Poc Fada champion Cummins faces stiff competition

Defending champion Brendan Cummins, who is chasing his seventh All-Ireland Poc Fada title, will have to beat some of hurling's best talents in the final on Annaverna Mountain next month.

The 2013 M Donnelly-sponsored All-Ireland Poc Fada finals will take place on Saturday August 3 in Cooley, County Louth at 11am.

A number of Ireland's top inter-county goalkeepers - title holder Cummins, retired Cork great Donal Óg Cusack, 2011 All-Star Gary Maguire of Dublin, 2012 All-Star Anthony Nash from Cork and Connacht Poc Fada winner James Skehill of Galway - will be battling out to become this year's winner.

The provincial Poc Fada champions - Skehill, Eoin Reilly (Laois), Stevie Brenner (Waterford) and Sean McBride (Derry) - will also participate in this year's event as will the four provincial runners-up: Patrick McKillion (Tyrone), Andrew Fahey (Clare), Gerry Fallon (Roscommon) and Cillian Kiely (Offaly).

Patricia Jackman of Waterford will be attempting to make history by winning her fifth M. Donnelly Camogie Poc Fada title in-a-row.

However, she will be lining out against a strong field which includes Catriona Daly (Galway), Deirdre Colfer (Limerick), Martine McMahon (Wexford), Catriona Mc Crickard (Down), Bronagh Mone (Armagh) and Niamh Mackin (Louth).

The M. Donnelly Under-16 All-Ireland Poc Fada will see Jack Coyne (Galway), Kevin McDonald (Carlow), Adam O'Brien (Limerick) and Donal McKernan (Antrim) compete for the prestigious title.

Speaking at the launch, GAA President Liam Ó Néill said: "There are few events in our diary that stand out from the rest of our activities in the same way as the Poc Fada.

"With the contestants including some of the highest profile hurlers in our game who are participating at a time of the year when their season reaches fever pitch, in itself says everything about the importance they place on their involvement.

"I would also like to thank Martin Donnelly for his continued support of the competition, now in his 17th year sponsoring the finals in the Cooley Mountains. Also to our partners TopFlight whose involvement has raised the profile of both the county and provincial finals."

Humphrey Kelleher, Chairman of the National Poc Fada Committee, added: "Poc Fada is one of our finest traditions and we in the GAA, whether it be at club, county, provincial or national level have a responsibility to cherish and develop it to the best of our ability.

"It is incumbent upon us all to pass on to the next generation this intrinsic part of our Gaelic games culture in a healthy and vibrant state."

The draw details, along with other Poc Fada information, are available at www.pocfada.gaa.ie.