It's stars 'n' hype ahead of American football clash

Hundreds of people from all over County Meath are expected to attend the two American football games being played in Navan's Pairc Tailteann this weekend. The clash between Oak Park High School from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Villanova College from King City near Toronto, Ontario, will kick off a double-header of two games being played at the 18,000-capacity venue this Friday, 31st August. The Canadian rivals will kick-off at 4pm. The clash between the Notre Dame Preparatory High School Saints from Scottsdale, Arizona, and Father Judge High School Crusaders from Philadelphia will kick off at 7.30pm. The American high school and college teams are in Ireland to take part in the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) 2012, which will feature 12 teams playing six games at three venues in Dublin and in Navan. Tickets are available, priced €15, at www.tickets.ie/gift2012 Trim Bulldogs, County Meath's first and only American football club, are providing support for the activities associated with games at Páirc Tailteann. Club manager Joe Rayfus said: "We're delighted to be involved with GIFT 2012. The games give us the opportunity to work with some great football players and coaches and experience top football programmes first hand. Hopefully, these games will spark huge interest in the sport locally, which can only stand to us in terms of recruitment and sponsorship for future seasons to come." To read the full story see this week's Meath Chronicle.