A challenge match between Manchester represented by St Lawrence’s GAA and Mayo represented by Bonniconlon GAA marked the launch of the Manchester Mayo Gathering.
The game was played in Bonniconlon on Thursday August 1 and the official throw in was performed by the award winning Sports MP from Manchester John Leech. It also marked the world wide inaugural Mayo Day. To mark the occasion the Nestor Cup, which was recently won by Mayo GAA for a historic third year in succession, was presented to the teams.
Tony Hennigan, the organiser of the Manchester Mayo Gathering commented: “It was a very close contest by the two under-17 teams and I was very proud of the come back from St Lawrence's which saw them just pipped by two points. Some of the St Lawrence's team were a little younger than Bonniconlon, which included my godson, Lawrence Hennigan junior, who marked his 13th birthday by playing the full match. We were very grateful to the support given to the team by Irish Ferries who sponsored the travel arrangements for St Lawrence’s.”
The event is just one of the numerous events included in the Manchester Mayo nine day festival which is part of the Mayo North Gathering 2013 and is the biggest 2013 Gathering in Ireland.
For more information log onto www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk and www.mayonorth.com
