South Africa Gaels end their tour of Ireland with exciting clash against Ballyboden St Endas

On a bitterly cold Dublin evening emerged a South African Gaelic football team to face Ballyboden St Endas. They made the short walk from the dressing room to the pitch with their arms linked, chanting in unison.

It was the inaugural tour for the South African Gaels. A team made up of South African and Zimbabwean natives, and former Irish ex-pats. They were captained by Steven Mavinga who played in midfield alongside former Ballyboden star, Greg Heraty.

The match was played in four 15 minute quarters. The rules were relaxed for the visiting opposition with kick-outs and 45s being allowed to be taken out of their hands. Ballyboden fielded their Junior B side that compete in Division 9.

Although Ballyboden were a much more experienced side, the Dubliners were lucky to come away with a victory thanks to a goal late in the fourth quarter. 

At half-time the score was 0-04 to 0-01 in favour of Ballyboden, but it was an open free-flowing encounter. Plenty of scoring opportunities were created but the South Africans' finishing let them down on occasions. It took Ballyboden most of the first two quarters to adjust to the speed of their opponents.

It was a thrilling performance from the South African side. The athleticism of the Africans was prevalent throughout, especially in the third quarter when they blitzed their opponents by scoring two goals and four points compared to Ballyboden’s two points.

The final score was 3-08 to 2-09 in favour of Ballyboden St Endas. However, the final score mattered little. It was all about the occasion; the once in a lifetime experience that these South Africans were immersing themselves in, throughout their time in Ireland.

The South African Gaels played against a St Vincents Masters selection on Sunday evening before travelling to play St Marys in Belfast on Monday. Brian Mullins coached the squad in UCD on the Saturday. The lessons learned from this trip will no doubt add to the development of the GAA in South Africa.

Ultimately what cost the South African Gaels was their lack of accuracy. Their Manager, Paul Carpenter, agrees. “It was a close game but we made too many mistakes. We didn’t execute properly when we attacked. We panicked a little, maybe that was down to the occasion.”

The few mistakes that were made were admirable for a team who have only been in existence for four years. It is the first time that the group have been out of South Africa together, with the exception of competing in the Dubai Gulf Gaelic Games competition. For a few members of the squad it was the first time they have ever left South Africa.

Paul Carpenter has been with the team since its inception. He first got involved with the GAA while he was living in Singapore. He was part of a GAA club in Singapore for nearly ten years. When he moved to South Africa, one of his first ventures was to set up a GAA club in the region.

The English native believes that the GAA can thrive in South Africa over the next few years.

“I knew that the South African boys would have a natural ability to play the sport. The interaction and the speed of the game, the hand-eye coordination; they really just take to it. If we can, as an international community, come together to create competition to give other countries outside of Ireland something to play for then there is great potential to go forward."

Captain Steven Mavinga commented that: “the game was very intense. We have learned a lot in Ireland. In the last quarter the lads from Ballyboden started to step it up a level which was tough for us. It was clear that we were getting a bit tired near the end so that is something we have to work on.”

He went on to say that: “Overall we did very well. We took everything we learned in Ireland on board. We have been taught to keep composure and keep the structure of the game at all times, thanks to coaching from Brian Mullins.”

The South African squad have learned a lot both on and off the pitch. Earlier in the day, before their match against Ballyboden, the team visited Stormont in Belfast.

They were given a tour of Government buildings before meeting with Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister of Northern Ireland.

Carpenter recalls that: “Stormont was hilarious. The guys were bouncing up and down singing songs with Martin McGuinness in the middle of it all. Joe Brolly was there too. He was taking ‘selfies’ with the team and putting them up on Twitter. We’ve really been so warmly welcomed everywhere we went. It’s been an absolutely fantastic experience.”

The team were given a history lesson in Stormont also. Steven Mavinga mentions the links between Northern Ireland and South Africa. “In Belfast, we learned a lot about the conflict in Northern Ireland and how it relates to the apartheid regime we were subjected to in South Africa. They are still working on relations in Northern Ireland and we are still working on issues back home in South Africa too. There are a lot of similarities between our two countries.”

