Nathan Rodgers, Padraic McKeever (Sponsor), Roisin Cahill, Zara Coppinger (Chairperson GCS GAA), Clodagh McManus (McKeever Sports), Dara Burke, Emma Linnane and Eoghan Hanley (GAA Future Leaders National Coordinator).
GORT is to host one of the country’s top underage hurling and camogie tournaments once again.
Finishing touches are underway to the Super 9’s which is organised by Gort Community School’s transition year Future Leaders students and takes place on Tuesday 30th April (camogie) and Thursday May 9th (hurling).
Club and county board representatives from Clare and Galway were present at the recent launch of the Super 9’s. GCS GAA Club Chairperson Zara Coppinger, Committee member Emma Linnane and School Principal Mr. Brian Crossan addressed the audience and gave them an insight into the plan for the Camogie and Hurling Super 9’s.
Galway GAA County Chairperson Paul Bellew, Clare Camogie Chairperson Joe O’Donnell, Galway Camogie Chairperson Brian Griffin and all the club representatives from South Galway and North Clare were present on the night. This was the second launch following an initial event in Croke Park back in March.
The Super 9’s is a festival of hurling and camogie with a carnival atmosphere. Some of the best U15 hurlers and camogie players in the country will be on show on both days, the tournaments take place on the grounds of Gort GAA.
Along with the hurling there will be food vendors, music, skills challenges, a McKeever Sports pop up shop and much more. McKeever Sports have got on board again this year as sponsors and there are some fantastic prizes for the winning teams and best individual players.
Drumline’s Eoghan Hanley is National coordinator of the GAA Future Leaders, he is also the Deputy Principal at Gort Community School. He said, “the Super 9’s, now in its third year, has gone from strength to strength and top players from all over the country will face off in a 9-a-side tournament. The standard of hurling is excellent and it’s great to see the top U15 players in the country play in the one place at the same time. Last year’s hurling player of the tournament was St. Kierans and Kilkenny player Jake Mullen, a brother of county senior Adrian Mullen and the year before was Ardscoil Rís and Clare rising star Marc O’Brien”.
TY student and GCS GAA club chairperson, Zara Coppinger explained, “The transition year pupils have done huge work organising these events over the last few months and are really looking forward to both days. We will be really busy in the lead up and on the days, everything barring the refereeing will be run and taken care of by the Future Leaders students”.
Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns will be present on May 9th in Gort GAA Grounds for the hurling Super 9’s and there is a large crowd expected for both events.
For the camogie tournament on April 30th, there will be four groups of four teams. Group one has St. Brigids College, Loughrea, Loeto Secondary School, Fermoy, St. Patricks College, Maghera and St. Joseph’s, Tulla. Group two will have Presentation College Athenry, Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny and St. Flannans College, Ennis. Group three has Seamount College, Kinvara, Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, Presentation Wexford and Colaiste Mhuire Ennis. Group Four has Gort Community School, Laurel Hill Secondary School, Limerick, Mount Rath Community School, Laois and St. Marys Secondary School, Charleville. Groups 1-3 will have their matches in Gort GAA Club grounds and group 4 will have their games in Kilbeacanty GAA Club Grounds.
The hurling Super 9’s take place on May 9th with the group draw taking place closer to the date. It will contain CBS, The Green, Tralee, St. Flannans College, Ennis, De la Salle College Waterford, St. Josephs College CBS, Nenagh, St Josephs Secondary School, Tulla, Kilkenny CBS, Gort Community School, Seamount College, Kinvara, St. Brigids College, Loughrea, Ard Scoil Ris, Limerick, St. Colmans College Fermoy, Cashel Community School,, St. Kierans College, Kilkenny, John the Baptist CS, Hospital, Presentation College Athenry, Colaiste Eoin, Dublin.
Tickets for both days are available online @gcsgaa on Instagram, X and Facebook. Tickets can also be bought on the day at the gate. The entry fee for supporters is €5 per student and €10 per adult.
