Lift-off imminent for Mayo in Electric Ireland GAA Celtic Challenge

The 2023 Electric Ireland GAA Celtic Challenge hurling competition gets underway on Saturday (April 8), with Mayo one of 38 teams from 30 counties taking part in one of the most innovative developmental initiatives within the GAA calendar.

The Electric Ireland GAA Celtic Challenge has played an integral role in expanding the games programme for top tier and developing counties since 2016.

An Under 17 developmental competition, the group format provides teams with the opportunity to play three games over the space of three weekends.

Quarterfinal pairings are performance-based, with counties playing up to six games in the competition.

Counties have the opportunity to enter multiple teams, with the success of this model clearly evidenced in 2022 as there was success right across the tiers. Cork North, Wicklow Blue and Kildare Lilywhites joined Tipperary, Offaly and Sligo in claiming honours.

Cork, who have again entered four sides in the Celtic Challenge along with one team in the All-Ireland minor championship, are an example of counties providing a great opportunity for the players in their pathway.

The Kildare resurgence in hurling is being rewarded for their efforts in fielding three Celtic Challenge sides alongside a minor team, whilst Wicklow and Offaly have entered two teams as they work towards creating more players of inter-county standard within their counties.

The Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge is named in recognition of the original juvenile hurling club known as ‘Celtic’. The divisional trophies are named in memory of six of the 14 civilians who were killed at Croke Park on Bloody Sunday (November 21, 1920): Michael Hogan (24), Tom Hogan (27), John William Scott (14), William Robinson (11), Jerome O’Leary (10) and Michael Feery (40).

Mayo's group games are against Kildare Cadets (away) this Saturday (April 8), Donegal (away) on Saturday week, April 15, and Meath Royals (home) on Saturday, April 22.

GAA president Larry McCarthy said: “The Celtic Challenge plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of hurling talent. It gives more players the opportunity to play and to test themselves not only in a competitive environment, but at a level in which they can compete.

“For our established counties it broadens the net for them to try out players. For our emerging counties there is the chance to develop talent and make progress. Landmark events like Naas winning an intermediate club championship last year and Kildare being in an Allianz National League final, or Tooreen of Mayo and Easkey of Sligo contesting intermediate and junior club hurling finals at Croke Park this year, show that the hard work being done by clubs to grow the game is working.

“Last year, Wicklow deservedly made headlines by reaching two Celtic Challenge finals and winning one, and I know that in a recent league outing they had 12 of their starting team who had come through the Celtic Challenge ranks. It shows how beneficial it can be. For a young competition it has already left its mark, and I want to thank our partners, Electric Ireland, for their assistance in helping us to grow this competition.”

GAA director of coaching and games, Shane Flanagan, added: “The Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge is an integral part of the GAA developmental programme. The competition provides a meaningful games programme for all counties and ensures that there is an appropriate pathway for players from developing counties to play inter-county hurling against top tier sides.

“Additionally, it allows Tier 1 counties to have additional players outside of their inter-county minor squads, therefore widening their base of players.

“We have seen multiple success stories in recent years through the competition and our finals days always produce some top-quality games as part of a festival of hurling.”

Speaking at the launch, Sarah Sharkey, group sponsorship and PR manager for Electric Ireland, said: “At Electric Ireland, we are passionate about supporting the youth and development of Gaelic games players, which is why we are delighted to be launching our second year as sponsor of the Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge Cup. We understand just how important these developmental competitions are for young players and hope that the Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge Cup can represent a pivotal and memorable time in these players’ lives, paving the way for future successes on and off the pitch.”

Following the group stages, all teams qualify for a quarterfinal on Saturday, May 6. Winners will then advance to their respective semi-finals on Saturday, May 13, with the finals taking place on Saturday, May 27. The full list of fixtures can be found at www.gaa.ie/celticchallenge.