Mayo hurlers set for first live TV broadcast
May 24, 2016
Mayo hurlers are all set for TV
On Saturday week, June 4th, Mayo will play Armagh in the final of the Nicky Rackard Hurling Cup at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).
The game will be shown on TG4 and will be the first time Mayo's senior hurlers will be televised live by a national broadcaster. Also on the day, Sligo will play Louth in the Lory Meagher Cup final at 1.30pm, while Meath will play Antrim in the Christy Ring Cup final at 5.30pm.
This will be the first time the Mayo's senior hurlers line out at Croke Park since July 2004 when they lost out to Kildare in the All-Ireland Senior B final of that year, on a scoreline of 3-14 to 3-7.
Two of the current panel played in that final in 2004. Shane Morley lined out at wing forward for Mayo on that occasion, while a nineteen year old Keith Higgins also starred at centre back for Mayo in that outing twelve years ago.
Current selector Derek Walsh captained the Mayo side that day from corner-back. The following year saw the introduction of the Christy Ring Cup where Mayo have plied their trade for the subsequent eleven seasons, falling short at the semi-final stage on three occasions throughout that tenure. That 2003 Mayo side was managed by Galway man Gerry Spelman with Fr Mike Murphy and Sean O'Coisdealbha as selectors.
As an outing to Croke Park for the Mayo hurlers comes around so rarely, the Mayo GAA Hurling Committee encourage as many people as possible to come along to Croke Park on the day to support the Green and Red. The panel of players and management have put in a massive effort all year and have only been beaten twice in eleven competitive outings all season. The team are on a role but need the whole county to get behind them in their drive to build their way back up through the hurling spectrum.
The eight hurling clubs within Mayo GAA are hoping to put on supporters buses on the day to Croke Park, while the strong Mayo GAA supporters base in Dublin will fall in behind every outing of the Westerners at headquarters.
Tickets for the game are available to purchase at www.gaa.ie
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