How does wheelchair hurling differ to the real thing you see on the Sunday Game, you ask?<\/p>\n
It’s 6-a-side with a goalie, two backs, two forwards and a midfielder.<\/p>\n
The midfielder can travel from the edge of goalie box to opposing goalie box, but the other players can only travel to the halfway line.<\/p>\n
Towards the end of 2011, we held a competition with clubs from across Limerick and Clare.<\/p>\n
The Sheehy-Donnegan Cup was sponsored by the family of our star player Ellie Sheehy.<\/p>\n
Representing Limerick GAA, we won the competition, which was hosted by UL Arena – a fitting venue for any sporting occasion.<\/p>\n
Shortly after this, through working with Limerick and Munster GAA, with help from Tony Watene, the GAA\u2019s National Inclusion Officer, we held the first competitive round of fixtures.<\/p>\n
We took part in M Donnelly Interprovincial Wheelchair Hurling Championship.<\/p>\n
Our senior team beat the Dublin senior team on the day, while a cruel bounce of the ball defeated our junior team.<\/p>\n
On the back of the success of the event, Martin Donnelly (MyClubShop.ie) sponsored the formation of a league and championship.<\/p>\n
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The league formation sees all four provinces host a round of fixtures. The early days of the sport saw each team play three seven-minute thirds, with a two-minute break.<\/p>\n
In its opening seasons, Munster won both the league and championships back to back.<\/p>\n
In more recent times, we now play two 10 minute halves. Developing our junior squad, they now play two five minute halves.<\/p>\n
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The Provincial Inclusion Committees support wheelchair hurling through the GAA\u2019s Games For All initiative.<\/p>\n
Gerry McNamara is Munster\u2019s Inclusion Officer, while The Inclusion committee selects the venues.<\/p>\n
During our time developing and promoting wheelchair hurling, we were invited to an event held by CARA at I.T. Tralee, where representatives from the team met Uachtar\u00e1n Na h\u00c9ireann, Michael D Higgins.<\/p>\n
The 2019 league recently came to a close with Munster hosting in St Mary\u2019s school in Newport, Co. Tipperary, with Ulster taking home the M Donnelly trophy.<\/p>\n
However, the All-Ireland will be held in Abbottstown, Dublin on the Sunday of the October Bank Holiday Weekend, and Munster are in it to win it.<\/p>\n
All support is welcome and greatly appreciated.<\/p>\n