MBNA Kickfada hosted by Bray Emmets

Bray Emmets

GAA Club

are proud to host the

The Big Kickers come into town on Saturday week (September 12) for the ten annual MBNA Bray Emmets Kick Fada at Old Conna grounds knowing that a national title and a celtic cross is at stake.

Traditionally it has been something of a goalkeeper-fest but this year the outfielders will make a renewed assault on the title in the hope of doing the business.

And host county Wicklow could loom large for the first time with two long range kickers confirming their participation. Tony Hannon, who came to the fore this summer with some remarkable winning kicking during Wicklow great odyssey through the Leinster championship and qualifiers, can kick 60 metres effortlessly while Bray Emmets’ rising star Niall Gaffney has being slotting 45s over the bar in the local championship as if they were just in front of goal.

Armagh newminder Paul Hearty is the reigning champion and he will head south hoping to complete something county teams can't in modern times - back to back titles.

Dubliners Bernard Brogan, Darren Magee and Mark Vaughan will be hoping to win the MBNA Kick Fada title for the capital for the first time to make up in some small measure for the disappointment of the collapse against Kerry in the All Ireland quarter-final last month.

A top class team is currently being assembled for the competition now that the All Ireland runners are down to Kerry and Cork.

Fermanagh's Liam Barron has been a consistent supporter of the Bray competition and is expected to be joined by fellow county man Marty McGrath this year.

Among the former winners competing will be two time champ Padraig Kelly from Offaly, Mayo's Fintan Ruddy, John Brennan from Carlow aned former four times winner Mark Herbert from Kildare.

Unlike other competition requiring distance, the MBNA Kick Fada also requires the added component of accuracy – the goal width is twice that of an ordinary GAA goal – meaning only those with kicking finesse can hope to challenge for the ultimate accolade.

Among the long list of participants for the 10th annual MBNA Kick Fada challenge are:

Paul Hearty (Armagh) – HOLDER

Bernard Brogan (Dublin)

Tony Hannon (Wicklow)

John Doyle (Kildare)

Mark Herbert (Kildare)

Padraig Kelly (Offaly)

Ciaran McManus (Offaly)

Mark Vaughan (Dublin)

Marty McGrath (Fermanagh)

Paul Finlay (Monaghan)

Dick Clerkin (Monaghan)