ALL STARS: JOHN, JOE AND JIM
JIM McGUINNESS has spoke of his excitement ahead of his Donegal stars taking on the rest of Ulster in the Match for Michaela on Saturday week – and named a strong team for the clash.
Up to 30,000 spectators are expected for the game has all been organised in support of Michaela McAreavey, who was murdered on honeymoon in Mauritius in January 2011.
Funds will go to the Michaeal Foundation which helps young people throughout Ireland.
“From our point of view it’s great to be All-Ireland champions because it gives us the opportunity to participate in the game and when Mickey came up to me at the Ulster All Stars the first thing I said was anything we can do to help,” Jim McGuinness said.
“We are hoping to put out as strong a team as possible.
“Fingers crossed we will get the best team out possible. Obviously we are going to need to with the calibre of opposition the lads will be going out against but fingers crossed it will be a good run out for the province as well in terms of their preparation for the cup.”
Michaela’s husband John said: “It will give us much needed proceeds.
“We can roll out our camps throughout Ireland and looking to the future, we have big plans. We are very much looking forward to delivering those plans. We have already started with a summer camp, Michaela Girls Summer Camp in Tyrone this year, we are planning to roll out next year and long term we want the camps to be in every county in Ireland.”
A huge crowd is expected but it is hoped some tickets will be available on the day.
Mr McAreavey said those who turn out won’t be disappointed.
He continued: “We have got Janet Devlin singing, we have More Power to Your Elbow and we have a few other things that are happening but we don’t want to give too much away.
“I believe that the audience would be left feeling very excited by the end of the night.”
Here’s the star line-ups for both teams:
Donegal: Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Eamonn McGee, Thomas McKinley; Frank McGlynn, Karl Lacey, Declan Walsh; Christy Toye, Neil Gallagher; Daniel McLaughlin, Adrian Hanlon, Ryan Bradley; Patrick Mc Brearty, Michael Murphy, David Walsh.
Subs: Michael Boyle, Antoine McFadden, Mark McHugh, Peter Withrow, Martin McElhinney, Stephen Griffin, Barry Dunnion, Martin O’Reilly, Gary McFadden, Peter McGee
Tickets are available www.tickets.gaa.ie, from County Boards and GAA clubs and from participating Supervalu and Centra stores nationwide. Tickets are priced at £10/€10 for adults and £5/€5 for children.
Ulster: Brendan McVeigh (An Dún); Ryan McCloskey (Fear Manach), Dan Gordon (An Dún), Chrissy McKaigue (Doíre); Ciaran McKeever (Ard Mhacha), Darren Hughes (Muineacháin, Captain), James Loughrey (Aontroim); Sean Cavanagh (Tír Eoghain), David Gibney (An Cabhán); Colm Cavanagh (Tír Eoghain), Mark Poland (An Dún), Joe McMahon (Tír Eoghain); Martin Penrose (Tír Eoghain), Michael McCann (Dún na nGall), Conor McManus (Muineachán).
Subs: Niall Morgan (Tír Eoghain), Conor Gormley (Tír Eoghain), Vinny Corey (Muineachán), Brendan Donaghy (Ard Mhacha), Ambrose Rogers (An Dún), Gearoid McKiernan (An Cabhán), Brendan Coulter (An Dún)