Next up for the South African Gaels is the Dubai Gulf Gaelic Games competition at the end of March. The competition features teams from the Middle East, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, and even Ireland. There are competitive and social level standards. South African Gaels will be entering teams at both grades in what is sure to be another exciting challenge for Paul Carpenter and his team of enthusiastic African Gaelic football devotees.

Over the next few months, two permanent GAA development officials are being set up in South Africa in the Johannesburg townships of Tembisa and Alexandra. The South African Gaels are grateful to their sponsors ESB International who have been extremely forthcoming in their support for the team.

The GAA has gone global, and South Africa is thriving on a sport steeped in history and tradition. This tour of Ireland will no doubt enhance the reputation of the GAA in South Africa and further afield.

The South African Gaels team show off their dancing skills after the game; listen out for the most Irish GAA comment ever at the end of the video.

S.DAWSON 26/03/14

Hugh Gill, St Vincent's vice-captain relieved to be over injury setbacks.

St Vincent's vice-captain, Hugh Gill.

Hugh Gill tasted All Ireland Club Football glory with St Vincents in 2008. The fresh faced defender who was just out of minor sampled the fruits of the ultimate prize in club football without maybe fully realising the enormity of the achievement. Now, as the current vice-captain, Gill, recalls his experience six years ago.

“I was pretty fresh faced when we won it in 2008. I was only out of playing Minor football and it came pretty quickly but it was a brilliant feeling and a great experience. Although, I think it kind of went over my head because it came so quick I thought it was going to come every year.”

The 25 year old has suffered with some serious injuries over the past few years but he is now focused on bringing the Andy Merrigan Cup back to St Vincents for a second time in his career.

“I had a tough couple of years with injuries but thankfully I’m back in contention, playing football and most importantly, I’m enjoying it.”

The gut wrenching experience of losing to Ballymun Kickams in the previous Dublin championship campaign only intensified this Vincents team’s desire to get the job done this season, according to Gill.

“When Tommy Conroy took over, we sat down and we had a target of winning the Dublin Senior Football Championship. The first year we came very close. We lost to Ballymun Kickhams in the quarter final of Dublin by a point. We had about 18 wides that day and they went on to an All Ireland Club final so we knew we were close. That loss put a lot of hunger into the team. People realised how close we were to doing something special last year so we knew we just had to keep working hard and it should eventually come.”

Hugh Gill embraces club teammate, goalkeeper, Michael Savage,

The efforts of Mossy Quinn have been appreciated by the whole panel. Hugh Gill admits that “it gives everyone a lift when you see your corner forward chasing back and doing some dirty work. As a defender it gives you such a lift and such motivation when you see a forward dispossessing someone. It makes you want to go and do the exact same thing. It comes down to the trust we have in each other. Mossy leads by example and gets everyone going.”

The talented corner back is keen to stress at every opportunity that his side’s strong and united squad mentality is their biggest asset.

"We played most of the league without our inter-county players. We were used to playing without them. If they were fit to come in then it was obviously a bonus but if they weren't it wasn't a big deal. Mossy Quinn cracked a joke in the dressing room after Ger Brennan was sent off in the match against St Lomans when he said that we were back to our best team now. It shows you the strength we have in the entire panel. I think there are 35 lads here now and any sub that’s ever come on has improved the team".

S.DAWSON 18/03/14

PSNI harass the GAA

Recently a young Antrim hurler, Domhnall Ó Moraín, and his friends were stopped by the PSNI for carrying hurls outside the ground of Casement Park.

Casement Park is the county ground of Antrim, located in Belfast. With a capacity of over 32,000 it is one of the biggest GAA stadiums in Ireland.

The police accused the group of young athletes of carrying dangerous and offensive weapons before attempting to take the hurls off of them.

When the group refused to hand over their sports equipment, the PSNI attempted to unjustly claim they were trespassing on Northern Ireland Railway property.

This video shows The Mairead Farrell Republican Youth Committee holding a demonstration at the former Andersonstown RUC barracks in protest at the PSNI's harassment of young nationalists who were innocently carrying a hurl.

