U-21 Hurling Championship launched

The 2010 Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship was launched at Croke Park today where the competition sponsors also unveiled a new team of ambassadors who will support this year’s campaign of activity to promote U-21 hurling.

Wed, 26 May, 2010 - 15:20

The 2010 Bord Gáis Energy Ambassadors are 2009 Breaking Through Player of the Year Darach Honan (Clare), Tipperary stars Noel McGrath and Padraic Maher, Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), Noel Connors (Waterford), Liam Rushe (Dublin), Aidan Walsh (Cork), David Burke (Galway) and Conor Woods (Down).

The ambassadors will be involved in a wide range of activity to support publicity, advertising, promotional and online plans.

After setting last year’s semi-final alight, Galway senior star Joe Canning will play a significant role again this year. A former winner of the competition, Canning will be a new member of the judging panel for the Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player of the Year Awards along with Marty Morrissey from RTE, Micheál O Domhnaill of TG4 and Ger Cunningham, the Sports Sponsorship Manager at Bord Gáis Energy.

Director General of the GAA, Paraic Duffy, is looking forward to the prospect of another action-packed and drama-filled U-21 Championship.

He said: "Last year's U-21 Hurling Championship was one that will live long in the memory not least because of Clare's fantastic breakthrough.

"As we have to come to expect in recent seasons, this grade of hurling has produced some top quality hurling while at the same time providing U-21 players with a perfect stepping stone to the senior ranks. Long may it continue.

"I'd like to acknowledge the passion and energy that our sponsors Bord Gáis Energy bring to this partnership and this year's initiatives provide further evidence of this."

Speaking at the launch, Ger Cunningham commented: "The 2009 U-21 Hurling Championship was one of the most exciting and memorable to date and it was a pleasure to be involved. Bord Gáis Energy is looking forward to more of the same this year and we will be working hard again to promote U-21 hurling and the competition itself which, I know from experience, is a hugely important part of a player’s progression to senior level.

"This is why we have once again used the theme, 'The Energy to Break Through', which perfectly encapsulates what this Championship is about."

The 2010 U-21 Hurling Championship begins with a bang next Wednesday when Cork take on Waterford in a mouth-watering Munster quarter-final clash. The Leinster Championship also kicks off on Wednesday, June 9 when Kilkenny play Offaly and Laois take on Carlow, while Armagh get the Ulster Championship off the ground on Wednesday, June 14 when they play the eventual winner of the Ulster U-21 Shield.

2010 BORD GAIS ENERGY UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES:

Bord Gáis Energy U-21 Leinster Championship -

Wednesday, June 9

Kilkenny v Offaly

Laois v Carlow

Wednesday, June 23

Kilkenny or Offaly v Dublin

Laois or Carlow v Wexford

Wednesday, July 14

Leinster final

Bord Gáis Energy U-21 Munster Championship -

Wednesday, June 2