Irish Daily Star Sunday Primary Go Games
And they’re off!
The 2010 Munster Championship season begins today and could any venue be more appropriate than Semple Stadium in Thurles, the town where the GAA was founded 126 years ago?
Fittingly, All-Ireland champions Kerry are first into the fray when they take on Tipperary in their own backyard. While the game is featured live on TV, for 44 boys and girls, the senior match is but a sideshow. These are the boys and girls playing in the Irish Daily Star Sunday Primary Go Games exhibition series. The boys will play at half-time in the intermediate match while the girls occupy prime spot during the interval of the senior game.
As ever, it’s an occasion for the connoisseur of young talent. Just ask Kerry captain of 2009 Darren O Sullivan, or his successor Bryan Sheehan. They both wore the Kerry jersey for the first time in the Primary game as it was known then. And keep an eye out for the tall athletic woman on the Kerry sideline during the girls match. That’s Mary Jo Coffey (nee Curran), holder of 9 All-Ireland medals and rated one of the finest exponents of the code. Not that the boys are neglected. Declan Quill, holder of All-Ireland medals with Kerry, in 2006 is one of the mentors for the Kingdom in the boys’ game
And what about Tipperary? Keep an eye out for Caolán Hennessy from Ayle National School. His dad Seán was a Tipperary footballer of the 1980’s while his uncles Breandán and Deasún won County Championships in the colours of Cappawhite. The pedigree is good on both sides as his mum, Triona, is one of the famed Bonnar clan of Cashel. Triona was an All-Ireland camogie star with Tipperary while Caolán would love to emulate his uncles Colm, Conal and Cormac Bonnar, stars of Tipperary in their All-Ireland winning years of 1989 and 1991.
For these 44 lucky boys and girls, today’s Irish Daily Star Sunday Primary Go Games present a unique opportunity to line out in their county colours, sharing “The Field of Dreams” with their heroes. And they intend to enjoy it!
