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.