Two teams, Dasey’s Midnight Runners and The Moves Like badger, are made up of mostly local Kiwi players and they recorded impressive first wins on Wednesday evening.

Also going well after the second round are The Garage, An Su and Hankey St Bears and here to fill us in on the action, the results and also talk about the intriguing sporting landscape in the city is Wellington GAA Chairman and former Dr Crokes player, Donal Kavanagh.

 
Listen here: 11:35

Former London GAA Chairman and newly appointed London Minor Board head, Tommy Harrell talks about the event in today’s podcast.
He also looks back on last weekend’s All Ireland Intermediate Club Semi Final loss by London hurling champion’s, Robert Emmets and on London footballers new FBD campaign while also examining London hurlers chances for the season.

Listen here: 15:09

Listen here: 30:41

Music:  Militaire Electronic; Wallpaper and Cipher by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
and, music also by John McCartan and Lunasa.

Have a Great New Year in 2012  listeners and website visitors.

And, lots of exciting new plans for early 2012 with new programme style, content ….and delivery on the way. More on this in the coming weeks……2012 is going to be a brave new world for GaelicSportsCast!

Also in the loop Podcasts from Tennessee and Portland Maine.

Gaelic Football coaching app to be launched in December by Elevate Sports Solutions.

The world of coaching and performance analysis is becoming an increasing feature of Gaelic Sports across Ireland and on the international GAA scene.

Coaches are putting a huge amount of time and effort into the development of teams and athletes and a new company, Elevate Sports Solutions based in Derry, Northern Ireland, this December is launching a unique set of coaching tools and services that could well have a significant impact on the development of coaching Gaelic Sports.

Elevate Sports Solutions is set to launch next week the first of two resources for coaches – Gaelic Football Coaching Cards, and one of the first of its kind in the world of GAA – Gaelic Football Coaching Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.
The company also specializes in fundamentals, coaching strategies and offers an Elite Level Performance Analysis service.

In this podcast, GaelicSportsCast talks to two of the people behind Elevate Sports Solutions, former Derry footballer, Jonathon Bradley and hurler and footballer, Donal Leahy.

Listen here: 33:11

For more information go to  http://www.elevatesports.co.uk

Fulham Irish [11] 1-8 Parnells [7] 0-7

Joyous scene at Ruislip last Sunday as Robert Emmetts are crowned London Hurling Champions 2011. (Photo courtesy of London GAA).

In a very entertaining London GAA Senior Hurling Championship Final last Sunday at Ruislip, favorites Robert Emmetts did enough against St Gabriels in the closing stages to once again claim top spot in the London hurling realm.

These two established London hurling powers had met last in the final in 2009 with the ‘Gabriels coming out winners back then, but on Sunday last Robert Emmetts got their revenge with a six point victory, though in reality it was much closer than that.

In the Intermediate hurling final between 2010 runners-up London Michael Cusacks and newcomers, Fulham Irish, the latter crew will be wondering where it all went wrong as they saw ‘Cusacks brilliantly take full advantage of a meltdown by Fulham’ who spilled a six point advantage going into the last quarter and ended up losing by five.

Here to tell us about both games as well as look ahead to next Sunday’s senior football final, is London GAA Chairman, Tommy Harrell.

Listen here: 14:09

Queensland camogie team celebrate their history making feat after taking the first ever Australasian Camogie Championship at Gaelic Park, Willawong Brisbane on Saturday last. (Photo courtesy of Queensland GAA).

What a time it turned out to be for Queensland GAA both on and off the field at the Australasian Gaelic Games, Brisbane last week.

After the Biblical floods of last January that gutted the club house and destroyed playing facilities, it was nothing short of a miracle that last week the men, women, children and players from the GAA community at Willawong in Brisbane should have everything back in working order to host a very successful Kepplers 2011 Australasian Gaelic Games at Gaelic Park, Oct 2-8.

And, on the field of play Queensland GAA did themselves proud also when taking three of the four major trophies in a very competitive Australasian championships.

The week long tournament saw a return to the fold for NSW teams, however last year’s hosts from New Zealand could not make it on account of commitments with the Rugby World Cup taking place in their country.

