Mayo GAA announce the new charity partner and All Stars game
Mayo GAA is delighted to announce that the Mayo branch of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association is their new charity partner for 2023.
As part of the support package, Mayo GAA in association with local media will pick a weekly charity All Star team following each round of the Mayo GAA club championships, with the final selection getting a chance to play the Mayo GAA senior football team in December or January.
Mayo GAA County Board chairman Seamus Tuohy said everyone associated with Mayo GAA were delighted to be working with the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association for the next 12 months.
He commented: “Motor Neurone Disease is a life-changing disease and sadly we are all becoming aware of great community and club people who are dealing with the illness. Over the next few months we have a range of different activities planned to fundraise and support the charity and do all we can to raise awareness of the disease and the supports that are out there.”
The charity Mayo GAA All Star team, in association with Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, will feature players from the Mayo GAA junior, intermediate and senior championship, with the final selection playing the Mayo GAA senior football team in a star-studded charity match.
Commenting on the new initiative, Mayo GAA PRO John Walker said there was huge support from the clubs, the local media and all the players.
“It is great to have everyone on board as this is a very worthy cause and we want to do all we can to support the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association,” he said. “The Mayo GAA senior football team and management have given their full support to the charity All Star initiative and wouldn’t it be great if a player or two from the club selection made the senior county panel for next year.”
The final club star selection will get commemorative Mayo GAA jerseys and togs, and will wear their club own socks for the charity match in December/January, with the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association logo on them. Mayo GAA also hope to stream the charity match live on Mayo GAA TV.
The Mayo GAA/Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association Charity All Star Team will be announced every Wednesday following the championship weekend going forward, with the final 26 players to face Mayo announced after the Mayo GAA senior, intermediate and junior finals.
The following team has been chosen after round one of the Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship, the Egan Jewellers Intermediate Fooball Championship and the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre Junior Football Championship: Adrian Phillips (Ballyhaunis); Liam Maloney (Cill Chomáin), Sam Callinan (Ballina Stephenites), David Drake (Ballaghaderreen); Fenton Kelly (Davitts), Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels), Cathal Horan (Kilmovee Shamrocks); Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber), Jason Boylan (Belmullet); Dylan Prendergast (Louisburgh), Jack Fallon (Mayo Gaels), Liam Moran (Swinford); Dylan Morris (Hollymount/Carramore), Aidan O'Shea (Breaffy), Kevin Quinn (Ballinrobe).