Leinster GAA have announced a three year extension of their partnership with Bord na Móna as sponsors of the Leinster GAA Series which incorporates the O’Byrne, Walsh and Kehoe Cups in January.
The pre-season tournaments have traditionally been a way to blood young players ahead of the Allianz Leagues and Championship games of high summer.
New Wexford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald was on hand at the launch yesterday and will have his first competitive outing on the sideline for his new county against UCD in the opening match of the Walsh Cup on January 8th.
Kilkenny take on DCU on the same day while Dublin will be shorn of its seven Cuala players as they prepare for an AIB All ireland Club Championship semi final against Slaughtniel in early February.
The O’Byrne Cup senior football title was the only crown to evade Jim Gavin’s Dublin in 2016 with the Dubs being taken out by Longford in the semi-finals who later fell to a dominant Meath in the final.
Following a positive response from supporters it has been decided to maintain the new format for the O’Byrne Cup which will see County and College teams divided into groups and with mid-week matches taking place to reach the semi-finals.
The football games will represent the first time that supporters see the newly introduced ‘Mark’ being used.
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Bord na Móna for the next three years,” said Leinster GAA Chairman and candidate for the next president of the GAA John Horan.
“They understand the importance of community and the work that we do to enable our clubs and members to be the best they can be.”
“The O’Byrne Cup football trophy has been competed for since 1954 and the Tom Walsh Cup has existed since 1956 and Kehoe Cup since 1977. Between them they have played a crucial role in Leinster GAA as the proceeds generated by attendances is used in a special fund that looks to benefit ordinary GAA people in Leinster who are in dire need of assistance.
“These are special competitions that have a crucial place in the calendar because in both codes they act as a vital dress rehearsal for the start of the national leagues and provide a warmly welcome outlet for supporters who have been starved of seeing their county play since the summer.
“We are delighted to be title sponsors of the Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup, Bord na Móna Walsh Cup, and the Bord na Móna Kehoe Cup,” added Bord na Mona’s Pat Fitzgerald.
“This sponsorship began in 2012 and saw us become the first title sponsor in the competitions long history and continues our strong association with the GAA. The growth and success of our association in the last few years made it a natural decision to extend our relationship with Leinster GAA.
“Bord na Móna has a long-standing presence and involvement with the people of Leinster in every community and county through our employees and customers. We live in these communities, we work in these communities and we are deeply invested in creating the brightest possible future that we possibly can.”
