Boston GAA expecting huge boost as All Stars come to town

Some of the country’s top footballing talent fly to Boston this morning ahead of Saturday’s exhibition game between the GAA/GPA All Stars of 2014 and 2013.

Jim Gavin, Dublin manager, will take charge of the 2013 All Star team, while Mayo’s James Horan will manage the 2014 selection.

Though recovering from shoulder surgery, Footballer of the Year, James O’Donoghue is also on the trip along with the 2013 winner Michael Darragh McCauley.

GAA President Liam O’Neill, President elect Aogain Ó Fearghaill and GPA President, Dermot Early will head the delegation.

The game will be played at the Irish Cultural Centre, Canton, Boston, on Saturday (6.30pm Irish time).

Boston and New York will play a curtain raiser to the main event.

Boston Northeast Board Chairman, John Cunningham, feels that the event represents a massive opportunity for the local division to promote and grow the games in the region.

“As we continue to grow our games in the Northeast it is vital that we be able to host more games of this magnitude and I am confident that everyone will see from this game that we are more than capable of doing so.

“By allowing us to host inter-county games it will greatly enable us to promote the GAA and advertise our underage programmes to a greater audience. It also affords our underage players the chance to meet and practice with top calibre players from the GAA, and will encourage them to continue playing the games into adult level.”

2013 ALL STAR 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 ALL STAR 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).