AIB today marked the third year of its proud sponsorship of the GAA All-Ireland Football Championship by teaming up with Breaffy and Mayo footballer, Aidan O’Shea, Killarney Legion and Kerry footballer, James O'Donoghue, Clontarf and Dublin footballer, Jack McCaffrey, and Kilcar and Donegal footballer, Paddy McBrearty, to launch the 2017 season.

As the first round of the Connacht provincial championship takes place in New York this weekend, today’s four footballers are anticipating a summer full of highly competitive games with the majority of action kicking off in just over two weeks.

Without Club, there would be no County. It’s where players are born and bred to go on to represent their county. AIB’s partnership with the GAA is reflective of the belief that ‘Club Fuels County’.

Backing both Club and County, AIB is also the long-term sponsor the AIB All-Ireland Club Championships which sees footballers, hurlers and camogie players battle it out through the winter months to become #TheToughest. This is AIB’s 25th year in association with the GAA, a partnership AIB are especially proud of.

Jack McCaffrey’s Dublin will be hoping to retain Sam Maguire in 2017 and make it three-in-a-row, something they haven’t been able to do since 1923.

He said: “I’m delighted to be here with AIB for the launch of the All-Ireland Football Championship. AIB are backing Club and County which is a great fit as what we do with our clubs really does fuel us on to county level. It was great to see the lads win back to back titles last year after a thrilling season and I’m really excited to be back for the full season this year. We’re all looking forward to our first outing on the 3rd of June."

Denis O’Callaghan, Head of AIB Retail Banking, emphasised the importance of AIB’s partnerships with the GAA said: “We are proud to be backing both club and county, and delighted to now enter our third year sponsoring the GAA All-Ireland Football Championship. We believe that the hard work at club level is what fuels the county championship and we feel this is reflected in our partnerships with the GAA.”

“Like the AIB GAA Club Championships, the All-Ireland Football Championship is one of Ireland’s most unique competitions. We are especially pleased to be involved in one of the best sporting competitions in Ireland and we’re very excited to see what the championship will throw up this summer.” O’Callaghan concluded.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail said: "The AIB ‘Club fuels County’ campaign is very apt. We are all Club people first and foremost and that will always be the case.

"The Championship is a celebration of our great Games and our dedicated County players are wonderful exponents of the incredible skills our Games showcase. In doing so these players are products of the countless hours of volunteer support instilled in them since childhood by their Clubs and whenever their epic County journey is over they will return to again be Club players.

"This is an exciting time on the eve of another highly anticipated Championship summer and as I wish all involved in it the very best, I also want to acknowledge our appreciation of the long-standing partnership we’ve enjoyed with AIB."