GAA legends help launch Joe McNally 7’s masters
ST ANNE’S GAA Club in Bohernabreena was the place to be last Friday night for the 2024 launch of the Joe McNally 7’s tournament for masters football.
To help launch this year’s tournament main sponsor AIG Insurance brought together a steller line up of GAA legends present and past for a panel discussion on all things topical about Gaelic games.
Together with Big Joe, stars of the billing was recently retired Dubs hero Dean Rock together with his legendary father Barney, along with Ray Cosgrove and Mayo GAA great Conor Mortimer, the panel discussion was excellently moderated by podcaster and Laois GAA native Colm ‘Wolly’ Parkinson.
Former Dubs player Barney Rock kicked off proceedings by giving an insight into how an eagle eyed Kevin ‘Heffo’ Heffernan spotted the prestigious talent which elevated Joe McNally from Dublin minor goalkeeper in 1982 to his crucial involvement with the 12 apostles in securing the All-Ireland senior title against Galway in 1983.
A lively crowd which included John Gillick, Head of Consumer Marketing and Sponsorship with AIG, Glen O Neill and St Anne’s former Dubs stars David ’Dillers’ DeLappe, David Carroll and Alan ‘Nipper’ McNally, enjoyed the series of questions which included the ‘ demands on the modern intercounty footballer’ , a question that was very eloquently answered by Dean Rock, additional topics included ‘role of strength and conditioning’ ‘role of goal keeper’ ‘freetaking preparation’ as well as light hearted moments about the favourite player to have played beside and toughest opponent.
Barney Rock brought the house down when suggested that Joe McNally was both his favourite team mate and most difficult opponent much to the delight of the hometown crowd although he did also say Kierian Duff was an exceptional player of his era.
The Joe McNally masters tournament was originally set up as a fitting legacy for ‘Big Joe’ who’s popularity, achievements and reputation endures to this day, all funds raised on the day are reinvested in St Annes ever growing juvenile section.
The tournament continues to grow from strength to strength, having commenced in 2019 and a hiatus of two years for Covid the tournament recommenced in 2022 and 2024 sees the fourth staging of this very popular tournament.
Baltinglass GAA were the first winners in 2019 followed by St Mary’s GAA in 2022 and Railyard GAA from Kilkenny in 2023, who will take home the coveted prize this year? Joe McNally Masters committee together with St Annes are inviting entries for this year’s tournament on September 14.
Contact St Anne’s website for further details.
