Quane to replace Ó Sé on Allstars’ trip to US

LIMERICK footballer John Quane will replace Kerry captain Darragh Ó Sé, on the Vodafone Allstars visit to San Diego this week.

The Kingdom midfielder is currently in South Africa with his county team-mates. He is believed to have withdrawn from the Allstar trip due to work commitments. Quane will join the rest of the touring party when they fly out of Dublin Airport tomorrow for the week-long trip. The

Allstars of 2002 will play the Allstars of 2001 in an exhibition game at the University of San Diego on Saturday.

The Limerick man is relishing the opportunity to travel to the US. “The game isn’t important, it is more a promotion and to give guys some recognition, it is great to get something out of it,” he said yesterday.

“I only got a call on Friday, when they rang me up and said that Darragh Ó Sé wasn’t going. I travelled to Australia for the International Rules, but this is different, a little more relaxed.”

The Irish community in south California, which is organising the event with the GAA and Vodafone, reports massive interest amongst exiles in the state, especially in San Francisco and Los Angeles. So much so, the post-match banquet is already sold out. The players will train on Thursday at the university ground under managers Joe Kernan and John O’Mahony. A total of 13 counties are represented by the Allstars with the All-Ireland champions, Armagh, heading the list, with eight players travelling.

Meanwhile, the 32-County winners of the AIB GAA Club of the Year Awards were announced yesterday.

County representatives will be presented with their award and a development grant of 2000 at a ceremony to be held in Croke Park on Monday, February 3. Each county winner will now contest the provincial finals and also the ultimate title of AIB GAA Club of the Year 2002, the winners of which will be announced at next month’s ceremony.

Each of the provincial winners will receive a further 5,000 development grant, while the overall winner will receive a further grant of 10,000, bringing the total prize fund for the eventual winner to 17,000.

In addition to the prize fund, every club that entered the competition was entered into a draw to win a complete club kit worth 6,000. O’Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny collected that prize.

Donal Forde, managing director, AIB said: “The AIB GAA Club of the Year Awards recognises clubs for their ongoing contribution.” GAA president Seán McCague noted the vital role played by clubs in the development of the GAA.

County Winners

Connacht: Galway (Glenamaddy); Leitrim (Cloone); Mayo (Achill); Roscommon (St. Brigids); Sligo (Eastern Harps).

Leinster: Carlow (Cnoc Arda); Dublin (Naomh Barróg); Kildare (Moorefield GAA); Kilkenny (Graigue-Ballycallan); Laois (Stradbally); Longford (Ballymahon); Louth (Mattock Rangers); Meath (Simonstown Gaels); Offaly (Tubber GAA); Westmeath (The Downs); Wexford (Rathnure); Wicklow (Bray Emmets)

Munster: Clare (Eire Óg Ennis); Cork (Carrigaline); Kerry (Austin Stacks); Limerick (Adare); Tipperary (Burgess); Waterford (Deuglán Naofa-Ardmhór)

Ulster: Antrim (St. Galls); Armagh (Mullaghbawn Cuchullains); Cavan (Butlersbridge); Derry (Sean Dolans); Donegal (Bun Crannaigh); Down (St. Malachy’s); Fermanagh (Derrygonnelly Harps); Monaghan (Clontibret-O’Neill’s); Tyrone (Strabane Sigersons).