Keating and Smyth to represent Down at M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada Finals this weekend

Monday 25th July 2016

The 2016 M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada Finals was officially launched last Thursday (21st July) by GAA Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Aogán Ó Fearghail in Croke Park.

The All-Ireland Poc Fada finals in hurling and camogie will be held on the Cooley Mountains this coming Saturday (July 30th). This will be the 55th running of the event in this scenic setting in Co. Louth.  Down will be represented by Karol Keating in the Senior Hurling and Anne-Marie Smyth in the U16 Camogie.

The unique GAA sporting and cultural contest promises to be a great day of sport and Holder Brendan Cummins will be attempting to win an unprecedented 10th Poc Fada title.

The competition will offer hurlers from Galway, Roscommon, Down, Derry, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Westmeath and Dublin an opportunity to win an All-Ireland medal.

At U16 level a similar mix of counties made it through the provincial stages, with contestants from Antrim, Mayo, Tipperary and Offaly emerging.

Hall of Fame entrant Finbarr O'Neill (Cork) was also honoured today. Finbarr won the title in 1966 to 1968. He won an All-Ireland medal for Cork in 1966 and is a holder of seven senior county medals won with Glen Rovers. He also captained his team to win two club All Ireland medals in 1967 and 1973. When he retired he managed Glen Rovers Camogie team who won nine county championship titles.

Speaking at the launch event the GAA President said: “There are few events in our diary that stand out from the rest of our activities in the same way as the Poc Fada.

“The Annaverna Mountain is the perfect picturesque setting for truly unique event. With the contestants including some of the highest profile hurlers in our game who are participating at a time of the year when their season reaches fever pitch, this says everything about the importance they place on their involvement. I would also like to thank Martin Donnelly for his continued support of the Competition, this year will be the 20th year sponsoring the Finals in the Cooley Mountains.”

Speaking at the launch Uachtarán an Cumann Camógaíochta, Catherine Neary said: “I am looking forward once more to this year’s prestigious Poc Fada Finals, which promise to be an exciting event in the spectacular Cooley Peninsula at the foot of the Annaverna Mountain. The competition over recent years has been quite stiff with only a 'puck of the sliotar' between the competitors and I am sure that this year’s Finals will be no different, with great skill and dedication on show from all competitors whom I wish the very best of luck in this prestigious event. I would also like to sincerely thank Martin Donnelly, a passionate and loyal supporter of the competition and Gaelic Games.”

Speaking at the launch Martin Donnelly said: “I’m particularly proud to support this wonderful and exciting competition as this is my 20th year sponsoring the Finals in the Cooley Mountain. I am sure this year’s final will be one of the best yet as Brendan Cummins goes for his 10th Poc Fada title and with Patricia Jackman unable to commit this year, who will be the new Queen of the mountain this year?

Humphrey Kelleher, Chairman of the National Poc Fada Committee stated: “An Poc Fada is one of our finest traditions and we in the GAA, whether it be at Club, County, Provincial or National level have a responsibility to cherish and develop it to the best of our ability. It is incumbent upon us all to pass on to the next generation this intrinsic part of our Gaelic Games culture in a healthy and vibrant state.”

2016 Players

Senior Hurling
Mark Fahy (Gaillimh)
Colm Callanan (Gaillimh)
Jerry Fallon (Ros Comáin)
Karol Keating (An Dún)
Ruairi Convery (Doire)
James McInerney (An Clár)
Aaron Murphy (Luimneach)
Brian Connaughton (An Iarmhí)
Darren Renehan (Baile átha Cliath)
Brendan Cummins (Tiobraid Árann)

U16 Hurling
Cathal Kiely (Uíbh Fhailí)
Gearoid O' Connor (Tiobraid Árann)
Dominic McEnhill (Aontroim)
Cormac Philipps (Mhaigh Eo)

Senior Camogie
Ciara Donnelly (Tír Eoghain)
Sinead Skehill (Gaillimh)
Faye McCarthy (Baile Átha Cliath)
Lyndsey Condell (Corcaigh)

U16 Camogie
Anne-Marie Smyth (An Dún)
Sarah Healy (Gaillimh)
Donna Mortimer (Laois)
Mairead O’Sullivan (Corcaigh)

Photo:
Players, from left, Brendan Cummins, Tippeary, James McInerney, Clare, Darren Renehan, Dublin, and Colm Callanan, Galway, in attendance at the launch of the M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile