Economic benefit predicted as Clare chosen to host LGFA Congress

CLARE will host the Annual Congress of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association next year.

At the annual congress held in Trim, Co Meath it was announced that Clare LGFA were successful in their pitch to host the 2024 event which will be held on March 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Details on the venue in Clare have yet to be finalised. The county last hosted the LGFA Congress in 2015 when the Inn at Dromoland in Newmarket-on-Fergus was the location chosen.

Chairman of Clare LGFA, Seán Lenihan was confident economic and tourism benefits would accrue as a result of the county hosting Congress.

He stated, “With over 170 Delegates from Ireland, UK, mainland Europe, America, Canada, Australia, Asia, many of whom will bring an accompanied person with them, it is really great news in terms of economic and tourism benefits for the County.

"An added bonus is that 2024 is the 50th Anniversary of the foundation of the LGFA so there should be added promotion and cover- from Inagh/Kilnamona, Matthew O’Halloran, Fred Hegarty, Padraic O’Donovan from Doora/Barefield, Michael Collins from Clonlara and Jamie Moylan from Cratloe. age group”, explained the manager. Eight members of last year’s panel are still available and they are Eoin Gunning from Broadford who is this year’s captain, Mark Sheedy from Sixmilebridge, James Hegarty

Last year’s goalkeeper Sheedy is expected to fill that position again this year while Ronan Keane (Killanena), Eoin Carey (Cratloe) and Mark O’Connor (Doora/Barefield) are chasing defensive roles.

Elsewhere Matthew O’Halloran, Michael Collins, Fred Hegarty, Mark O’Brien (Cratloe) and Jack Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona) are in the running for places in the line up.

A decision on the fitness of James Hegarty will be made nearer match time on Tuesday but apart from that, BOC and his backroom team have a fully fit panel from which to select the team to take on Tipperary.

In preparation for this campaign, Clare have had challenge games with Dublin and Offaly while they completed preparations last week with a match against Kilkenny.

“It’s a busy schedule but the lads are really looking forward to the format. Because of the closeness of the fixtures, all members of the panel will be needed as injuriess are likely to be picked up,” the Wolfe Tones clubman said.

Clare’s Munster schedule is as follows; at home to Tipperary on Tuesday next, March 21 in Sixmilebridge at 7p.m.; away to Limerick on March 28, away to Waterford on April 11 and at home to Cork on April 18.