2008 Woodie Awards
Irish Football Sunday
Kieran O’Shea
Issue date: 11/3/04 Section: Sports
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For those who read the introductory to Gaelic Football last weekend and were curious enough to go and check out the game this past Sunday you were in for a treat.
It turns out that a team from Dublin, Ireland traveled out here to participate in a game against the New York Minors under 18 All-Star Team. The All-Star team is made up of players from all around the tri-state area that play with their own individual clubs such as St. Raymond's, St. Barnabus, Rockland, St. Joseph's, Rangers, St. Brendan's, and the Celtic's. New York's All-Stars traveled to Ireland last summer and played against teams from all over Ireland during their three-week tour. So, occasionally Irish teams come out here for a visit and usually like to play a game or two against our boys. Unfortunately, the New York team was a little short handed due to the short notice of the game and the fact that a lot of players have gone away to college and could not make it back in time. On the other hand, the Dublin team came fully loaded as they always do. Gaelic football is Irelands' National sport so everybody over there plays it. Here, it's harder to find people to play and put together a team of 15.
When the teams arrived to face each other they sent their respective teams out onto the field to do battle, and battle they did. Even though it was a particularly chilly Sunday afternoon the players on both sides were running around wildly attacking one another. Gaelic football is a very fierce and tough sport. The game started out slowly in terms of scoring with the first point not coming until several minutes into the game. The point was scored by a Dublin full-forward to put them on top. Seconds later they retaliated with another score this time coming from a Dublin Midfielder from deep in New York territory after a botched kick out.
It took the New York team awhile to find its rhythm, but it got its first score about 12 minutes into the match, coming of the leg of corner-forward Brian Denahey. He drove past the defenders and struck the ball through the posts. By this time New York was down 0-4 to 0-1. The "0" represents the goals scored because each goal in Gaelic Football represents 3 points, while the second numbers are the points that are scored by putting the ball through the posts and over the bar above the net.
It turns out that a team from Dublin, Ireland traveled out here to participate in a game against the New York Minors under 18 All-Star Team. The All-Star team is made up of players from all around the tri-state area that play with their own individual clubs such as St. Raymond's, St. Barnabus, Rockland, St. Joseph's, Rangers, St. Brendan's, and the Celtic's. New York's All-Stars traveled to Ireland last summer and played against teams from all over Ireland during their three-week tour. So, occasionally Irish teams come out here for a visit and usually like to play a game or two against our boys. Unfortunately, the New York team was a little short handed due to the short notice of the game and the fact that a lot of players have gone away to college and could not make it back in time. On the other hand, the Dublin team came fully loaded as they always do. Gaelic football is Irelands' National sport so everybody over there plays it. Here, it's harder to find people to play and put together a team of 15.
When the teams arrived to face each other they sent their respective teams out onto the field to do battle, and battle they did. Even though it was a particularly chilly Sunday afternoon the players on both sides were running around wildly attacking one another. Gaelic football is a very fierce and tough sport. The game started out slowly in terms of scoring with the first point not coming until several minutes into the game. The point was scored by a Dublin full-forward to put them on top. Seconds later they retaliated with another score this time coming from a Dublin Midfielder from deep in New York territory after a botched kick out.
It took the New York team awhile to find its rhythm, but it got its first score about 12 minutes into the match, coming of the leg of corner-forward Brian Denahey. He drove past the defenders and struck the ball through the posts. By this time New York was down 0-4 to 0-1. The "0" represents the goals scored because each goal in Gaelic Football represents 3 points, while the second numbers are the points that are scored by putting the ball through the posts and over the bar above the net.