Offaly hurler given chance to retain poc fada crown

Pictured above: Cillian Kiely of Kilcormac-Killoughey and Offaly with the Corn Setana trophy following the 2019 M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada Finals in the Cooley Peninsula, Co. Louth. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.

Offaly's Cillian Kiely will get the chance to defend his All-Ireland Poc Fada title on Saturday, September 5.

The Kilcormac/Killoughey man secured back-to-back titles in 2019 and now he will have the chance to make it three in a row.

Cillian's brother Cathal is also a leading exponent of the long puck and he was crowned Leinster champion last year. Cathal finished second behind his brother in the 2019 All-Ireland competition.

The list of players who are taking part in the 2020 All-Ireland Poc Fada finals will be released in the coming weeks.

The National Executive of Poc Fada na hÉireann and proud sponsors MD Sports recently confirmed that the 2020 All-Ireland Poc Fada finals will take place at the Cooley Mountains in Co. Louth on September 5.

2020 is a milestone year for the Poc Fada na hÉireann as it marks the 60th anniversary of the first ever poc fada tournament and also Martin Donnelly's 25th year as sponsor.

There have been some changes to this year's poc fada events due to Covid-19 restrictions. No senior competitions at county or provincial level will be held. A decision has also been taken to cancel all U-16 competitions this year.

Former Louth hurler Damien Callan was the first winner of the long puck competition in 1960, while ex-Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins has claimed the silverware a record nine times.

According to Irish mythology, Setanta travelled through the Cooley Mountains hitting his sliothar before him on his way to Eamhain Mhacha (Emain Macha) in Co. Armagh. Nowadays the Cooley Mountains are the site for modern day hurlers to compete for the title of All-Ireland poc fada champion.