Nine Kilkenny hurlers are jetting out to Texas this week as part of the GAA GPA All Stars tour.
A 28-strong team representing the 2014 and 2015 All-Star winners flew out from Dublin for a week-long stay in the Lone Star State.
The 2015 All stars from Kilkenny are Paul Murphy, Joey Holden, Cillian Buckley, Michael Fennelly, Ger Aylward, Richie Hogan, Colin Fennelly .
The 2014 team has Eoin Murphy and JJ Delaney.
It will be the first time in the distinguished 44-year history of the scheme that a team of All-Star players have visited Texas.
Uachtarán CLG Aogán Ó Fearghail will lead the party which will also include team managers Anthony Daly and Anthony Cunningham, as well as 2015 All-Ireland hurling and football final referees James Owens (Wexford) and David Coldrick (Meath).
The decision to visit Texas is in recognition of the massive growth and popularity of Gaelic games in the region.
There are four GAA clubs participating in the Texas Championship – Fionn Mac Cumhaills in Dallas, Houston Gaels, San Antonio GAC and the Celtic Cowboys.
The oldest GAA club in the region and based in Austin since 2004, the Celtic Cowboys Sports Club will be host club for the All-Star hurlers.
The GAA/GPA All-Stars will attend a number of official functions including a visit to the Irish Consular offices as well as leading a day of juvenile coaching on Saturday.
The touring panel is made of a number of 2014 and 2015 All-Stars, while due to the fact that there are several back-to-back All-Stars and a number of other players unable to travel, the GAA has been in a position to recognize and honour players with inclusion on the trip including John Griffin (Kerry), Neil McManus (Antrim) and Brian Carroll (Offaly).
On Sunday afternoon (local time) the highlight of the tour will be at St Edward’s University in Austin when the 2014 and 2015 teams play their exhibition hurling match, before flying home to Ireland on December 15.
Good luck to the Texas-bound All-Star Hurlers of 2014 and 2015 @OpelIreland @officialgaa https://t.co/cFyY1mDrBS pic.twitter.com/R4710tfcNk
— GPA (@gaelicplayers) December 10, 2015
2015 GAA/GPA All-Stars Hurling Team Selection
Colm Callanan (Galway)
Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
Joey Holden (Kilkenny)
Noel Connors (Waterford)
Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny)
John Griffin (Kerry)
Neil McManus (Antrim)
David Burke (Galway)
Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny)
Ger Aylward (Kilkenny)
Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
Shane Fives (Waterford)
Maurice Shanahan (Waterford)
Colin Fennelly (Kilkenny)
2014 GAA/GPA All-Stars Hurling Team Selection
Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
Wayne McNamara (Limerick)
JJ Delaney (Kilkenny)
Séamus Hickey (Limerick)
Lee Chin (Wexford)
Liam Rushe (Dublin)
Kieran Bergin (Tipperary)
Declan Hannon (Limerick)
Patrick Horgan (Cork)
Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
Brian Carroll (Offaly)
Shane Dowling (Limerick)
Conor McDonald (Wexford)
David O’Callaghan (Dublin)
