Clonmore, Co. Armagh offical opening - Armagh v Galway 23rd May 2010

Clonmore

Kernan's Tribe to Face The Orchard

Armagh club, Clonmore Robert Emmets have pulled off a major coup for the opening of their new building and pitch development on Sunday 23rd May.

Former Armagh boss Joe Kernan will bring the Galway senior team to face his native county for the occasion. "We're absolutely delighted to have secured Galway and Armagh for what will be one of the biggest days in the Clubs history," said Clonmore Chairman Dominic Molloy. 'To be honest when we contacted both camps they had no hesitation in seizing the opportunity to be part of the celebration, and were more than helpful.

The big day for one of the smallest clubs in the country will bring a host of dignitaries for the occasion. GAA President Christy Cooney will attend and will perform the official opening duties, newly elected Ulster President, Aogan Farrell, Ladies GAA President Pat Quill and Armagh County Chairman Paul Duggan will also be in attendance.

"The Club feel really honoured that so many of the GAA top brass have agreed to take time out of very busy schedules to come along and support us. Who better to open your facilities than the President of the Association," said Mr Molloy. "It took a fair bit of planning and work to set a date that suited everyone given the hectic diary of Christy Cooney. We also had to wait until Championship dates were fixed before we could look at possible contenders for an inter county challenge game. Obviously Armagh as the home side was a priority and Paddy O'Rourke said he would help us out not long after he was appointed Armagh manager, Big Joe was thrilled when we approached him about the possibilities of bringing a Galway side to face his native OrchardCounty." Clonmore will have an additional reason to proudly welcome the Armagh side in that one of their own – Brendan Donaghy, who was hugely influential in Armagh's successful National League campaign recently will lead the team to face Galway.

The day itself will see the club open a new building incorporating changing rooms, showers and toilets with a meeting room and gym facilities upstairs. "It may be small by some standards but we're a small club with limited resources and we didn't want something impractical or leaving us with a huge debt from building and costly to maintain. Having come from a situation of never having had proper facilities we're rightly proud of what we now have in place. At our old pitch beside the river Blackwater teams togged out in their cars, since we moved up to the new site a few years ago we have used old temporary huts which while they served a purpose, had no showers and are now well past their sell by date.

The ribbon will also be cut on the club's pitch which is widely regarded as one of the best surfaces in the country.

"We have been using the pitch for a number of years now but have never officially opened it largely due to the absence of changing facilities, on the 23rd May we'll put that one to bed.

We've a fantastic club and community here in Clonmore and everyone has really got their shoulder behind the wheel to make sure we had the proper facility, everyone lending their talents and expertise across various fields from manual labour to fund-raising to helping with running the club and coaching etc." We're calling on support from the GAA fraternity across the country, and it will be a great occasion, with some of the best football talent on the field, and sideline.

Admission to the game is £5 with family concessions.

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