Dublin, the new crowned Allianz NHL Division 1 champions for 2011, will face Tipperary this Sunday (7pm) in Athy, Kildare in a game which commemorates the 1908 All-Ireland Hurling Final played in Athy’s Geraldine Park between the same counties.
In 1908 Tipperary won the match – which was a replay of the first drawn All-Ireland final played in Croke Park. The famed Tom Semple won his second All-Ireland medal that day playing for Tipperary on a scoreline of 3-15 to 1-5.
Both teams are also using the game as part of preparations for their forthcoming provincial championship openers against Cork and Offaly respectively only a fortnight later.
Joey Boland is the only absentee (shoulder injury) in the Dublin team named from the one which defeated Kilkenny in the league final. Ryan O’Dwyer from Tipperary is named at centre-forward as he was against Kilkenny in the recent league final. The Dublin team for the challenge is as follows:
(1) Gary Maguire
(2) Niall Corcoran (3) Tomás Brady (4) Peter Kelly
(5) John McCaffrey (6) Martin Quilty (7) Shane Durkin
(8) Liam Rushe (9) Alan McCrabbe
(10) Conor Mc Cormack (11) Ryan O’Dwyer (12) Conal Keaney
(13) Daire Plunkett (14) David O Callaghan (15) Paul Ryan
Article Source: Hill16.ie
The Tipp team will be chosen later in the week from their current championship squad in anticipation of their opening Munster Championship game against Cork in Semple Stadium on May 29.
A special trophy is being made locally for the challenge which will commemorate both St. Brigid and Na Fianna. The legendary Na Fianna reputedly had their military headquarters on the Hill of Allen in Kildare where their leader Fionn Mac Cumhaill also resided. The special trophy is being named ‘Corn Ceiliurtha na bhFiann’ in memorial of the Fenian leader and his association with Kildare. It will also feature a St. Brigid’s cross which is the emblem of the GAA in Kildare.
Admission to the match is €10, students/OAPs €5 and u16s free.
