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OCTOBER 1999
THE SEATTLE GAELS Gaelic football team captain Alan Wilson steps up to receive the award for the North American Gaelic Athletic Association Championships in Chicago.
Seattle Gaels
triumph at Gaelic Football Championship
By ALICE GANNON-MCKINLEY
SEATTLE — History was made at this year's North American Gaelic Athletic Association Championships in Chicago when the Seattle Gaels beat the Atlanta Gaels in the Mens Junior B Gaelic football final. The Seattle Gaels' win marks the first time a team from the Pacific Northwest has won what is the most highly prized annual Gaelic football tournament west of the Atlantic.
Record numbers travelled to Chicago's Gaelic Park for the three-day competition. Players and spectators alike praised the high standard of facilities provided by the Chicago organizers. A total of four green Gaelic pitches were prepared for the steady schedule of hurling, camoige and football matches that were played over Labour Day weekend.
Gaelic Park members and volunteers provided a constant flow of refreshments and lunch which included authentic Irish sausages and chips, much to the satisfaction of the native Irish among the crowd! The Gaelic Park club house was also the setting for the final awards banquet on Sunday.
Organized into 10 divisions, more than 46 games were played over the weekend. Officially organized by the North American Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Gaelic Games are officiated by qualified GAA referees some of whom fly in direct from Ireland. The GAA headquartered in Ireland has also traditionally sent leading officials to preside over the tournament. This year was no exception with the presence of not only the current GAA President Joe McDonagh but also President-elect Sean McCague.
The Pacific Northwest was represented at the Championships by a men's and a women's team from the active Seattle club. Although there is no official division in the Northwest, the Seattle Gaels actively participate in local tournaments.Their most recent was the Vancouver tournament in June when the Seattle women won the Vancouver cup.
In a special introduction and meeting with the teams just before kick-off, President McDonagh and President-elect McCague expressed their appreciation for the dedicated grass roots efforts of clubs in North America particularly those in outpost regions such as the Pacific Northwest. President McDonagh talked about the benefits to the Northwest if Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver were to affiliate with the North American GAA.
Particular mention was also made of the dramatic rise of women playing Gaelic football in the United States. Both McDonagh and McCague are encouraged this trend is continuing in Ireland as well as in the U.S. The official decision to join the North American Board of the GAA Women with their counterparts in Ireland is seen as a positive step forward in strengthening the organizational backbone for women's Gaelic sports.
Dressed in the bright red and green colours of County Mayo in honor of founding Seattle Gaels member Mike O'Malley, the Northwest first took to the field on Friday morning. The women's team captained by Elizabeth Mackenzie and managed by Alison McGuigan blazed a path to victory against a favored team from southern California executing three devastatingly superb goals in the first and second halves.
Team coach Paul Reynolds of County Wexford, attributed the win to a strategic emphasis on goal scoring versus the usual preference for point taking traditionally seen in Gaelic games. This style of play was again exemplified in the Seattle men's first round game on Saturday against St. Pats of Cleveland where the Seattle Gaels won a confident victory.
The Seattle Gaels women's team met the 1998 Champions from Florida in the semi-final in an intensely fought match. Seattle came out strong in the first half scoring two goals in the early moments of the game. Florida fought back and the momentum began to change in the final moments of the second half.
Although Seattle came out strong again in the opening minutes of the second half, the momentum was with Florida and victory slipped though the Seattle's fingers. The match ended with Seattle's three goals and six points to Florida's four goals and eight points. Florida went on to win the tournament for the second year in a row.
Early the following day, the Seattle Gaels mens team met a formidable opponents in the Atlanta Gaels club in the Junior Men's final. Experience, skill and determination were exhibited by both teams and the match was intensely fought point for point. However, Seattle's strategy proved the better stunning Atlanta with three goals early in the first half.
At the awards ceremony that evening, a loud cheer rung out as Seattle Gaels Captain Alan Wilson stepped up to receive the GAA cup on behalf of the team. Seattle Gaels Declan Owens was awarded MVP for his outstanding contribution to the games.
A special banquet is being organized by the Seattle Gaels on Decem-
THRILLED winners, the Seattle men's team proudly wore the red and green colours of County be,r,tin h,on°r °f ^ Northwest win. To reserve your tickets, please Mayo in honour of founding Seattle Gaels member Mike O'Malley. cal1 Seattle Gaels Chairwoman Kelly Wilson at (206) 933-3049.
THE SEATTLE GAELS win in Chicago is the first time a team from the Pacific Northwest has won the most highly prized annual Gaelic football tournament west of the Atlantic.
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THE SEATTLE GAELS women's Gaelic football team were among those receiving special mention by the current GAA President Joe McDonagh and President-elect Sean McCague.