Boston Ready to Host All Stars

The All Stars are almost here!  Next Saturday is shaping up to be a day not to miss for GAA fans and supporters in the Northeastern United States.  The Boston Northeast Division and the Irish Cultural Center are hosting a traveling party of 100 from Ireland, including GAA and GPA dignitaries, referees, media, and of course a star studded group of 30 of the top Gaelic footballers in the world who will play on the storied turf at the ICC in Canton.  The ICC and Boston GAA have hosted All Star hurlers and footballers shortly after the facility opened in 1999, and since then, to great success, the Martin Donnelly Interprovincial football and hurling finals.  President Liam O’Neill, and President elect Aogain O’Fearghaill, will be making the trip, as will GPA President, Dermot Early.  The delegation arrives on Thursday, and there will be a series of events, including a reception with the Consul General, before the big day on Saturday. 

2014 Player of the Year - James O'Donoghue

Jim Gavin, Dublin manager, will be taking care of the 2013 All Star team, while Mayo’s James Horan will manage the 2014 selection.  2013 and 2014 players of the year, Dublin’s Michael Darragh McCauley and Kerry’s James O’Donoghue are part of the trip, as is 2014 young player of the year, Donegal’s Ryan McHugh.  The underage players in the region will have the exciting opportunity to train with the All Stars on the morning of the game.  At 9:30 the players will hold a camp for the underage players in the region, what a chance for a young kid to learn from the best players there are!  All underage players are welcome to participate.

The Boston Gaelic Football panel received a visit from Mikey Harte during their preparations.

Not only will folks be journeying across the Atlantic, a sizeable contingent of adult and underage players will be heading up Interstate 95 from New York to participate in the historic proceedings.  A Boston selection will play New York’s Shannon Gaels in a U12 challenge game to get the action rolling at 11:00.  Then it is the turn of the Boston and New York senior players at 12:00.  The local home based players seldom have the opportunity to play together and have jumped at this chance.  For New York, entrants to the Connacht Senior Football Championship each year, this is an opportunity to play against North American based opposition.  While the game is billed as a challenge, Boston versus New York in any sport is seldom that, neither team will want to come out on the losing end of this one.   

Boston U12s will face the National Champions, Shannon Gaels of New York.

So, plenty to look forward to as the two biggest GAA cities in North America come together with the best of the best from Ireland.

2013 Team: Rob Hennelly (Mayo), Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone), Martin Dunne (Cavan), Lee Keegan (Mayo), Drew Wylie (Monaghan), Aidan O' Shea (Kerry), Michael D. Macauley (Dublin), Colm Boyle (Mayo), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Seamus O' Shea (Mayo), Cian O' Sullivan (Dublin), Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry), Rory O' Carroll (Dublin), Paul Flynn (Dublin), Colin Walshe (Monaghan), James O'Donoghue (Kerry).

2014 Team: Keith Higgins (Mayo), ), Neil Gallagher (Donegal), Paul Murphy (Kerry), Michael Murphy (Donegal), David Moran (Kerry), Cillian O' Connor (Mayo), Paul Durcan (Donegal), Neil McGee (Donegal), Fionn Fitzgerald (Kerry), Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Colin O'Riordan (Tipperary), Shane Walsh (Galway), Paddy McBrearty (Donegal), Tony Kernan (Armagh).

Boston Squad: Eoin Connolly ( Connemara Gaels) , Paddy Coakley (Mc Anespies) , Colin Mc Carron (Donegal) , Sean Doherty (Donegal) , Shane Kelly (Shannon Blues) , Damien Doolin (Connemara Gaels) , David Clifford (Shannon Blues) , Sean Connelly (Connemara Gaels) , Garry Brilly (Wolfe Tones) , Pat McNicholas(Connemara Gaels) , Conor Mullen (Shannon Blues) , Niall Gallen (Mc Anespies) , Paudie Kenneally (Christophers) , Collie Donnelly (McAnespies) , Pat Murray (Shannon Blues) , Ian Whelan (Kerry) , Noel Graham (Connemara Gaels) , Matt Smith (Donegal) , Gareth O’Neill (Mc Anespies) , Mike O’Brien (Wolfe Tones), Coleman Mulkerins (Connemara Gaels) , Cormac Joyce-Power (Wolfe Tones) , Robbie Croft (Kerry) , Conor Fitzgerald (Shannon Blues) , Ciaran Mc Devitt (Donegal) , Sean Moriarty (Shannon Blues) , Joey Fitzpatrick (Kerry) , Dan Kenneally (Christophers) , Dan McCabe (Wolfe Tones) , Shane Kavanagh (Shannon Blues) , Joe O’Shea (Kerry) , Mark Dunphy (Donegal).

New York Squad:  Gavin Joyce (Cavan), Ger McCartan (Kerry), Kieran O’Connor (Kerry), Ronan McGinley (Cavan), Keith Scally (Westmeath), Anthony Sweeney (Kerry), Lee Kelly , (Rockland), Mike Jim Fitzgerald (Kerry), Brian Connor (Leitrim), Keith O’Connor (Cork), Colm Maginn (Cavan), Seán Dalton (Cavan), JJ Mathews (Longford), Gary O’Driscoll (Kerry), Luke Loughlin (Westmeath), Jer O’Sullivan (Kerry), Tommy Warburton (Cavan), Richey Morgan (Armagh), Michael Hallissey (Armagh), Liam Deane (Barnabas), Shane Hogan (Barnabas), Ciarán Hughes (Leitrim), Mickey Leneghan (Cork), Ross Wherity (Kerry), Damian McCaughey (Manhattan Gaels), Seán Liddy (Armagh), Keith Quinn (Leitrim), Seán O’Neill (Cork), Jason Kelly (Offaly), Ciarán Brennan (Leitrim), Eoin Ward (Cavan), Dermot Mullen (Cork).

The Irish Cultural Center is located off Route 138 in Canton Mass.  Take Rte 138 South off I93/Rte128.  After 2 sets of lights, turn right on New Boston Drive and drive straight into the car park.  Check out www.bostongaa.com or www.irishculture.org or follow us on Facebook, Boston Northeast GAA.

Saturday, November 29.

Schedule of events:

10:00 Underage training with All Stars

11:00 Boston U12 v Shannon Gaels U12 New York

12:00 Boston v New York Senior Football

1:30 2013 All Stars v 2014 All Stars Senior Football

By Rory O'Donnell