Munster ‘cream of the crop’ hurling games
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ABOVE: Representatves of the competing teams for the Munster Hurling Challenge Championship: Tom O’Driscoll, Knockavilla Kickhams; Sean McMahon, Smith O’Briens; David O’Shea, Smith O’Briens and Brian Furlong, Knockavilla Kickhams with (centre) Tom O’Brien, Safety Direct, main sponsors. LEFT: C O’Donnell, An Rinn; Tom O’Brien, Safety Direct, sponsor, and Darragh Kennedy, Murroe-Boher at the launch of the Intermediate Hurling Challenge Championship at Newport GAA Clubhouse.Image 2 of 3
Paudge Tobin, Secretary, Newport GAA; Tom O’Brien, Sports Direct; Michael Coffey, Chairman, Newport GAA, and Jack O’Brien at the presentation of the Safety Direct Munster Championship Cup to Newport GAA.Image 3 of 3
C O’Donnell, An Rinn, Tom O’Brien, Safety Direct, sponsor, and Darragh Kennedy, Murroe-Boher at the launch of the Intermediate Hurling Challenge Championship at Newport GAA Clubhouse.A feast of the classics in the skills of the ‘clash of the ash’ is about to sparkle for the enjoyment of enthusiasts in the local community over the coming weekends.
Newport GAA has been announced as the hosts of the first ever Munster Intermediate Hurling Club Champions Challenge to be played over consecutive weekends to the end of the month in competition for the Safety Direct Champions Challenge Cup.
Top county intermediate teams from Limerick (Murroe-Boher), Waterford (An Rinn), Clare (Smith O'Brien’s, Killaloe), and Tipperary (Knockavilla Kickhams) will do battle for the trophy.
The first to meet are Limerick and Waterford at Lacken Park, Newport on this Saturday, February 14, with throw-in at 2pm. Clare and Tipperary will play in the second semi-final on Saturday, February 21, and the final is scheduled for the following Saturday, February 28.
Former County Tipperary GAA Secretary, Tim Floyd, told the gathering at Newport GAA Club for the formal launch of the programme: "Following the decision in recent years allowing the Premier Intermediate champions in each county to go forward in the provincial and All Ireland Intermediate series, this prevented the intermediate hurling winners from representing their respective counties.
“Newport GAA Club saw an opportunity here to host a competition that would give the intermediate hurling winners a competition where they could represent their county. They applied and received permission from Munster GAA Council and immediately approached each of the county champions in the Munster counties.”
Mr Floyd said that the club intends this to be an annual event and envisaged that the 2026 tournament will be held in December 2026 leading to a possible All Ireland Final.
Michael Coffey, chairman said that the club is celebrating its 140th year in 2026 having been founded just two years after the founding of the GAA and they are proud of what has been achieved over the decades and the objective is to continue to promote Gaelic games in the community and develop the club and its facilities for players.
He extended a warm welcome to Tom O'Brien, Business Development Manager, Safety Direct, for the generous support as the main sponsors of the challenge and expressed how delighted the club is to be launching the series of matches.
Tom O'Brien, Safety Direct, is an active GAA member in Co Galway said that they were honoured to have the opportunity of sponsoring the event and wished Newport GAA every success with the venture.