GAA stars set for clash of the ash in Ethiopia fundraiser

THEY are used to focusing on O’Byrne Cup and Waterford Crystal Cup action in January but five GAA inter-county stars are getting set for a pre-season game with a twist next week when they play in front of 20,000 Ethiopians.

Limerick hurlers Gavin O’Mahony and Graeme Mulcahy, Clare hurler John Conlon, and Meath football duo Jamie Queeney and Mickey Burke are part of a group that will fly to the African country on Sunday as part of a group involved with Playing For Life, the charity established by RTÉ Sports presenter Tracy Piggott in 2005.

They will fly to Addis Adaba and during their ten-day stay, will visit the city of Aksum in the northernterritory of Tigray. In this region the ancient Ethiopian game of karsa, which is similar to hurling as it involves using a wooden stick and ball, is played and a challenge match will take place involving the Irish inter-county stars and an Ethiopian team.

“We’ve been told to expect a crowd of around 20,000 people at the game,” says Limerick hurler Gavin O’Mahony.

“The locals get really into it when people come over on charity trips. Tracy [Piggott] was telling us that a few years ago she was over there to take part in a horse race along with another Irish jockey against two Ethiopians.

When they got to the town, there was a huge crowd there and 80 Ethiopian fellas on horses ready to compete in the race. It’s going to be a very different experience.

“The match is one thing we’ll be doing but we’re going to visit a good few cities as well. We’ll be helping in the construction of a school as well and it’s a busy itinerary. I was a little bitapprehensive when I first heard about it but after learning about the country, I’m very much looking forward to it.”

O’Mahony has been involved in an extensive fundraising campaign in recent weeks along with Kilmallock clubmate Mulcahy and has been amazed at the level of generosity.

“Myself and Graeme doubled up in everything we did, and our aim was to break over €7,000 between us. But it’s been brilliant, we’ve got to almost €8,200 now at this point. It’s difficult times for people financially but the response has been fantastic.”

O’Mahony will return to Ireland the day before Limerick open theirWaterford Crystal Cup campaign on February 5 and is not complaining at the thought of missing some gruelling pre-season sessions in poor weather conditions.

“Yeah we’ll miss some of the hard slog at home alright,” laughed the 24-year-old.

“The weather will certainly be better, it’s about 28-29 degrees over there at the moment. But from what I’m led to believe, we’ll be doing plenty physical exercise. The locals that we meet like to go running andwalking with the Irish people, and a short walk for them could be 20 miles. I guess we’ll be doing our own warm-weather training.”