Draw for Football Sevens announced

The draw has been made for the 2006 O'Neills Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens tournament.

Forty-eight of the country's best club teams will converge on south Dublin for the event on Saturday week, September 16, including All-Ireland club champions Salthill-Knocknacarra, Sevens champions St. Gall's of Antrim and other top club sides such as Kerry’s An Ghaeltacht, Wolfe Tones of Bellaghy, Arles-Kilcruise, Castleblaney Faughs and Caltra.

This year, the O’Neills Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens celebrates its 34th anniversary.

The seven-a-side competition is the traditional curtain-raiser to the All-Ireland football final and is a permanent fixture on the GAA calendar.

The tournament is played over one action-packed day at four venues in the Stillorgan area, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all played at Glenalbyn, the home of Kilmacud Crokes.

O'Neills Managing Director Tony Towell, who was present at the draw at Croke Park, said: "This is our fourth year involved as sponsor and the tournament has grown from strength to strength.

"We at O’Neills have been involved in Gaelic games for decades and are delighted to be involved with this unique competition as it gives Ireland's best club players the opportunity to showcase their skills and to compete on one of the most important weekends in the Irish sporting calendar.”

Pauric McMenamin, Chairman of the Kilmacud Crokes' Football Committee, added: "All-Ireland football final weekend is very special to all GAA followers and the Sevens are part and parcel of the weekend. This year promises to be another fantastic tournament with the best clubs from all four provinces competing and showcasing their talents.

"We are delighted that O'Neills have renewed their sponsorship for another three years and it gives them a wonderful platform to be associated with club football after years of association with inter-county teams.”

This year, TG4 is covering the tournament and showing a highlights programme at a later date. Top inter-county referees will officiate and the Artane Boys Band will also be present.

Group games will be played on a league basis. The winner of each group will qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition.

2006 O'Neills Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens:

Group 1: Ballina Stephenites (Mayo), Moy (Tyrone), Mattock Rangers (Louth), Kickhams (Antrim)

Group 2: An Ghaeltacht (Kerry), Clan na nGael (Tyrone), St. Peters (Meath), Carbury (Kildare)

Group 3: St. Gall's (Antrim), St. Judes (Dublin), Latton O'Rahilly (Monaghan), Annaghdown (Galway)

Group 4: Salthill-Knocknacarra (Galway), Castlewellan (Down), Naomh Conall (Donegal), St. Mary's (Kildare)

Group 5: Longstone (Down), Thomas Davis (Dublin), Naomh Aban (Cork), Knockmore (Mayo)

Group 6: Wolfe Tones (Derry), An Riocht (Down), St. Brigid's (Roscommon), Castleisland Desmonds (Kerry)

Group 7: Arles-Kilcruise (Laois), Downpatrick (Down), St. Olafs (Dublin), Coolera-Strandhill (Sligo)

Group 8: Ballinascreen (Derry), Skryne (Meath), Gaoth Dobhair (Donegal), St. Patricks (Louth)

Group 9: Klimacud Crokes (Dublin), Kilcoo (Down), Kingscourt (Cavan), Breaffy (Mayo)

Group 10: Castleblaney Faughs (Monaghan), St. Marks (Dublin), Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway), Athlone (Westmeath)

Group 11: Allenwood (Kildare), St. Endas (Tyrone), Bryansford (Down), Dromard (Longford)

Group 12: Caltra (Galway), Clan na Gael (Armagh), Baltinglass (Wicklow), Rathvilly (Carlow)

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