A competitive game in Kenya?

Last year's inaugural Plant the Planet Games raised over EUR500,000, paying for one million trees to be planted to tackle the effects of climate change.

COMPETITIVE GAME IN KENYA: Helping launch the Plant the Planet Games in Dublin are, from left, former Dublin footballer Lyndsey Davey, Limerick hurler Dan Morrissey, Warriors for Humanity chief executive and Founder Alan Kerins, Gaelic Players Association chief executive Tom Parsons, Cork camogie player Libby Coppinger and Roscommon footballer Ciaran Murtagh. They are part of the Warriors for Humanity group who will travel to the east African country on November 17th, as they aim to plant trees to tackle the devastating effects of climate change and raise awareness of the work of Self Help Africa. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Former Galway dual star Alan Kerins hopes it could be a runner in the coming years as he prepares to bring 50 current or former inter-county players back to the African country on November 17.

Last year's inaugural Plant the Planet Games raised more than €500,000, paying for one million trees to be planted to tackle the effects of climate change.

Each player pledged to raise at least €10,000 and the terms are the same for this year's crew of 50 inter-county football, hurling, ladies football and camogie players.

Cork dual player Libby Coppinger is among the group, along with Limerick hurling star Dan Morrissey and Roscommon footballer Ciarain Murtagh.

A historic first ever inter-county game including players from all four codes took place last year, the first of its kind in Africa.

Among this year's activities is a soccer match against AFC Leopards, one of Kenya's best teams.

Kerins, founder of the games and the Warriors for Humanity charity, said it has always been his 'dream' to host a competitive GAA fixture in Africa.

"I always wanted, or had a vision, or a dream really to bring an inter-county game or an All-Star trip or training camp or something along those lines to Africa, so we came up with this Plant the Planet Games," said Kerins, who agreed that the currently parked Railway Cup interprovincial competition could potentially be revived there.

"That's something we might explore down the line, it would be great. You could definitely get pitches and you could go to countries where it'd be suitable, where there would be suitable pitches. We played in Nairobi rugby grounds last year.

"This year the location is one of the universities and we're playing the AFC Leopards so that's going to be a highlight."

Tyrone All-Ireland winner Conor Meyler is scheduled to take part in the trip. Kerins reckons the hard running half-forward will enjoy heading to the home of running.

Last year's group had a reception with Brother Colm, the Patrician monk from Cork who has coached a series of world renowned long distance runners. A number of them were on hand to greet the inter-county players.

"Last year we ran with the world 10,000 metre champion and a couple of young world champions, youth world champions, we went for a seven kilometre run," said Kerins. "It was a gentle run but watching the Kenyans run, they barely touched the ground, they're so light-footed compared to us, so graceful, the efficiency.

"Conor Meyler is a real student of the game and a student of performance. He'd love that stuff. He is due to come this year, he is having knee surgery so his participation is in doubt at the moment but they're all fascinated, the Aidan O'Sheas, the Sean Finns, the Ashling Thompsons, they were all fascinated by the exposure to elite athletes in the athletic world and how altitude affected their own breathing when they were running. It was tough going for some of them."

* Corporate sponsors wishing to support individual players at the Plant the Planet games should contact [e-mail]. You can also buy the specially commissioned McKeever jerseys at https://portaleur.myshopify.com/collections/wfh