'Mighty' Quinn primed for Poc Fada

Former Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn is to take up his hurl again on Saturday, July 3, to take part in this year's All-Ireland Poc Fada event in Ravensdale, Louth.

The 38-year-old Kildare resident, who starred as a corner forward in the Dublin minors' run to the 1983 All-Ireland hurling final and helped his local Eadestown footballers to a junior Division 2 title last season, is "taking the contest very seriously" in the hope of adding to his soccer-dominated trophy cabinet.

The event, which involves 12 hurlers, will take place on the five-kilometre Annaverna mountain course. Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins won the 2004 Poc title - smashing the previous record of Clare stopper Davy Fitzgerald (51) by three pocs.

An Poc Fada local Coiste secretary Pat McGinn said: “This hurling contest began in 1961 with the late Fr Pól MacSeain being the driving force behind it. It is a tribute to all who have endeavoured to continuously stage An Poc Fada that 44 years later the contest is going from strength to strength and is now regarded as one of the high level sporting and cultural events of the GAA calendar."