Here to tell us about this year’s championships that saw many firsts, is Australasian and Queensland GAA Chairman, Seamus Sullivan.

Listen here: 24:14

It was a great trial of the New York ladies to be there at all as this was their third trip in six weeks across the Atlantic for the All Ireland series and the anguish felt by the team at the final whistle showed how much the competition meant to them.

In today’s podcast GaelicSportsCast gives you a full rundown on the game.

Action from the St Mikes (back & white) and St Vincents game. (Photo courtesy of Toronto GAA).

Last Sunday in Toronto turned out to be a great day for the St Mikes GAA club as they scored success in all three of this year’s league finals at Centennial Park.

There was never any doubt about the result in the mens football league final where ‘Mikes ran out comfortable 10 point winners.  The result meant that the winners put paid to rivals St Vincents ambitions of overturning the recent championship final loss to the same opposition.

A well prepared and very fit  ‘Mikes hit the ground running and never let up all through. They lead by 1-7 to 0-3 at half time with the goal coming from corner forward Karl Foley.
St Mikes maintained their intensity throughout the second period and well on top they ran out easy winners [15] 1-12 to [5] 0-5.
‘Vincents never really looked like they could turn things around only managing a brace of points in the second half.

So St Mikes seniors add the league title to their recent championship success to crown off a great season.

Toronto GAA PRO, Ross McElhone said, “St Mikes fully deserved the win and are the best team here in the city and set the marker for others to aim.”

St Mikes captain, Barry Connolly who won an All Ireland junior club medal (2008) with Moycullen, Co Galway, and who has played with the Toronto side on and off over the last 5 years, spoke of his delight to be part of the squad.
“St Mikes are a great club and it is a huge honor to play for them. There is some great people in the club and great history. It’s different from a club at home as there is always new people coming into it and so is vibrant with new challenges from year to year.”

In the Intermediate League Final, it was the case of another championship final rematch this time between, St Mikes and Brampton.

In the recent championship decider, Brampton got the better of the Toronto side but it was no such luck on Sunday as ‘Mikes turned the tables with a [21] 2-15 to [16] 2-10 victory.
This one was intense from the off with each side going point for point in the early stages. St Mikes lead at the break and managed to maintain that edge in the second period before going on to win by five points.

Unfortunately there was no Ladies League Final as championship winners Durham, being depleted numbers wise, were unable to field
a team and this meant that victory was awarded to St Mikes and another trophy for the club – their fourth out of a total of six.

Looking back on the year, the Toronto PRO noted that it was a good season with many positives.
“It has been a successful season. You had Toronto Gaels there who were on the brink of extinction last year but were able to turn it around this year. They were very prominent in the championship and indeed in the intermediate as well where they kept things going throughout the whole season. As well as that, it was great to see Brampton picking up the Intermediate championship. They have been working very hard over the last couple of years.
“And, it was fantastic that we had the second league (intermediate) this year. The numbers were there for that and this is a great boost for GAA here in Toronto,” stated McElhone.

(Feedback in podcast interview with Ross and Barry, affected sound quality and so unfortunately no podcast with this post. Apologies.).

Happy faces all around as Round Towers claim the 2011 London Intermediate Football Championship. London GAA Chairman, Tommy Harrell presents the IFC Cup to Captain Brendan Towey at Rusilip on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of London GAA).

Another fantastic international schedule of Gaelic sports action took place last weekend this time Thameside London was the location.
At Ruislip we had the much anticipated replay of the London Intermediate Football Championship Final as well as two very eagerly awaited senior hurling championship semi finals.

Two weeks ago, Round Towers and Heston Gaels had battled to a thrilling draw in the intermediate final and last Saturday in the replay we saw ‘Towers just about getting over the line against a game Heston who feature mostly English players.
Round Towers fell at the same point last year and will be delighted to be back in the senior ranks once more.

Meanwhile in the first of the two London senior hurling semi finals on Sunday, Robert Emmetts and 2010 champions, Kilburn Gaels, produced the game of the year.

A goal midway through the second half turned this one in favor of ‘Emmets, while in the other semi after a brilliant start from Sean Treacys, last year’s runners-up, St Gabriels went on for a comfortable victory.

