GAA clubs swing into action

THE single biggest golf tournament for GAA clubs takes place this weekend, when representatives from Roscommon, Cavan, Cork and Kildare battle it out at the FBD All-Ireland Golf Challenge final at Faithlegg, Co Waterford.

Connacht Champions St Aidan's GAA Club, Roscommon will pitch their skills against the winning provincial teams of Cavan Gaels GAA Club, Midleton GAA Club and Kill GAA Club from Kildare.

GAA president Seán Kelly will be on hand tomorrow to formally open the final stages of the competition, which is also backed by the Irish Examiner and Waterford Crystal.

The competition, which is in its fifth year, started from relatively humble beginnings, according to organiser Liam Daniels, when it was hard to get any Ulster or Connacht clubs to enter. "In fact, we had no Ulster entries the first year and only a handful from Connacht. "Thankfully that situation changed very quickly," he said, "to the point where we have in excess of 30 clubs from every province entering - just five years down the road."

Midleton are the first club to win back-to-back provincial titles and this will be their second successive appearance as a result. But they will be going for more than back-to-back provincial titles as they are also the reigning All-Ireland title holders and if they win this weekend, they will become the first holders to retain their crown.

Under the format of the competition, Midleton will face Kill tomorrow in the fourball better-ball (three-quarter handicap) stableford competition. St. Aidan's will face Cavan Gaels tomorrow, while on Sunday, Midleton will face St. Aidan's and Kill will play Cavan Gaels.The team with the most accumulated points at the end of play will be crowned champions.