Following on from Carlow’s success in 2018, this
year Antrim, Kerry, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath will compete for a coveted
place in the final in Croke Park and the ultimate prize of promotion to the
Liam McCarthy Cup in 2020. The game will precede the 2020 Leinster Final.
This afternoon saw players from the five counties
playing in the 2019 Joe McDonagh competition come together to help raise the
profile of the competition, its heritage and its players. Representatives from
each of the competing counties also hosted a hurling skills session with U14’s
and U16’s teams from McDonagh’s club Ballinderreen.
The Joe McDonagh Cup is named in honour of the
former Galway hurler, Joe McDonagh. McDonagh also served as President of the
GAA from 1997 to 2000. In 2005, the Irish Independent named him amongst its
substitutes in its list of "The Men Who Changed the Face of Galway
Hurling". One of the most iconic moments associated with McDonagh is his
rendition of ‘The West’s Awake’ from the Hogan Stand in Croke Park after
winning the All Ireland Hurling Final with Galway in 1980.
The event was held in Ballinderreen, the home club
of Joe McDonagh and his some of his family members and team mates were in
attendance. The event aimed to tie the history and culture of the competition
to the players who are competing in it today. Ballinderreen GAA Chairman, Mattie
Larkin hosted the group on the day and welcomed songs from Mike Burke and a
performance from Abbeyknockmoy Scór na nÓg Champions.
Niall Canavan was there and he spoke to Galway hurling legend and team mate of Joe's, Noel Lane
Speaking about the event Paul Flynn, CEO at the GPA
said, “The GPA have three main pillars player welfare, player development and
player representation. Under representation promoting our players and our games
is of the upmost importance to us. We are delighted to be working with the
teams competing in the Joe McDonagh cup to promote this exciting competition.
To have the cup back in Joe’s home club is really special and we look forward
to the kick off of the competition this summer.”
Paul Flynn the spoke to Niall Canavan
Mikey Boyle of Kerry Hurling said, “The Joe McDonagh competition is an exciting competitive competition, it means a lot to me as a player and we pay against teams on the same level, knowing that on any given day the game could be won by either team.”
This is the final event of a Roadshow in the lead up
to the official launch of the Joe McDonagh, Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and
Lory Meagher Cup Competitions. The Roadshow saw each of the cups making their
first ever visit to their name sake club locations along with the
representatives from each team competing in that tier.
The first games of the Joe McDonagh competition kick
off with Antrim against Kerry and Offaly against Laois on Saturday 11th May.
The national launch of the Joe McDonagh, Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup Competitions will take place on Thursday 9th May in Croke Park.
