Stars of the future to get their day in sun as shannon airport munster gaa primary games launched
The respective county jerseys that will be worn in the half-time championship games on big-match days were unveiled as two key figures in Sunday’s hurling championship curtain raiser, John Conlon of Clare and Limerick’s Paul Browne, set their rivalry aside to help launch this year’s Games.
Thegames will follow the highly successful and popular format that sees boys and girls from the competing counties in the Munster championship take to the field for eleven aside matches at half-time during the big games.
This year’s Shannon Airport Munster GAA Primary Games will see almost 400 boys and girls from all six counties of Munster line out in their county colours at the provinces major venues, starting this weekend with the football championship opener in Cusack Park on Saturday evening and hurling curtain raiser on Sunday in Semple Stadium, both involving Clare and Limerick.
The games give sports-mad boys and girls the opportunity to share the big-match spotlight with their heroes in front of huge crowds of appreciative supporters.
Many of today’s stars made their inter-county bow in the games, among them current hurling stars Seamus Hickey, Graeme Mulcahy, Declan Hannon (Limerick), Paudie O’Sullivan (Cork) and Noel McGrath (Tipperary) as well as footballers Declan O’Sullivan and Anthony Moran (Kerry) plus camogie stars Niamh and Claire Mulcahy.
Republic of Ireland international footballer David Meyler has often spoken of the thrill of wearing the Cork jersey in Semple Stadium as part of the Primary Game team.
Speaking at the launch today at the airport, Chairman of Munster GAA, Robert Frost said “The emphasis in Games is on participation, enjoyment and developing skill and we are delighted to have Shannon Airport as sponsors again this year”.
Said Shannon Airport Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Murphy, “We are really busy here at Shannon, the Games are being launched and the championship is only days away. The summer is most definitely upon us. We are delighted at Shannon Airport to be again sponsoring these Games as they give so many young children the moment of their lives so far as they get to walk out in front of up to 50,000 people and play for their county.”
Joe Lyons, Chairman of Munster Cumann na mBunscol also welcomed Shannon Airport’s continued generous sponsorship and emphasised the importance of the games: “This year’sShannon Airport Munster GAA Primary Games promise to be very exciting for all the children. Innovative ideas such as this are the lifeblood of our games.