THE GAA match of the year – at least where Leinster House is concerned – takes place this afternoon in Croke Park when Jimmy Deenihan’s all party Oireachtas team takes on Martin McHugh’s media selection.
The teams are top of the bill in an afternoon of hurling, camogie and football to celebrate the 125th anniversary of CIE’s association with the GAA.
Multiple All-Ireland winner Deenihan has a 25-strong panel at his disposal. Donegal TD Joe McHugh had to pull out because he is attending the boat launch in Greencastle. “As a Donegal man, I would have been employing a very defensive style. Jimmy is probably glad to see the back of me because he will be able to apply his all-out attacking philosophy,” Joe tells us.
The Oireachtas All Stars are top heavy with Fine Gaelers, including Pat Deering, Martin Heydon, Jerry Buttimer, Noel Harrington, Michael Darcy and John O’Mahony; Fianna Fáil is fielding five representatives: Niall Collins, Mark Daly, Brian Ó Domhnaill, Charlie McConalogue and Billy Kelleher; Labour’s Aodhan O’Riordan and James Heffernan are flying the red flag while Senator Eamonn Coghlan is the sole Independent.
“Jimmy is taking this very seriously. He’s ordered blue jerseys for us and he was insisting on customised shorts. We all had to give our waist measurement.” Too much information.
Meanwhile, Donegal great-turned-pundit, Martin McHugh, also has a huge panel to call upon. Names include Marty Morrissey, Jason Sherlock, Pat Gilroy, Joe Brolly, Colm O’Rourke, Jack O’Connor, Eoin “Bomber” Liston, Barney Rock, Peter Canavan, Jack O’Shea, Adrian Eames, Darren Frehill, Paul Early and Jimmy McGee.
Proceeds from the day go to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
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