AIB, proud sponsors of both Club and County, today teamed up with inter-county footballers Seán O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks and Kerry), Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber and Mayo), Ross Munnelly (Arles-Kilcruise and Laois) and Conor McKenna (Eglish St. Patrick and Tyrone) as well as with Kerry legend Colm Cooper and Donegal Coach and former Mayo Manager Stephen Rochford to launch their support for this year’s GAA All Ireland Senior Football Championships.

Each Championship season brings new challenges and new challengers. This year more than ever. The 2020 GAA All Ireland Senior Football Championship might even be the Toughest one yet with players preparing for a shortened and highly competitive season played in knockout format from the outset. This is reflected in AIB’s new TV ad, to air for the first time in the countdown to Championship, that celebrates the strength and resilience instilled in us by the GAA not only enabling us to meet the challenges we face but making us stronger.

The fast paced film is a compilation of archive sports footage from past Championships, abstract graphics and animals in the wild played out to the music of Irish artist Jafaris that seeks to celebrate the resilience of our sport and its people as well as instil a sense of awe and pride in all things GAA.

With the season on the line from the start, Kerry young gun Seán O’Shea will be hoping he can help the Kingdom overcome fierce rivals Cork when they meet in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday November 8th while Mayo talisman Cillian O’Connor will be looking to fire his team past Leitrim in the quarter-final of the Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship a week earlier on Sunday, November 1st.

Long serving Laois forward Ross Munnelly and his team open their campaign against Louth or Longford on Sunday November 8th. Munnelly’s greatest moment in blue and white came under Mick O’Dwyer when the O’Moore county captured Leinster in 2003. Once again, their faith is guided by a Kerry man with former Kingdom star Mike Quirke in charge.

A fascinating clash awaits when Donegal meet Tyrone in the Ulster SFC Quarter-Final in Ballybofey on Sunday, November 1st and key to its outcome will be Conor McKenna as he looks to make an instant impact for Mickey Harte’s men following his return from the AFL.

Proudly backing both Club and County, this is AIB’s 30th year of partnership with the GAA having first sponsored the AIB GAA Club Championships in 1991. In this the most challenging of years, AIB is particularly proud to be supporting the 2020 Championships in the knowledge that they will bring players, fans and communities together right across the island of Ireland albeit whilst physically apart.

Mark Doyle, Chief Marketing Officer at AIB, emphasized this when speaking at this year’s launch of AIB’s GAA All Ireland Senior Championship:

“We in AIB are extremely proud of our long-term partnership with the GAA and are delighted to be part of another GAA All-Ireland Football Championship. This year’s Championship is likely to be one of The Toughest yet. It certainly presents unique challenges, the hard work and dedication shown by players across the country both on and off the pitch is admirable and we look forward to an exciting Championship season.”

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, John Horan said:

“As one of the GAA’s longest continuous sponsors, AIB have demonstrated real commitment and support for Gaelic Games. We work really well with AIB and share an understanding of the importance of Gaelic Games to Irish community life. This evidenced by the significant promotional support they provide the GAA with through the activation of their sponsorship be it showcasing this most challenging of years through their documentary, The Toughest Summer or the new TV Ad in support of this year’s Championship that we are looking forward to seeing.”

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