Donegal side Na Rossa and Mayo outfit Kiltane will battle it out this Wednesday night in a bid to see who will be crowned the second-ever ‘Ceist GAA le Hector’ champions, when the final of the GAA quiz-show throws in at 8.30pm on TG4.
Hector Ó hEochagáin is the referee for this fast-paced programme, which is a battle of skill and wit to see who will ultimately be crowned champions.
16 clubs set out on the road to Ceist GAA honours in 2011, with Mayo, Clare, Sligo, Galway, Tipperary, Kerry, Dublin, Armagh, Wicklow, Galway, Down, Waterford, Donegal and Cork represented.
Now just two remain with Na Rossa hoping an Ulster side can hold the title for the second year in a row, after Tyrone club Eglish took honours last year.
Na Rossa are represented by Odhrán Ó Gallachoir and Padraig Ó Baoill and are captained by TG4 GAA Beo Presenter Micheál Ó Domhnaill.
Kiltane will be hoping for a rare All-Ireland title for Mayo when they go into battle on Wednesday night, with Sean and Noreen Gaughan representing their club, with the team captained by RTÉ’s Evanne Ni Chuilinn.
Na Rossa’s Ó Gallachoir expects nothing to come easy on Wednesday night, despite his side showing impressive form with wins over Youghal, Newport and the Aran Islands in the lead up to the final.
‘It would be great to win a national title,’ he said.
‘We are looking forward to the final. It is not going to be easy by any means.
‘As we have gone through the competition thus far the games have got progressively harder. so we are looking forward to it.
‘We know it is not going to be easy. There is a lot of work to do the week before hand and at lot of research goes into it.
‘It is not as easy as you see it on the Television screens, but we are really much looking forward to it.’
Kiltane’s Sean Gaughan says he is eagerly looking forward to the decider.
“Mayo and Donegal have had a long history and a long association along the Western seaboard,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get one over them. I wouldn’t be overly optimistic after watching the semi-final between Na Rossa and the Aran Islands because Na Rossa were very strong.
“They have a good team and a good mix between youth and experience.
“I’m hopeful we can win, but I wouldn’t be too confident because they seem to be a very strong team.
“Michael Ó Domhnaill was in sparkling form in the semi-final, so if he is in the same form in the Final we will be in serious trouble I think, but hopefully we can pull it out of the fire.”
The series has the official endorsement of the GAA, with GAA President Cristoir Ó Cuana stating:
‘I wish both competing finalists every success ahead of their final date and hope they relish the experience.
‘It is fantastic to see teams competing in the studio as well as on the field and doing so through the medium of the Irish language is an added bonus.
‘I’d like to acknowledge the excellent work of TG4, whose work promoting our games and activities is highly valued.’
Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, Head of Sport TG4 is excited about the final programme in the series.
‘We are very much looking forward to the ‘Ceist GAA le Hector’ Final,’ he said.
‘This series has been very popular from the start and it adds greatly to TG4’s schedule of GAA programming.’
If you miss it a repeat of the 2011 ‘Ceist GAA le Hector’ final between Na Rossa and Kiltane will be broadcast on TG4 on Sunday next at 8.30pm.
Na Rossa and Kiltane are battling it out to see who will win a Training weekend at the renowned Carton House in Maynooth, Co. Kildare under the watchful eye of former Meath and International Rules manager Sean Boylan, and also lift the Ceist GAA Cup for 2011.
