The 2010 Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland Championship was launched at Croke Park on Wednesday where competition sponsors Bord Gáis Energy also unveiled a new team of ambassadors who will support this year’s campaign of activity to promote U-21 hurling.
The 2010 Bord Gáis Energy Ambassadors are 2009 Breaking Through Player of the Year Darach Honan (Clare), Tipperary stars Noel McGrath and Padraic Maher, Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), Noel Connors (Waterford), Liam Rushe (Dublin), Aidan Walsh (Cork), David Burke (Galway) and Conor Woods (Down). The ambassadors will be involved in a wide range of activity to support publicity, advertising, promotional and online plans.
After setting last year’s semi-final alight, Galway senior star Joe Canning will play a significant role again this year. A former winner of the competition, Joe will be a new member of the judging panel for the Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player of the Year Awards along with Marty Morrissey from RTE, Micheál O Domhnaill of TG4 and Ger Cunningham, Sports Sponsorship Manager at Bord Gáis Energy.
Joe will also be providing his views and tips on the Championship on www.breakingthrough.ie, which will carry an exclusive blog from the hurling star, ‘Joe Blogs’, and feature an ongoing battle of wits between Joe and Cork hurling legend Ger Cunningham, also a winner of the U-21 Championship. The two will put their necks on the line and give their predictions for matches throughout the season in Joe vs. Ger. The 2010 campaign can be followed on a newly created Twitter profile @BGEHurlingU21, through the Facebook page and of course on www.breakingthrough.ie.
Director General of the GAA, Paraic Duffy is looking forward to the prospect of another action packed and drama filled championship.
He said: “Last year’s Bord Gáis Energy GAA U21 Hurling Championship was one that will live long in the memory not least because of Clare’s fantastic breakthrough.
“As we have to come to expect in recent seasons, this grade of hurling has produced some top quality hurling while at the same time providing U21 players with a perfect stepping stone to the senior ranks. Long may it continue.
“I’d like to acknowledge the passion and energy that our sponsors Bord Gáis Energy bring to this partnership and this year’s initiatives provide further evidence of this.”
Ger Cunningham, Sports Sponsorship Manager at Bord Gáis Energy said at the launch, “The 2009 Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 Championship was one of the most exciting and memorable to date and it was a pleasure to be involved. Bord Gáis Energy is looking forward to more of the same this year and we will be working hard again to promote U-21 hurling and the competition itself which, I know from experience, is a hugely important part of a player’s progression to senior level. This is why we have once again used the theme The Energy to Break Through which perfectly encapsulates what this Championship is about.
“I’d like to thank all our ambassadors who have agreed to come on board to support our campaign and take the time to help us with our activity. We have a strong commitment to our sponsorship of Gaelic Games and last year we introduced a number of innovative items including promotional activity at the major games and the popular crossbar challenge, which was a great success and we’ll certainly be continuing with it this summer. To have Joe Canning involved again is also a great bonus and I’m sure his exclusive instalments on breakingthrough.ie will offer fans a new and unique insight into U-21 hurling.”
The 2010 Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 Championship begins with a bang next week when Cork take on Waterford in the Munster Quarter Final on Wednesday, 2nd June. The Leinster Championship also kicks off on Wednesday, June 9th when Kilkenny play Offaly and Laois take on Carlow, while Armagh get the Ulster Championship off the ground on Wednesday, 14th June when they play the eventual winner of the Ulster U-21 Shield.
Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling
U-21 All-Ireland Championship 2010 Fixtures
Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 Leinster Championship
Wednesday, 9th June
Kilkenny v Offaly
Laois v Carlow
Wednesday, 23rd June
Kilkenny or Offaly v Dublin
Laois or Carlow v Wexford
Wednesday, 14th July
Leinster Final
Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 Munster Championship
Wednesday, 2nd June
Quarter Final
Cork v Waterford
Wednesday, 14th July
Semi Final
Limerick v Clare
Thursday, 15th July
Semi Final
Tipperary v Cork or Waterford
Wednesday, 28th July
Munster Final
Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 Ulster Championship
Wednesday, 14th July
Quarter Final
Armagh v U-21 Shield Winner
Wednesday, 21st July
Semi Finals
Antrim v Down
Derry v Armagh/U-21 Shield Winner
Wednesday, 28th July
Ulster Final
Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland Championship
Saturday, 21st August
All-Ireland Semi Finals
Galway v Leinster
Munster v Ulster
Weekend 11/12th September
All-Ireland Final
