Blue September Announced As First Ever Charity Partner to Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens 2011

Blue September Announced As First Ever Charity Partner to  

Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens

48 of Ireland's Top Clubs Competing

The draw for the 2011 Blue September Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens was announced today in Croke Park, as well as details for a Dublin Legends versus Rest of Ireland Legends charity 7s game.   

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Criostóir Ó Cuana was joined by Kilmacud Crokes stars and former Dublin and Kerry legends Robbie Kelleher and Jack O'Shea to launch the renowned tournament which takes place on Saturday, 17 September in and around Kilmacud.

This is the 39th year of Ireland's premier 7s tournament which has become a firm favourite in the GAA calendar for both players and supporters alike.

Blue September is a campaign created to get a message out to men about cancers that can affect them and in particular prostate, testicular, bowel and lung cancer during the month of September. This is the first year that they have launched in Ireland and the Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football 7s tournament is one of their marquee events.

As part of the partnership with Blue September, a Dublin Legends versus Rest of Ireland Legends 7s game will be played before the All-Ireland 7s Final at 5.15pm and will see some of the greats of Gaelic Football take to the field for charity.

The Dublin Legends team will be captained by Ciaran Whelan, while the Rest of Ireland Legends team will be captained by Darragh Ó Sé.

Other players taking part include amongst others Blue September Ambassador and Dublin and Kilmacud Crokes' Johnny Magee, Mayo's Conor Mortimer, Kerry's Seamus Moynihan, Wexford's Matt Forde, Armagh's Kieran McGeeney, Dublin's Paul Curran, Jason Sherlock and Jim Gavin, Monaghan's Dick Clerkin and Armagh's Stephen McDonnell.

A draw will also take place during the Legends Game for a pair of elusive All-Ireland tickets, with proceeds going to Blue September.

The main tournament will see the best club teams from all over the country travel to compete and given the weekend that is in it, it is no surprise that teams from Dublin and Kerry were not shy in signing up. Tarbert and Castleisland Desmonds will be making the trip from Kerry, while local neighbours Naomh Olaf, will be joined by Clanna Gael, O'Tooles, Ballymun Kickhams, Parnells and of course hosts Kilmacud Crokes.

Other teams to have signed up this year are last year's 7s champions St. Galls from Antrim and 2010 County Champions including Coleraine (Derry), Skryne (Meath), Killererin (Galway) and Nemo Rangers (Cork). Teams qualify for the prestigious tournament by either winning their county championship or by invitation.

Teams will play out the group stages at four venues in the Stillorgan area with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final being played on Saturday afternoon in Glenalbyn, the home of Kilmacud Crokes.

Speaking at the launch, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Criostóir Ó Cuana said; "The Kilmacud Crokes Football Sevens is an integral part of All-Ireland weekend placing as it does a special emphasis on our game on the day prior to what is the highlight of our football calendar.

"Rivalries and friendships are renewed and rekindled over these matches and conversations and speculation about the following day's eagerly awaited matches is also par for the course. That's before mention of the perennial ticket hunt which often takes in the various outposts of South Dublin.

"This is a long running event organised to the highest standards and I wish everyone every success with this year's competition and hope to see it in our diary for many years to come."

Mr. Mícheál Sheridan, Chief Executive Officer of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, said on behalf of Blue September; "We are working very hard this year to build an awareness of the Blue September campaign in an effort to get men to ‘face up' to cancer.

"A relationship with The Kilmacud 7's offers us a unique opportunity to interact directly with the GAA community and to speak directly to players and supporters about the need to become more cancer aware."         

Commenting on the event, Pat Lamb Chairman of Kilmacud Crokes Football Committee, said; "We are delighted to once again welcome the cream of footballing talent to Kilmacud Crokes for what promises to be another action packed sevens football tournament.

"We would like to welcome on board Blue September in what we hope will be a mutually beneficial partnership over the next few years. We are delighted to be able to raise awareness of this campaign and we hope that the Blue September Legends Game will be a huge hit on the day and will add something different to the already wonderful atmosphere.

"To Robbie and to Jack, two wonderful servants of the GAA, I would like to thank them both for coming along today and we wish both Dublin and Kerry the very best of luck.

"This competition has without doubt gone from strength to strength over the last 39 years but special thanks must also go to the GAA and to the media for their continued support," he concluded.