The M Donnelly All Ireland Poc Fada, which takes place on Annaverna Mountain at Ravensdale in County Louth on Saturday the 4th of August once again, promises to provide a day of unique sporting competition. The All Ireland GAA sporting event sees twelve hurlers from throughout Ireland vying to win the coveted M Donnelly Poc Fada Craobh na hÉireann title. Tipperary all Ireland winning goalkeeper will be back on the mountain to defend his title. The full line out of hurlers will be announced this weekend at the national competition launch in Dublin. Local man Pat Mc Ginn who is the secretary of the local organising event said that the event on Annaverna mountain was a unique cultural and sporting event. “An Poc Fada has been going from 1961. Some of the greatest hurlers in Ireland like Ger Cunningham, Ollie Walsh, Davy Fitzgerald and Eoin Kelly have participated and this year we expect another quality field,” said Pat who said that preparations for the event, which was open to the public, were well under way. “Myself and a team of young helpers from the local clubs are up each day now preparing the course and getting things ready” he said and he continued. “There is an All Ireland Camogie and under 16 Poc Fada as well. The contests start at 12.30 and all are welcome. I would remind all that the event is on a mountain so come prepared and park sensibly and safely”. He also appealed to all local hurling, camogie and football clubs to come along and help out on the day. “Over the years there has been tremendous support from the local clubs. They send along people to help as scorekeepers and in the meitheals. It is an ideal opportunity for young people in particular to meet with stars of the hurling world in person. Any club or indeed anyone wishing to get involved should contact myself at 02830839134. We would ask that all helpers are on the mountain by 12 noon at the latest”. Ulster Poc Fada Champion Graham Clarke said that he was looking forward to getting back to the mountain. “I came second last year. I really would like to win the Poc Fada title,” said the Down Hurling goalkeeper.

RESULTS

ROLL OF HONOUR

1961 Vincent Godfrey [ Luimneach]
1962 Ollie Walsh [Cill Chainnigh]
1963 Three Way Tie Ollie Walsh [Cill Chainnaigh] Tom Geary [Port Lairge] Dinny Donnelly [An Mhi]
1964 Oliver Goff [Cill Chainnigh]
1965 Dennis Murphy [Corcaigh]
1966 Fionbarr O Neill [Corcaigh]
1967 Fionnbar O Neill [Corcaigh]
1968 Fionbarr O Neill [Corcaigh]
1969 Liam Tobin [Port Lairge]
1970 –1980 Competition Suspended
1981 Pat Hartigan [Luimneach]
1982 Gerry Goodwin [Tir Eoghain]
1983 Pat Hartigan [Luimneach]
1984 Ger Cunnigham [ Corcaigh]
1985 Ger Cunningham [ Corcaigh]
1986 Ger Cunningham [Corcaigh]
1987 Ger Cunningham [Corcaigh]
1988 Ger Cunningham [Corcaigh]
1989 Ger Cunningham [Corcaigh]
1990 Ger Cunningham [Corcaigh]
1991 Tommy Quaid [Luimneach]
1992 Albert Kelly [Uibh Fhaili]
1993 Albert Kelly [Uibh Fhaili]
1994 Michael Shaughnessy [Gaillimh]
1995 Michael Shaughnessy [Gaillimh]
1996 Michael Shaughnessy [Gaillimh]
1997 Colin Byrne [Cill Mhantain]
1998 Albert Kelly [Uibh Fhaili]
1999 David Fitzgearld [An Clar]
2000 Colin Byrne [Cill Mhantain]
2001 Albert Shanahan [Luimneach]
2002 Davy Fitzgerald [An Clar]
2003 Paul Dunne [An Lu]
2004 Brendan Cummins [Tiobraid Aran] - 48 pocs new record
2005 Albert Shanahan [Luimneach]
2006 Brendan Cummins [ Tiobraid Aran}

CAMOGIE POC FADA

2004 Stephanie Gannon [Gaillimh]
2005 Denise Lynch [Clar]
2006 Mary Henry {Iarmhi}

COMOTAS BEIRTE
All Ireland Poc Fada Pairs Contest

1983 Joe Shortt (Armagh) Tommy Quaid (Limerick)
1984 Justin McCarthy (Cork) Michael Shaughnessy (Galway)
1985 Ger Cunningham (Cork) Donal O'Brien (New York)
1986 John Kelly (Offaly) Tommy Quaid (Limerick)
1987 Des Donnelly (Antrim) Christy Ryan (Clare)
1988 Vincent Moore (Kildare) Michael Shaughnessy (Galway)
1989 John Conway (Kerry) Michael Shaughnessy (Galway)
1990 Des Donnelly (Antrim) Tommy Quaid (Limerick)
1991 Tommy Quaid (Limerick) Michael Shaughnessy (Galway)
1992 Michael Shaughnessy (Galway) Albert Kelly (Offaly)
1993 David Fitzgerald (Clare) Michael Shaughnessy (Galway)
1994 Johnny Masterson (Meath) Michael Shaughnessy (Galway)
1995 Liam Shinners (Tipperary) Michael Shaughnessy (Galway)
1996 Paul Dunne (Louth) Niall Linnane (Galway)
1997 Colm Byrne (Wicklow) Kevin Coulter (Down)
1998 Seamus McMullan (Antrim) David Fitzgerald (Clare)
1999 Ian Scallan (Wexford) Brendan Cummins (Tipperary)
2000 Ritchie Burke (Galway) Christy O'Connor (Clare)
2001 Liam Shinners (Tipperary) Albert Shanahan (Limerick)
2002 Graham Clark (Down) David Fitzgerald (Clare)
2003 Paul Dunne (Louth) Tom Finn (Wicklow)
2004 Brendan Cummins (Tipperary) & Albert Shanahan (Liimerick)
2005 David Fitzgerald (Clare) & Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford)
2006 Brendan Cummins (Tipperary) & Eoi Kelly (Tipperary)