GAA: Slaughtneil's Louise heads for the hills and the All-Ireland Poc Fada Finals

Slaughtneil’s Louise Dougan will fly the flag for Derry at Saturday’s All-Ireland Poc Fada Finals in the Cooley Mountains. The competition was first held in 1960 and following a short hiatus from 1970-1980, it returned in 1981 and has been ever-present on the national calendar since. “I welcome this year’s staging of the Poc Fada competition for 2019 and wish all the competitors well in what must be one of the most unique competitions in our stable,” commented GAA President John Horan. “Few of our events encapsulate the history of the game in the way that the Poc Fada does and the route the players and followers will take over the Annaverna Mountain is nothing short of spectacular.” Dougan will be hoping for glory but will have remaining champion Susan Earner for company.  Earner, from Galway, is going for a third successive title. In the mens’ competition, Cillian Kiely of Offaly holds the title but will be challenged by Cork star Patrick Horgan and nine times champion and former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins. The U16 hurling competition will have a new name on the trophy after Kyle Shelly won the trophy in 2018. Oisín Marley returns to the mountain having competed in last year’s All-Ireland Final. The U16 Camogie competition will be contested by competitors from Antrim, Cork, Dublin and Galway and will also see a new champion crowned. The M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Final Proceedings will get under way at 11.00am on Annaverna Mountain, Ravensdale, Co. Louth on Saturday, August 3. Senior Camogie: Amy Lee (Cork), Louise Dougan (Derry), Abbye Donnelly (Meath), Andrea O Keefe (Clare), Caitriona Daly (Galway) and reigning champion Susan Earner (Galway). Senior Hurling: Darren Geoghegan (Louth), Gareth Johnson (Down), Cathal Kiely (Offaly), Patrick Horgan (Cork), Paddy McKillian (Tyrone), Sean Nugent (Galway), Colin Ryan (Limerick), Brendan Cummins (Tipperary), Tadhg Haran (Galway), Callum Quirke (Wexford), Ronan Taafe (Clare) and reigning champion Cillian Kiely (Offaly).