Masters eyes Kick Fada glory
Cork forward James Masters will aim to get over his All-Ireland disappointment when he lines out in tomorrow's MBNA All-Ireland Kick Fada competition in Bray.
One of the stars of the footballing summer and the championship's second top scorer (1-29), Masters will bring his shooting boots to the Co Wicklow town as he bids to knock Offaly goalkeeper Padraig Kelly off his perch.
Kelly is the reigning champion and goes in search of a hat-trick of titles at the Bray Emmets GAA club.
The line-up for the seventh edition of the annual event is certainly formidable - Kelly will be severely tested by his goalkeeper colleagues Paul Hearty (Armagh), Fergal Byron (Laois) and Gary Connaughton (Westmeath), as well as four-time champion Mark Herbert from Kildare, who has overcome injury to compete.
Herbert's 2001 mark of 72 metres is still the competition's record.
Other inter-county stars set to travel include Offaly's Ciaran McManus, Fermanagh man Liam McBarron and the Dublin pair of Darren Magee and Mark Vaughan, who will be seeking some end of season consolation after the Dubs' recent All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Mayo.
The chances of a local winner have been curtailed with the Bray senior footballers playing St. Patrick's in the county semi-final tomorrow, but minor captain Stephen McNicholas and Intermediate goalkeeper Paul O'Keeffe will provide representation from the host club.
The Ladies competition looks like being a shootout between local favourite Aisling O hAnnaidh and Meath duo Mary Sheridan and Grainne Nulty.
Men's participants:
Padraig Kelly - 2005 champion (Offaly)
Paul Hearty (Armagh)
James Masters (Cork)
Darren Magee (Dublin)
Jonny Magee (Dublin)
Mick O'Keeffe (Dublin)
Mark Vaughan (Dublin)
Liam McBarron (Fermanagh)
Shane Harte (Kildare)
Mark Herbert (Kildare)
Enda Murphy (Kildare)
Mick Wright (Kildare)
Fergal Byron (Laois)
Tom Kelly (Laois)
Daithi Regan (Meath)
Shane Duffy (Monaghan)
Ciaran McManus (Offaly)
Gary Connaughton (Westmeath)
Stephen McNicholas (Wicklow)
Paul O'Keeffe (Wicklow)
