The second leg of the GAA GPA Super Hurling 11s Series supported by Aer Lingus took place as a curtain-raiser to the thrilling All-Ireland Hurling Final replay with Munster again holding the upper hand on their Leinster rivals.
The two star-studded line-ups, including aces Richie Hogan, Nickie Quaid, Liam Rushe, Lar Corbett and John O’Brien – competed under the new goals-only hurling format with Munster running out winners in the end. This was the second clash between the sides. The two teams first met last weekend in Galway, where they put on a display for thousands of fans at the Aer Lingus/Etihad Airways International Hurling Festival.
The next stop for the Series is the Celtic Champions Classic on the famed Notre Dame Campus where the GAA and GPA, with the support of Aer Lingus, are staging a Super Hurling 11s clash at the Arlotta Stadium on October 19 as part of the game-day build up to the big college football clash between Notre Dame and USC.
With over 100,000 fans on the University’s grounds that day, this provides a unique opportunity to showcase hurling during one of the biggest sporting events in the US.
After two public outings, the travelling Munster and Leinster squads will be finalised this week.
Speaking about the latest phase of the roll-out of the Super 11s, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Liam Ó Néill said: “We were delighted to provide the opportunity for hurling fans to see this new exciting format in Croke Park yesterday. The ultimate aim of this project is to promote hurling – to attract new audiences to the game. We have two successful outings and are really looking forward to the big one in Notre Dame in a little over two week’s time.”
GPA chairman Dónal Óg Cusack said: “The reaction of everyone to Super Hurling 11s has been overwhelmingly positive. I am particularly enthused by the attitude of the county players who have been trialling the format over the past few months. They like it and they realise that it will make the promotion of our game abroad that much easier. We can now look at taking county squads into prominent, prestigious venues to show sports fans what hurling has to offer – and ultimately lead them back to our wonderful hurling championships at home.
Aer Lingus Director of Communications Declan Kearney said: “It’s fantastic to see hurling appealing to an ever-growing international audience. Aer Lingus is proud and honoured to support Super 11s and we’re really looking forward to bringing the stars of hurling to Notre Dame next month.”
The tour party for the Celitc Champions Classic will depart Dublin for Chicago on Wednesday October 16 and on to South Bend. The Super Hurling 11s game is part of the game day itinerary on the campus. The players will also visit a number of schools, community projects as well as deliver a number of exhibitions on the campus.
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