GAA: The Vodafone All Stars touring party, made up of 32 players from 11 counties, set for San Francisco next Wednesday to play in a challenge match against the 2007 side was finalised today with Pat O'Shea and Mickey Harte named as managers of the '07 and '08 teams respectively.
Fourteen players were added to the tour as replacements for players who are unable to travel due to work or personal commitments and as injury cover.
The touring party will fly out from Dublin next Wednesday morning for the week-long tour. The highlight will be the encounter between the back-to-back football All Stars to mark the official opening of the San Francisco GAA headquarters, Páirc na nGael on Sunday, December 7th. Armagh referee Jimmy McKee has been appointed to officiate in the match.
GAA President Nickey Brennan, who will be making his last All Stars trip as President, said that the tour is also a wonderful opportunity for ex-pats to get to see some of the greatest players in the game today up close in a city which hosted the first All Stars tour in 1972.
"The GAA All Stars tour is not just about honouring the stars of the game in any given year but it is also very special for Irish people living in host cities as they can get a real slice of home, which is all the more special coming up to Christmas," said Brennan.
"We are very excited about the tour and I know that the players are really looking forward to the break and also to the game. There will be a very warm welcome for them and I have no doubt they will be wonderful ambassadors for the Association."
Fixtures for the new Allianz national football and hurling leagues were also announced today following the GAA's Central Council meeting.
The action commences under the Croke Park floodlights with the meeting of All- Ireland football champions Tyrone set to take on Leinster champions Dublin on Saturday, January 31st, 2009.
The GAA's 125th Anniversary celebrations will also be launched the same evening at headquarters.
The remaining first round games in the football league will be played on Sunday, February 1st, 2009.
The national hurling league gets underway the following Sunday (February 8th) while the division one clash between Tipperary and Cork on Saturday, February 14th will mark the first floodlit game of the new campaign at Semple Stadium.
2008 All Stars touring party:
2007 All Stars: Marc Ó Sé, Darragh Ó Sé and Colm Cooper (Kerry); Kevin McCloy and Paddy Bradley (Derry); Graham Canty (Cork); Barry Cahill (Dublin); Stephen Bray (Meath); Tommy Freeman (Monaghan).
2008 All Stars: Conor Gormley, Justin McMahon, Brian Dooher, Seán Cavanagh, Davy Harte and Enda McGinley (Tyrone); Gary Connaughton and John Keane (Westmeath); Shane Ryan (Dublin).
Replacements: Michael Cussen, Nicholas Murphy and Donncha O'Connor (Cork); Redmond Barry and Ciaran Lyng (Wexford); Ryan McCluskey and Martin McGrath (Fermanagh); Ryan McMenamin and Colm McCullagh (Tyrone); David Henry (Dublin); Seamus Scanlon (Kerry); John Doyle (Kildare); Brendan Murphy (Meath); and Dessie Mone (Monaghan)
Managers: Mickey Harte (Tyrone), Pat O'Shea (Kerry).
Referee: Jimmy McKee (Armagh)