The game, in association with the Shane Geoghegan Trust, will take place on Tuesday, July 13 at Thomond Park and although the game itself will kick-off at 7.45pm ‘A Day For Shane’ will also include a schools long puck competition, a celebrity penalty shoot-out, mini-rugby and hurling, celebrity Sumo wrestling and a parade of sport while Munster stars will also compete in a novel 100-metre dash.
The Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn was joined at the launch by Munster Rugby president Declan Madden, Limerick FC CEO Pat O’Sullivan and Tony Geoghegan of the Shane Geoghegan Trust.
“We are now bringing the team over to support the on-going work that the Shane Geoghegan Trust so valuably carries out. All funds from the night will go to this marvellous initiative and we hope to continue supporting it for a long time,” an enthusiastic Niall Quinn explained.
‘A Day For Shane’ has been billed as a family event and the ticket prices have been structured accordingly - €5 for children and €20 for adults.
Niall Quinn also insisted that Sunderland will be treating the game as part of their pre-season preparations and that Steve Bruce will bring his A squad to Thomond Park.
“Absolutely, Steve Bruce is really looking forward to coming,” Niall Quinn said.
“We have a pre-season plan worked out for our team and this is a very important part of it, it is the first game we play. The players will have done a fortnight’s training and will get themselves in shape for the game.”
Niall Quinn also called on the “powers that be” to back-up the work of the Shane Geoghegan Trust.
“Officially it’s a game of football for Sunderland, but there’s a lot more than that happening. A great family day, a sports and cultural day that will be so fitting to such a marvelous trust and to such a marvelous memory to keep alive like Shane Geoghegan’s. He was a brilliant and brave sportsman who did all he could as the captain of his club,” Quinn said.
“I want to get one very strong message out there, that the people that have the power back something like this. That they have the belief in the Shane Geoghegan Trust and back it all the way.
“I hope the people who have the purse strings will release those purse strings and grow and nurture the Shane Geoghegan Trust.
“The expertise to do it is there and I am 100 per cent certain that this will be such a successful thing over the years to come. This could be a fitting tribute to Shane, but it will only be a fitting tribute if people get behind it.”
The Munster XI selection, managed by Limerick FC’s Pat Scully, will be drawn from Airtricity League clubs around the province while the event organisers also hope to attract a number of established international footballers with links to Munster to be part of the team.
Pat O’Sullivan, CEO of Limerick FC, said he was delighted to have the Super Blues associated with such a momentous event: “Limerick FC are delighted to be able to assist the Shane Geoghegan Trust as the goals of both organisations are very similar in relation to their commitment to the local community.
“People on the ground in Limerick need to look within themselves and say what can we do to help,” Pat O’Sullivan insisted.
“I would like to think this trust could be a catalyst to help bring all the different mindsets and groups together.
“We should look at the problems we have in our city and recognise that sport is the simplest tool to help solve those problems.
“That’s the sole reason I got involved in Limerick soccer.
“We need to keep the club alive just like we need to keep the Shane Geoghegan Trust strong.
“But it’s not about money all the time, it’s about leadership.”
Munster Branch president Declan Madden said they were delighted to make Thomond Park available for this unique event: “Munster Rugby are delighted to be associated with such a worthy project and to be able to make Thomond Park available to host the Sunderland game.
“It is appropriate that Munster Rugby supports the Shane Geoghegan Trust as Shane was a true rugby person who played and loved the game, was a great clubman with Garryowen FC and embodied all the qualities of heart and spirit which makes Munster Rugby what it is.
“It’s terribly unfortunate what happened to Shane, that he was the unfortunate victim of a mindless crime.
“But if something good comes of this, having known Shane, he would be very happy.”
Tony Geoghegan, chairman of the Shane Geoghegan Trust and Shane’s uncle, said the event would be “a day for Shane, a day for Munster and a day for fun and I would urge the people of Munster to come out and support their team”.
The Shane Geoghegan Trust was set up in the aftermath of Shane’s murder to provide children with an alternative to anti-social behaviour by making a range of sporting and cultural activities available to them.
A ‘Day For Shane’ will take place on July 13 in Thomond Park.
Tickets for the event will range from €5 for children and €20 for adults. For more see: www.sgt3.com
FC Barcelona
A Thomond Park source has refuted a claim made in the Limerick media this week that a delegation was flying out to Spain this Wednesday (May 12) to finalise a deal which would see the 2009 European champions Barcelona play a friendly at the Limerick venue this July.
Leader Sport has confirmed that a UK-based sports agent did visit Limerick last week.
The agent in question attended Limerick FC’s Airtricity League First Division game against Shelbourne while he also inspected the facilities at the Gaelic Grounds.
The continued existence of the GAA’s Rule 42, which prohibits sports other than Gaelic Games being played at the Ennis Road venue, essentially points to Thomond Park as being the only Limerick venue capable of hosting such a unique event.
Limerick FC have confirmed that the club officials from the Airtricity League club met with the sports agent in question, but that suggestions of FC Barcelona playing a high-profile friendly at Thomond Park were premature.
A soccer friendly could not take place at Thomond Park without the express permission of the Football Association of Ireland.
Limerick FC have indicated that the club has fielded a number of applications proposing to bring high-profile soccer clubs to the region, but that no agreement is in place with regard to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side.
Limerick FC have also confirmed that it remains a stated ambition of the club to host high-profile friendlies in the city in their efforts to raise the profile of the game in Limerick and to raise much-needed funds for the Airtricity League club.
Brian McDonnell
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