Crokes gearing up for football sevens

Having hosted the All-Ireland Hurling Sevens last weekend, Dublin club Kilmacud Crokes are already gearing up for Saturday week's football equivalent.

The 33rd year of the Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens takes place in Glenalbyn, and 48 teams are set to battle it out, including 2004 champions Corofin (Galway).

Among the teams taking part are current All-Ireland club champions Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) and the side they succeeded, Caltra of Galway. Former Sevens winners Aghada (Cork), and Down pair Castlewellan and Bryansford will also be in action as will Castleisland Desmonds from Kerry.

A special match will also be held between RTÉ presenter Jimmy Magee's All-stars and a Jimmy Deenihan-captained Leinster House team.

2005 KILMACUD CROKES ALL-IRELAND FOOTBALL SEVENS:

Group 1: Castleblaney Faughs (Monaghan), St Mary's (Sligo), Clan na Gael (Tyrone), Gracefield (Offaly).

Group 2: Corofin (Galway), Lucan Sarsfields (Dublin), Slaughtneil (Derry), St Davogs (Tyrone).

Group 3: Caltra (Galway), Longstone (Down), Leixlip (Kildare), Denn (Cavan).

Group 4: Killererin (Galway), Downpatrick (Down), Glenullin (Derry), Cortown (Meath).

Group 5: Castlewellan (Down), Tullamore (Offaly), Tourlestrane (Sligo), An Tochair (Wicklow).

Group 6: Mullaghbawn (Armagh), Allenwood (Kildare), Athlone (Westmeath), Parnells (London).

Group 7: Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), Ardara (Donegal), Clonduff (Down), Bannow Ballymitty (Wexford).

Group 8: Ballina Stephenites (Mayo), Clan na Gael (Armagh), Rathvilly (Carlow), St Patrick's (Louth).

Group 9: Bryansford (Down), Skyrne (Meath), St Endas (Tyrone), Bray Emmets (Wicklow).

Group 10: Ballinascreen (Derry), Rhode (Offaly), St Olafs (Dublin), Castleisland Demsonds (Kerry).

Group 11: Aodh Ruadh (Donegal), Kilmainhamwood (Meath), St Galls (Antrim), Clashmore Kinsalebeg (Waterford).

Group 12: Arles-Kilcruise (Laois), Kilcoo (Down), Kingscourt (Cavan), Clonguish (Longford).

Venues: Glenalbyn (Groups 1, 2), St Benildus College (Groups 3, 4), Silverpark (Groups 5, 6, 7, 8), Clonkeen College (Groups 9, 10, 11, 12).