Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt relishes his return to Galway tomorrow evening when Premiership club Hull City will play Galway United in a friendly game at Terryland Park. The game is part of United’s pre-season build up to the 2010 Eircom League season and will allow manager Sean Connor to run the rule over his new squad.
For Hull it will provide a brief respite from the cut and thrust of their relegation battle and will give their gaffer Phil Brown a chance to field some players on the fringe of the first team and it should be a highly competitive contest.
However for local fans, it offers them the opportunity to see the growing Irish contingent at the KC Stadium, most notably Kevin Kilbane, Paul McShane and firebrand Stephen Hunt.
For Hunt the upcoming trip to Galway will surely bring back happy childhood memories. “When I was a kid I went to Galway to play hurling with the Waterford u-15s and had a really great time,” Hunt told The Advertiser this week.
“We sort of did an exchange thing where we looked after the Galway lads down in Waterford for a couple of days and then they returned the favour.
“The one thing I remember from my time in Galway was that everyone was really friendly and we had good fun. The games were very competitive and, if I remember correctly, the Deise eventually came out on top.”
Now some 14 years later Hunt returns to Galway as one of the hottest properties in the Premier League and Hull City’s star player.
“It’ll be a decent game for some of the lads who haven’t played many games and for those coming back from injury,” he says “We have two weeks without a game and that can be hard going because at this stage of the season you want to keep going and preserve your fitness. It’ll be interesting for me because I’ve never played against a League of Ireland team before and I’m curious to see what the standard is like.”
The Tigers suffered a 3-0 defeat at West Ham United in their last game and will hope to return to their campaign renewed and reinvigorated after their sojourn in the west of Ireland. “It will be an opportunity to build team spirit and the lads are really looking forward to the trip,” Hunt says.
“I’ve been telling them that Galway is one of the best spots in Ireland to go out in. Hopefully we can get a decent crowd at Terryland and create a good atmosphere. Then afterwards we can all take in the sights and have a few pints. It’ll be an amazing experience.”
Match tickets are on sale in Zhivago Records, Elverys Sports and Terryland Park office. For more info phone 091-767336
Fairtrade tea party in Kinvara
by mary O’Connor
Kinvara Fairtrade Town’s Committee will host a tea party at Burke’s Londis store on Thursday March 4 in support of Fairtrade Ireland.
People are invited to join them for a free cup of Faitrade tea or coffee. The event is part of Fairtrade Fortnight, The Big Swap, and is being organised to increase awareness of Fairtrade products in Ireland.
The Kinvara committee also hope the event will attract more members.
Fairtrade coffee producer Josephat Sylvand from Tanzania will attend the tea party. Sian Eustace of Kinvara Fairtrade Towns Committee is delighted because this is the group’s first year organising an event.
“It is a a great way to promote the Fairtrade cause within our community. Buying the Fairtrade Mark products means that you are helping to alleviate poverty in many parts of the world whilst allowing producers to maintain control over their farms and, thus, to retain their dignity.”
For further information telephone Healing Harvest at (091 ) 637176. For information on Fairtrade Ireland log onto www.fairtrade.ie
