Long puck to raise funds for tsunami victims
The competition, a joint effort between the two east Cork clubs, will begin at 11am on Sunday, 9 January, at the Youghal bypass, and the entry fee is €100 for a team of three.
“A member of our club came up with the idea last week,” said Tracy Kennedy, secretary of Killeagh GAA club. “Once we gave it some thought, the Youghal by-pass seemed an obvious venue, and the Youghal GAA club agreed immediately.”
Participants in the competition will have an added incentive - the chance to play against members of the All-Ireland-winning Cork senior hurling panel. Although flying out on their team holiday to New Zealand next Sunday evening, several members of the Cork panel, such as Killeagh clubman Joe Deane, are expected to participate in the event that morning.
The competition itself will begin at the Killeagh side of Youghal and follow the route of the by-pass around the town, but Kennedy points out that prospective participants needn’t be intimidated by the length of the course; there’ll be a bus on hand to ferry contestants back from the finishing line to the starting point.
“We’re keen that as many clubs as possible are represented, in the east Cork division and beyond, and if possible teams representing the various clubs should wear their jerseys on the day, to add some colour to the occasion,” said Kennedy. “But we’re also hoping that firms and organisations might sponsor teams for the competition or make donations, and other sporting codes are welcome to put in teams as well.”
The competition organisers are also asking people to bring their own hurleys and sliotars on the day. There will be no prizes, as everything will be ploughed back into the fund, and Cashmans Bookmakers, Killeagh GAA club’s main sponsors, have kick-started the process by making an initial donation of €2,000.
*For further details of the long puck contact Tracy Kennedy 0871250373, Tom Seward 0872350189, Con Spillane 0862584460 or Willie Doyle 0872458662.