Here to tell us about that game and all the rest of the action from Ruislip, as well as look ahead to next Sunday’s senior football semi finals, is London GAA Chairman, Tommy Harrell.

Listen here: 15:39

It was a very close battle all through with never more than a brace of points between these two evenly matched sides.

An Emma Clarke free pushed New York ahead with 10 minutes left to play but Wicklow came back to  level the score in the dying minutes through Laura Hogan.

GaelicSportsCast gives a full rundown on the game here: 9:34

Gaelic Park, Bronx NY. (Photo by Peter Marney).

At Gaelic Park yesterday in the Bronx, NY we had an exciting finale for the first of the men’s football championship titles when NY Monaghan edged out a never-say-die NY Celtics in the Junior Football Championship decider.

The only game on the card in Gaelic Park Sunday pitted the number one and two junior seeds this summer with last year’s runners-up, NY Monaghan attempting to go one better this time around. The ‘Celtics meanwhile had been molded from the NY Minor Board program and featured several Americans looking for championship glory.

It turned out to be an exciting affair with never a lot between the sides all through.

Here to tell us about that final, look back to last week’s games as well as look ahead to Saturday’s Intermediate final, and, preview this weekend’s senior football championship semi finals, is NY GAA reporter, Eugene Kyne.

Listen here: 17:13

]]> http://www.gaelicsportscast.com/2011/09/19/ny-monaghan-are-junior-big-apple-champs/feed/ 0 http://www.gaelicsportscast.com/2011/09/18/europe-reach-shield-final/ http://www.gaelicsportscast.com/2011/09/18/europe-reach-shield-final/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 11:06:39 +0000 denis http://www.gaelicsportscast.com/?p=3969 St Judes All Ireland Junior Sevens
St Judes GAA Club, Dublin
Sat Sept 17, 2011

Shield Final Result
Caherlistrane (Galway) [12] 2-6 Europe [7] 0-7

Stockholm Gaels mens and ladies teams with legendary GAA commentator, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. Mícheál who attended Europe Pan 1 commentated on both the mens and ladies finals. (Photo courtesy of Stockholm Gaels).

About this time in Europe each year, Gaelic sports enthusiasts are thick on the ground as it marks the beginning of the first round of the mens and ladies European football championship series.

All summer long in the six regions that comprise Europe GAA: North West Bretagne, North West, Iberia, Scandinavia, Benelux, and, East and Central, teams had been competing in mens football for places in the three Pan European Championship Final Rounds.

In the mens championship, regional winners and runner’s up get automatic qualification for the Pan Europe series and once the series begins the team leading the table at the end of Round 3 – which for the first time ever is being held at Limerick in Ireland this November  – will be crowned European champion.

The ladies European football championship format is a little different in that teams compete in 7 rounds across Europe – including the final three Pan Europe rounds – with table toppers all season, the victors.

Mens champion’s Den Haag are going for three in a row this year while Belgium ladies look unstoppable as they seek a fourth title in succession.

Last Saturday, the Pan Europe series began in earnest with Round 1 taking place at Leuven, Belgium.
Six mens teams lined up for Round 1 honours while a further 8 teams lined out in the ladies competition. In the mens Shield competition, which is pretty much open to all-comers, a fantastic 11 teams took to the field.

The usual suspects Den Haag and Belgium took the mens and ladies Round 1 titles respectively, while Amsterdam won out in the Mens Shield.

In this podcast we focus on the mens and ladies championship as we were unable to obtain a report on the Shield though results are given at the end of the podcast.

A very busy man last Saturday was player, coach of Stockholm mens and ladies teams, and Europe GAA PRO, Philip O’Connor, and, he spoke to GaelicSportsCast about the mens and ladies competitions at Leuven.

Listen here: 21:37

2011 Pan Europe 1 – Belgium Results

Tim takes us though all the championship games and finals we hadn’t touched on in Podcast 1.

18:29

San Francisco GAA had the honor of hosting this year’s Nationals where over three days from Sept 2-4 at their new facilities at Treasure Island, teams from all across America and Canada gathered for men’s and ladies’ football, hurling, and camogie competition in an impressive 95 games.

In Podcast 1 we look back on all the action with Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell and Canada GAA Secretary, John O’Flynn, who give their perspective on their respective regions and teams performances.

