Cumann na mbunscol

Cumann na mBunscol.
Coiste na Mumhan.

New format as Star Sunday Primary Go Games 2009 is launched

The Star Sunday Primary Go Games will change in 2009 to follow the highly successful and popular GoGames format. There will now be two games with eleven players per team, one for boys and one for girls. Games will be played at half-time during the senior match.

This year's Star Sunday Primary Go Games will see over 400 boys and girls from all the counties of Munster line out in their county colours at Semple Stadium, Páirc Uí Chaoimh and other venues throughout the province.

Played at half-time during Munster Senior Championship games, Star Sunday Primary Go Games give sports-mad boys and girls the opportunity to wear their county jersey on Big Match Day, sharing the spotlight with their heroes on their "Field of Dreams" in front of huge crowds of supporters.

Many children who made their inter-county bow in the Primary Game have gone on to greater things: Limerick footballers Pádraig Browne and Johnny McCarthy and hurlers Andrew O Shaughnessy and Brian Murray are among many Limerick players to have a Primary Game jersey stashed away carefully at home.

Declan O Sullivan who led the Kingdom on to claim the Sam Maguire in 2006 and 2007 made his inter-county bow in the Primary Game while a recent Kerry minor football team could boast as many as a dozen players with Primary Game experience.

Rising Tipperary star Darragh Egan first wore the blue and gold of the Premier County in the Primary Game.

Last year, the Primary Go Games series raised its game another level when Star Sunday agreed to sponsor the series for a three year term.

Paul Cooke, Managing Director of Star Sunday said "As Ireland's leading Sunday sports paper, Star Sunday is a GAA paper for fans and players at all stages of the game. At Star Sunday we have a great meas for the sport at all levels, from Championship and League, to inter-county and school leagues. We are very proud to now add Primary Go Games to our broad range of GAA associations".

"The emphasis in Go Games is on participation, enjoyment and developing skill," says Seán Walsh, Chairman of the Coaching and Games Committee of the Munster Council.

Joe Lyons, PRO of Munster Cumann na mBunscol emphasised the importance of the games: "This year's Star Sunday Primary Go Games promises to be very exciting for all the children. Innovative ideas such as this are the lifeblood of our games."

The launch of the 2009 Primary Go Games takes place at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Tuesday April 28th at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served afterwards in Hayes Hotel, Liberty Square. Inter-county players from several counties are expected to attend including Tadhg Kennelly of Kerry.

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Further details:

Joe Lyons, P.R.O. Cumann na mBunscol (086) 8113284.

Brother James Dormer, Rúnaí, Cumann na mBunscol. 061 380239

e-mail: joegreenandwhite@gmail.com