AIB began their countdown to the 2022 GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final yesterday when bringing Barry John Keane and Gary Sice together to discuss the prospects of both their counties in Sunday’s decider.
The activation theme this year, the 31st year of partnership with the GAA has been to pay homage to the players of our national games, celebrating their remarkable commitment and dedication displayed week after week, season after season, year after year.
A series of mini-documentaries have told the stories of players including Sean Mulkerrin’s round trips from the Aran Islands to play for Galway and will conclude later today when the story of Kerry footballer Stefan Okunbor.
The talented youngster, whose father and mother hail from Nigeria and Moldova respectively, talks through his journey in Gaelic Games so far.
After spending time Down Under in the AFL, Okunbor is back in the Kerry squad and will hope to add another chapter to his story this Sunday as he readies himself for his first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.
Galway will be playing in their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final since 2001, when the current manager, Padraic Joyce, led his team to victory over Meath on a scoreline of 0-17 to 0-08. It is also a repeat pairing of the 2000 final, which saw Kerry see off Galway by four points after a replay, so the men from the West will be hoping to gain a measure of revenge on the Kingdom this weekend.
Crowned Connacht Champions in May following an impressive win over Roscommon, Galway have delivered shock after shock throughout this campaign. It took 90 minutes of breath-taking football and a penalty shootout to separate Galway from Armagh in what was a quarter-final for the ages, before the Tribesmen displayed their perseverance by overcoming Ulster champions Derry to secure their place in Croke Park this Sunday.
Kerry booked their spot in Croke Park, beating their heavyweights and historic rivals Dublin last Saturday with an unforgettable long-range free from Sean O’Shea.
The Kingdom retained their Munster Championship title with a convincing win over Cork in Páirc Uí Rinn, before the green and gold delivered a clinical display in the final against Limerick. In the quarter-final, Kerry faced a sterner test against Mayo, ultimately overcoming the 2021 finalists on a scoreline of 1-18 to 0-13.
Winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship a record 37 times, Kerry will be hoping to bring the Sam Maguire cup back to Munster for the first time since 2014.
“AIB is extremely proud to sponsor the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final for the eighth time, with the 2022 Championship delivering another season of inspired action,” said CEO Colin Hunt.
“Our sponsorship programme this season has celebrated #TheToughest players in Gaelic Games, with both The Drive and Tailteann Cup: Mic’d Up series highlighting the extraordinary lengths to which players go for their clubs and counties.”
“We are all really looking forward to what promises to be a thrilling game between Kerry and Galway. Two footballing powerhouses, the Tribesmen and the Kingdom always bring an intense atmosphere to match-day with their passion and powerful support. We wish both teams the very best of luck.”
“After an exciting season, made special by the return of the wonderful fans to stadiums throughout the country, we are delighted to be looking ahead to another GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final,” added GAA President Larry McCarthy.
“It is a fixture guaranteed to deliver thrilling action, and one that will be a showcase of the exceptional abilities of players from both counties. This is a match that will excite fans not just in Kerry and Galway but around the world.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank AIB for their long-standing support of Gaelic Games. They continue to capture the imagination with best-in-class content and activation that elevates our national games and the players who play them. Finally, I wish the players and fans of both Kerry and Galway the best of luck this coming weekend. It is days like this Sunday that show what Gaelic Games mean to the people of this country and the global GAA. We cannot wait for the action to begin – may the best team win.”
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