25:15

In Podcast 2 coming up later, North American GAA PRO, Tim Flanagan gives us a rundown on all the championship action.

2011 NACB Finals Results

Sydney Michael Cusack's celebrate Sunday's NSW football championship win at Mono Park, Sydney. (Photo courtesy of Michael Cusacks GAA club).

Reigning football champions, Sydney Michael Cusacks, hurling kingpins, Sydney Shamrock’s and ladies football heroines, Central Coast, retained their New South Wales GAA Championship titles yesterday, Sunday Sept 4th, at Mono Park, Sydney.

In a repeat of last year’s senior football final clash with Clan na Gael, it was a case of the same again for Michael Cusack’s as last year’s heroes ran out comfortable 10 points winners over ‘Clan.
It has been a tremendous year for the football side of the ‘Cusack’s club as Sunday’s victory saw them achieve a championship and league double this season.

However, when it came to the ancient game, it was the hurlers of Sydney Shamrock’s who once again proved to have the edge over arch rivals and this summer’s league winners, ‘Cusack’s when beating the men in red by three points in a low scoring game.

In the ladies championship final, it was the juggernaut that is Central Coast who once more took the spoils this time accounting for Cormac McAnallens in the final.

We did have a new championship winner in Camogie though as new kid on the block ‘Cusacks outgunned title holders ‘Coast by 9 points.

(No podcast with this post).

2011 NSW GAA Championship Finals Results

NSW GAA Championship Finals Schedule, Sept  4, 2011
Mono Park, Sydney

2011 NSW GAA Championship Semi Final Results

The event is being hosted this year by San Francisco GAA at their new facility, Pairc na nGael at Treasure Island and over the next three days some 85 teams from all across America will be joined by their neighbors, Canada for a festival of hurling, mens football, ladies football and camogie.

In today’s podcast we take a look at the representation from Canada when talking with Canada GAA Secretary, John Flynn , and also chat with North American GAA PRO, Tim Flanagan about the event, the teams and what it means for participants.

Listen here: 20:19

Picture of the Phoenix Gaels (in white) and the LA Wild Geese (yellow) before a recent game. (Photo courtesy of Phoenix Gaels).

While the All Ireland Hurling Final takes center stage in Ireland this week, North America too will be attracting followers of Gaelic sports as the annual US National Finals are set to begin on Friday, Sept 2-4 at Treasure Island, San Francisco.

Clubs from all across America and even Canada will be making their way to the Golden State in search of honours this weekend and in the lead up to the start of competition, GaelicSportsCast profiles some of the various clubs in action.

Today we focus on Junior D Football hopefuls, the Phoenix Gaels from Arizona.
The ‘Gaels have been going about their business quietly in the south west and are growing both football and of late hurling in the region – the latter with help from LA.

To tell us all about this club, who have to overcome the challenges of the Sonoran Desert climate, is Phoenix Gaels Chairman, Jason Ryan.

34:49

NOTE: Reports from Boston, Toronto and Chicago finals later.

The 8^th annual CYC saw some 100 teams in action at U8 through U18 from all across America, Canada, England and Ireland.
The first three days saw sunshine but finals day on Sunday saw rain yet it didn’t dampen spirits.

A significant development was the prominence of hurling and camogie during this championship with noticeable high skill levels and a good spread of winners.

New York hurling won titles at U8 and U14, with Boston winning at U10, San Francisco tops in U12 and St Jarlaith’s from Cleveland impressing with the U16 title.
In Camogie we had wins for Rockland, NY (U8), Boston U10 and San Francisco at U12 and U14.

The main events of the championship saw Premier football and hurling action with visitors Lancashire (UK) taking the Minor football title when beating New York by a point, while the Premier Minor ladies championship went to North America (NACB) who beat NY, also by the minimum.
In the Premier Football U16 final, New York had a comfortable win over NACB, however, N. America got their revenge with an impressive display in the Premier U16 hurling decider when ousting NY.

Elsewhere, regular football action saw good wins for Rockland at U8, U10, U12  in both boys and girls. In the U16 and U18 girls football finals, St Brigid’s of Chicago got the better of Boston.
Meanwhile, the Delco Gaels from Delaware impressed in winning the football U14 Boys A title; New York club St. Barnabas won U16 A, and Rockland took the U18 A championship.

