All-Ireland hurling sevens launched

The All-Ireland Hurling final weekend will kick off in south Dublin with the staging of the AIB All-Ireland Hurling Sevens.

The annual competition is a curtain-raiser to the clash of Kilkenny and Cork.

Teams from as far as north Antrim and south Cork travel to Stillorgan club Kilmacud Crokes on September 13.

"It is a wonderful start to the whole national hurling weekend, bringing great clubs and great players together to compete for what is regarded as the definitive national hurling sevens competition," said Tom McIntyre, hurling section chairman.

With clubs like James Stephens, St Martins and Dicksboro from Kilkenny and Ballincollig, Killeagh, Midleton and Sarsfields from Cork, the weekend promises to be something special.

Notable hurlers on display will be Fergal Healy and Ollie Canning from Galway, the McGrath brothers from Waterford and the Kellys and Brian O’Meara from Tipperary to name but a few.

Eoin Kelly from Mullinahone, last year's champions, is looking forward to the day: "It's always a great competition and we are looking forward to defending our title."

Eddie Brennan and Martin Comerford, who attended the launch, won’t be playing this year.

"Fortunately we have a previous appointment the following day so we will have to wait for another year," quipped Brennan.