Gaelic Masters - Irish TV All-Ireland Finals and Aussie Rules series launched
The launch of both the Irish TV All-Ireland Gaelic Masters Semi-Finals/Finals and the Gaelic Masters international series against Australia took place in Cavan at the weekend.
The event provides an opportunity for players and club representatives to get together in advance of the competitive fixtures set to take place over the next number of weeks.
In the international series there are two Australia v Ireland test matches, the first to take place on October 19 at Kilkerrin, Clonbeirne, County Galway, the second on October 22 at The Denn GAA Club, County Cavan.
The teams will compete for the Paddy Gaffney Memorial Cup, in honour of former Irish Masters footballer Paddy Gaffney, Cavan, from the Denn GAA club. Members of the Gaffney family attended the launch.
The official announcement of the semi-finals pairings will also pave the way for the IRISH TV All-Ireland Gaelic Masters finals scheduled for November 12.
A training session will take place at 3.30pm in Breffni Park in Cavan.
Gaelic Masters, which caters to teams of inter-county senior players aged over 40, includes a Premier Final and a Shield Final.
The hosting of a touring Australian team to play an Irish selection in two test matches adds an international dimension to the league.
The Gaelic Masters was launched in 2012 and 12 counties are involved in the 2016 series: Mayo, Galway, Longford, Leitrim, Sligo, Westmeath, Offaly, Tyrone, Cavan, Monaghan, Antrim and Donegal.
A number of other counties are tipped to join in 2017. Any county can get involved, there is a registration process and Gaelic Masters Committee and all players must be 40 years or older in the year they compete.
Pat Cullinane, player and PRO Galway Masters, said: “Gaelic Masters Association is a group of players aged 40 or older who still have the energy and vigour to be playing, usually at junior or intermediate level for their own clubs and who wish to tog out for their county.
"Gaelic Masters allows players who are still active at our age to continue playing.
“Not every county has a team yet but we are well on our way with several more signing up.
"We expect it to grow and grow because there is huge popularity and interest in keeping fit and healthy both in terms of physical and mental health as well as through enjoying competitive sport.”
Players selected to represent Ireland in the upcoming International Rules matches v Australia:
Lloyd Kelly, John Slattery, Sean O'Dowd, Declan Meehan, Ger Keane, Ollie Hannon (Galway)
Philip Rainey, Joe Corroon, Joe Cunnane (Westmeath)
Bryan Hennelly, Sean McCaughey, Danny O'Toole (Mayo)
Eamonn O'Hara, David Durkan, Con O'Meara (Sligo)
John Coyle, Declan O'Neill, Mike Keane (Longford)
Oliver Costello, Kiernan Fox, Mark Rehill, Christy Shiels, Jason O'Reilly, Padraig Sheridan, Jerome Kiernan (Cavan)
Gavan McElroy, Kevin Gormley, Mark Gallagher, Damien Gormley (Tyrone)
Charlie Gallagher, Charlie Doherty, David McShane, Daniel Bradley (Donegal)
Colin Mallon, Ronan Hamill (Antrim) John Kenny, Roy Malone (Offaly)
You can get in touch through facebook at Gaelic Masters or email gaelicmasters@gmail.com.