There was tremendous atmosphere at all age level games for the four days with parents and relatives cheering on their teams and very much into the spirit of this growing North American GAA youth championship.

Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell contributed to report.
(No podcast with post).

This 8^th annual Continental Youth Championships (CYC) started early this morning and over the next four days will see some 100 teams from all across America, including New York and Canada with invited teams from England and Ireland all in action.

This tournament is the showpiece for underage GAA youth development in North America and will see competition in all four codes from U8 through U18.

It takes a mammoth task to organize this event each year which is expected to attract 2,000 participants and thousands of spectators to this growing tournament.

To get a feel for the scale of the four day event, we here from Boston Northeast Games Development Administrator (GDA), Mike Moynihan and Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell.

11:46

On Sunday we saw football league and defending champs, Michael Cusacks remain undefeated, while the big two in hurling ‘Cusacks and Sydney Shamrocks went at it once more.

In football, ‘Cusacks played Cormac McAnallens and came out on top by 4 points, while in the other championship clash, Penrith Gaels saw off Young Irelands by a single point. 
Penrith have been going well in the championship this year and with a game in hand over the rest of the field, they now lead the table.

The big clash of the weekend in hurling was between champion’s Sydney Shamrocks and their great rivals and recent league winner’s, Michael Cusacks. 
In the first round, ‘Shamrocks had beaten their rivals but it was ‘Cusacks who came roaring back on Sunday with a comfortable 8 point win.
In the other hurling match, Craobh Padraig routed Central Coast and the table now sees, Shamrocks and ‘Cusacks share the lead with Craobh Padraig next.

In the Ladies Football Championship, table leaders and champions, Central Coast are undefeated and remain the one’s to beat. On Sunday they had a comprehensive victory over second place McAnallens, while Clan na Gael edged out YI by the minimum.

Meanwhile in Camogie, McAnallens had a very good win over table leaders ‘Cusacks, while league and defending champs ‘Coast easily accounted for Clan.

Results NSW Champs, July 31, 2011

Action from the final between winners Kilburn Gaels and Dunboyne. (Photo by John O'Loughlin).

Club managers and mentors participating in Saturday’s, inaugural Thurles Sarsfield International Hurling Festival, said that they were impressed with the organisation and future possibilities of the competition.

In this podcast, GaelicSportsCast speaks to clubs about their thoughts on this new event in Thurles.

We hear from the winning manager of Kilburn Gaels of London, Tom Bergin and Paul Reilly from runners-up, Dunboyne of Meath.

We get perspective from an American tourist and US college football coach who was at the final; listen to US Air Force Major Tim Neylon of the Lackenheath hurling club on the value of the tournament for his young all American team at Lackenheath Air Force Base in Suffolk. We hear from Naomh Moninne selector John Murphy of Louth and listen to Dee Doherty manager of the only hurling club in Derry City.

20:46

London's Kilburn Gaels winners of the inaugural Thurles Sarsfield International Hurling Tournament, July 9, 2011. (Photo by John O'Loughlin).

It was a fantastic day for Kilburn Gaels of London and the sport of hurling over the weekend as the London 2010 league and championship holders were crowned the winners of a terrific first ever international hurling tournament at Thurles on Saturday, July 9.

While Thurles Sarsfield and Tipp hero, the turbo charged Lar Corbett blazed a trail in Cork on Sunday afternoon, the day before at the spiritual home of the Munster final at an immaculate Semple Stadium, London’s Kilburn Gaels edged out gallant Meath side, Dunboyne in an entertaining tournament decider.

Trailing by two at half time, the London champions found their rythmn in the second period hitting five points on the trot and led by a point approaching the final whistle. A late equaliser for Dunboyne gave them hope but fittingly, London born player, Michael Dwyer had the final say for Kilburn when he put a placed ball between the posts to see his side take this first ever international hurling competition.

The Thurles Sarsfield hurling club were the organisers of the event that saw teams from Northern Ireland, Ireland and England compete all day long Saturday in brilliant sunshine at Dr Morris Park and at the Outside Field located beside fabled Semple Stadium in this town that gave birth to the GAA back in 1884.

