Eight Dubs heading to Toronto ..
- Feb 07,2012
The Ladies Gaelic Football Association announces Toronto as the destination for the 2012 All Star Tour.
The Ladies Gaelic Football Association, in conjunction with the Canadian GAA Board and Toronto GAA, are delighted to announce that the 2012 TG4/O'Neill's All Star Tour will be travelling to Toronto from the 23rd to the 31st of May 2012. The Canadian GAA Board and Toronto GAA are delighted to be the destination of choice for the Stars of Ladies Gaelic and will be hosting the 70 strong touring parties for the duration of their stay in Canada.
The itinerary for the week will include a variety of activities that will allow guests to see all the attractions of Toronto and experience a taste of Canadian life. From a Ladies Football perspective the highlight of the week will be the All Star game that will be held in Centennial Park on Sunday the 26th of May. This will see the 2010 TG4/O'Neill's All Stars take on the 2011 TG4/O'Neill's All Stars.
The All Star game serves a dual purpose. Firstly it provides an occasion for the top performers in Ireland to play alongside their usual rivals in a competitive yet enjoyable environment. Secondly the high skill level which will be displayed gives Canadian players and managers, many of whom are very new to the game, the chance to see Ladies Gaelic Football at its best.
It has also been decided that the Canadian GAA Board will nominate 4 Canadian players to join the All Star panels and participate in the exhibition match. This will be a great honour for the lucky overseas players who are chosen as they will play with the best exponents of Ladies Gaelic Football.
The All Star game will not be the only football action taking place during the week. The All Star players along with members of the Games Development Team in Croke Park will be undertaking various coaching and development projects in order to assist the advancement of Ladies Gaelic Football in Canada.
President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association Pat Quill said that ‘the bi-annual All Star trip has become a highlight of the Ladies Gaelic calendar and the Association must thank TG4 and O'Neill's for their continued support of the event. It is a great reward for our players who work so hard during the year to produce fantastic Championship performances. It also provides the Association with a unrivalled opportunity to promote our game abroad and what better way to promote than to exhibit the game being played at the highest level.'
Ladies Gaelic will have an extra special tour guide during their stay. 2010 All Star Full Back Lorraine Muckian left for Canada in early 2011 to advance her professional career. Shortly after arriving in Canada Lorraine became a fully-fledged member of the Vancouver Harps Club.
The Ladies Gaelic Football Association is eagerly awaiting the trip. With so many Irish people currently living in Canada, a Ladies Gaelic Football scene that is growing by the minute, and the enthusiasm and hospitality already shown by the Canadian and Toronto GAA boards, Canada is an ideal destination for the 2012 All Star tour.
2011 TG4/O'Neill's All Star Team:
Please note that dual All Stars are replaced by All Star nominees from the same year.
Goalkeeper: Irene Munnelly (Meath)
Right Corner Back: Gráinne McNally (Monaghan) Full Back: Sharon Courtney (Monaghan) Left Corner Back: Deirdre O'Reilly (Cork) Right Half Back: Briege Corkery (Cork) Centre Half Back: BrÃd Stack (Cork) [Replaced by Aisling Leonard (Kerry)] Left Half Back: Geraldine O'Flynn (Cork)
Midfield: Juliet Murphy (Cork)
Midfield: Tracey Lawlor (Laois) [Replaced by Aisling Holton (Kildare)]
Right Half Forward: Therese McNally (Monaghan) Centre Half Forward: Elaine Kelly (Dublin) Left Half Forward: Mary Kirwan (Laois) Right Corner Forward: Ciara McAnespie (Monaghan) Full Forward: Rhona Nà Bhuachalla (Cork) Left Corner Forward: Sinéad Aherne (Dublin) [Replaced by Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh (Kerry)]
Substitutes: Gráinne Dunne (Laois), Sinéad Goldrick (Dublin), Fiona Mahon (Meath), Aisling Doonan (Cavan), Amy O'Shea (Cork)
2010 TG4/O'Neill's All Star Team:
Goalkeeper: Edel Murphy (Kerry)
Right Corner Back: Rachel Ruddy (Dublin) Full Back: Lorraine Muckian (Laois) Left Corner Back: Sinead McLaughlin (Tyrone) Right Half Back: Siobhan McGrath (Dublin) Centre Half Back: BrÃd Stack (Cork) Left Half Back: Gemma Fay (Dublin)
Midfield: Denise Masterson (Dublin)
Midfield: Tracey Lawlor (Laois)
Right Half Forward: Cathy Donnelly (Tyrone) Centre Half Forward: Gemma Begley (Tyrone) Left Half Forward: Amy McGuinness (Dublin) Right Corner Forward: Yvonne McMonagle (Donegal) Full Forward: Sinead Aherne (Dublin) Left Corner Forward: Joline Donnelly (Tyrone)
Substitutes: Laurissa Hogan (Waterford), Ciara Hegarty (Donegal), Bernie Breen (Kerry), Michelle Ryan (Waterford), Niamh Keane (Clare)
Referee: Keith Delahunty (Tipperary)
Below: 2011 Dublin All Stars Elaine Kelly and Sinead Aherne (Sportsfile)
