When Dublin Colleges lifted the Croke Cup to clinch the 2006 All Ireland Colleges Hurling title, it marked the 55th occasion on which the cup had been presented to the captain of the All Ireland Colleges champions. On Saturday next January 20th, in the Anner Hotel in Thurles, a history of the competition written by Westmeath native Gerry Buckley will be officially launched. The launch will be presided over by RTE commentator Mícheál O Muircheartaigh. The book contains an array of statistics, photographs and anecdotes that chronicle the history of this celebrated competition. It features profiles of the winning captains and members of some of the winning panels at its core. Among those profiled are Jimmy Smyth (captain of St Flannan's, Ennis in 1947 and a celebrated Clare hurler), Kilkenny hurling great Eddie Keher (St Kieran's, Kilkenny 1959) and Limerick All Ireland medal winners Eamon Creegan (Limerick CBS 1964) and Eamon Grimes (Lmerick CBS 1966). More recent winning captains profiled will include former Offaly star Billy Dooley (Birr Community School 1986) and current Kilkenny Hurler and All Star James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (St Kieran's 2003). All recall their memories of Colleges' hurling and the tremendous dedication and single mindedness needed to capture the Croke Cup. Gerry Buckley was author of the Millennium Handbook of Westmeath Gaelic Games and 50 Years of the Hogan Cup . A native of Mullingar, his interest in Colleges football and hurling came from his father, who was a teacher in St Finian's in Mullingar for 42 years. The book will be available to buy from all good newsagents and bookstores nationwide. Tweet

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