The teams participating included six senior sides, Robert Emmetts (London),  Dunboyne (Meath), Keady Lamh Dhearg’s (Armagh), Kilburn Gaels (London), Naomh Moninne (Louth), Naas (Kildare), intermediate outfit, Na Magha (Derry), and newcomers to hurling, the Lackenheath Wild Geese (USA).

Lackenheath are comprised uniquely of members of the US Air Force based at the Lackenheath Air Base, England who over the past two years have fallen under the spell of the ancient game, and while unable to secure a win, gained from the experience of their first ever club tournament in Ireland.

Listen here for brief post final comments by winning Kilburn Gaels manager, Tom Bergin and tournament runners-up Dunboyne manager, Paul Reilly .

3.14

FINAL MATCH REPORT: FINAL – KILBURN GAELS v DUNBOYNE

FULL RESULTS: 2011 THURLES SARSFIELD INTERNATIONAL HURLING TOURNAMENT RESULTS 

COMING UP – TOURNAMENT REACTION PODCAST AND GROUP STAGE LIVE COMMENTARY

The scoreboard says it all! Can London win another...? (Photo by Declan Flanagan).

There’s an extra spring in the step of Gaelic sports followers in London this week following last Saturday’s terrific win over Fermanagh at Ruislip for the 1st Round of the All Ireland Footballer Qualifiers.

In this podcast, London GAA Chairman Tommy Harrell looks back on the occasion that saw London win their first football championship game in 34 years.

Also, reporter Coilin Duffy speaks with London player and Kerry native, Cathal O’ Sullivan about the team’s fine performances to date in the championship and of their forthcoming 2nd round qualifier clash with Waterford, Saturday week.

Meanwhile, club action in the Collins Cup Hurling semi finals over the weekend, saw Robert Emmetts with an emphatic win over Fr Murphys [23] 0-23 to [9] 1-06, while on Sunday in the other semi final, a thrilling battle saw last year’s league and championship winners, Kilburn Gaels edge St Gabriels by [18] 0-18 to [16] 0-16.

16:19

On the field, the European regional championships in football, hurling, ladies football and camogie competitions are heating up nicely, while excitement is also building ahead of the European County Board (ECB) preparing to send a hurling squad to the new International Junior C Hurling Tournament in Thurles on July 9.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, the best wine could be saved for later in the year as the 3rd Round of this year’s Pan European Mens Football Championship looks to have a home-coming of sorts when the city of Limerick is set to host the final round in early November.

Here to talk about that fantastic occasion, the new website and action on the field of play throughout Europe so far this season is new ECB GAA PRO, Philip O’Conner.

21:19

Jerome at his first port of call, Melbourne, during his recent tour of Australia.

Well known GAA journalist and web video specialist, Belfast’s Jerome Quinn recently undertook an epic journey to Australia to discover what is life like for new and not so new Irish immigrants, and how Gaelic sports and the GAA is playing a part in life Down Under.

Over a three week period, Jerome visited the cities of  Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

He video documented GAA life for newly arrived immigrants and their host clubs; spoke to former Irish footballers on the verge of breakthroughs in Aussie Rules and explored life after the devastating floods earlier in the year for Brisbane GAA .

GaelicSportsCast spoke  in May to Jerome about the tour and his impressions of life and the GAA in Australia.

26:43

Since his return from Oz, Jerome has created a fascinatiing DVD of his tour, ’The Irish in Australia’, available @ jeromequinnmedia.com

In Birmingham last Sunday in the All Britain Junior Championship, London juniors were well beaten by champions, Lancashire – who along with the other six county sides, can choose from senior players – the final score in this one was [17] 2-11 to [4] 0-04. London get a chance of redemption when hosting Gloucester on Sunday.  

Meanwhile, in the Division 1 football and hurling league in London, Round Tower footballers had a surprise win over St Kiernans [14] 2-08 to [13] 1-10, while in hurling Kilburn Gaels proved too good for Sean Treacy’s.

Here to talk about these results and others, and, look ahead to the big All Ireland qualifier clash on June 25 at Ruislip, is London GAA Chairman, Tommy Harrell.

14:42