It gives me great pleasure
to welcome you all to Croke
Park today on what is a
huge weekend for the GAA
Hurling Championship.
This evening we have
the first instalment of
our weekend bonanza of
hurling and by close of play
tomorrow evening the two
finalists should be known as
the countdown to August 18
commences.
It has been another great
year for hurling with the
Leinster championship
capturing the imagination
in a way that the Munster
competition did last year.
That we have an equal
split of counties from the
two provinces competing
in semi-finals gives
some indication of the
competitive nature of both
championships – and long
may it continue.
Kilkenny and Limerick have
served up some incredible
clashes in recent seasons;
in many ways Limerick’s
success last year in Thurles
over the Cats was the
making of this team.
In a change to previous years
it’s Limerick who will come
with the mantle of favourites
after All-Ireland, league and
Munster successes in the last
11 months and maintaining
those sky-high performance
levels will be the ambition for
John Kiely’s team.Kilkenny came up short in
their own provincial final
but went some way towards
making amends with a
quarter-final success over
Cork two weeks ago.
We expect another exhibition
of high-intensity hurling
today.Before the senior action
the minors of the same
two counties will parade
their skills in pursuit of an
All-Ireland final day out and
we look forward to seeing
the emerging talent in both
counties.Best of luck to the players
of all four teams competing
and to everyone involved in
their respective management
teams.Similarly, we wish the match
officials well with their all-
important roles.A special word of thanks
to our partners Bord
Gáis Energy, Centra and
Littlewoods Ireland (senior)
and Electric Ireland (minor).Finally, thank you for your
attendance at today’s
game. Your presence and
enthusiasm help make these
big matches the special days
they are and your ongoing
support is valued by Cumann
Lúthchleas Gael.Go raibh maith agaibh go léir
agus bainigí sult as na cluichí
inniu agus as seo amach.RÉAMHFHOCAL ÓN UACHTARÁN
Is cúis mhór áthais dom fáilte chroíúil a chur romhaibh
go léir go Páirc an Chrócaigh inniu i gcomhair deireadh
seachtaine ollmhór don iomáint.
Seán Ó hÓráin
Uachtarán
Cumann Lúthchleas Gael