This disgusting case of discrimination is something that nobody in Ireland should have to deal with in 2014.

This horrifying case of police  harassment of these young GAA members may give precedence for more suspect profiling on the bases of sporting allegiances which have ties to a certain divide in the community of Northern Ireland.

Please share this video to help spread the message that we, as a united Irish nation in favour of peace and equality, will not be discriminated against in representing a national sport steeped in years of charity, history, and tradition.

S.DAWSON 10/03/14

Jesse Corcoran of St Pats Donabate

Jesse Corcoran, St Pats Donabate Senior captain.  

Twenty eight year old Jesse Corcoran personifies the resilience and determination seen in the St Pats of Donabate senior panel over the last number of years. It is no surprise that this Donabate native has reached the pinnacle of his career by captaining his team to the highest level of Dublin club football.

Jesse is born and bred in Donabate and started playing Gaelic football at a relatively late age. As a child he played a lot of soccer. The only GAA outlet he had at the time was through his school. When Jesse was younger, St Pats never had any underage setup. It wasn’t until he was 16 that he began his illustrious career with St Pats starting off playing minor football for the Black and Green.

A lot of the players he plays with today at senior level started off together playing minor football. Jesse recalls that “ we started our own minor team from nothing, just the local lads started playing. We always had adult teams but they were in Division 6 and Division 10. We came out of minor level into Division 6. We gave it a bash and now we’re up in Division 1.”

The confidence in the group has always been prevalent. “It’s been the same group of lads all the way up. We probably only had 15 lads in that minor team but we stuck together through it all. When we progressed, we figured that we were too good to be playing in Division 6 and our aim always was to be playing at a much higher level.”

The club have enjoyed three successive promotions under the captaincy of Jesse Corcoran. Jesse attributed the success of these promotions to hard work on behalf of the whole panel. “We trained hard and when we originally won Division 6, we knew that this was the start of something special.”

“I wouldn’t say there’s any key to the promotions. We train hard and everyone believes in the lads around them. There’s a good mentality in the team. Everyone’s friends; we all grew up together and we’ll always fight for each other. That’s the type of hard work which has pulled us literally from Division 6 to Division 1."

Adrian Henchy has managed the side from when they were lingering in Division 4. During his first two years in charge of the team, they got to the play-offs both years but unfortunately lost in the final. The third year they gained promotion from Division 4 to Division 3. St Pats' first year in Division 3 saw the Donabate outfit secure promotion to Division 2 through the play-offs.

Adrian Hency’s first silverware with the club came when they won the Division 2 title, a year after promotion. Jesse appreciates the effort Adrian has made turning this St Pats side into a title winning team. Jesse notes that when Adrian came on board things “really started to look more professional.”

“There was no more messing about when Adrian came in. He brought his own strict rules and we all bought into it. He is one of the main factors that we were able to take it to the next level. Before Adrian, we had Charlie Redmond coaching us and that was a very high standard. When Charlie first left us, we were thinking who’s going to take us further?”

Jesse is aware of Adrian’s respectable management background. “He has a good previous record. He’s managed Na Fianna at senior level and he has captained them as a player. He’s got that bit of experience that instilled professionalism in us.” Jesse elaborates on the lifestyle Adrian demanded from the players.

“The training changed gradually. We worked a lot more on fitness. He told us to knock the drink on the head so we all got into good shape. We started to feel like real athletes. When we were playing in Division 6 we were a pub team and that mentality was still in the panel when we got to Division 4. Too many lads enjoyed their weekends and their few pints.”

Adrian saw the potential in the team and Jesse recalls that the manager “demanded that old lifestyle had to be knocked on the head.” Jesse admits that the drinking ban was a “shock to the system” but “everyone has bought into it and everyone has genuinely stuck by it."

St Pats Donabate Senior panel 2014

Jesse is ambitiously confident about the season ahead. “Obviously you’re not going to stop, you’re always going to want to be better and go further. Staying up is obviously the goal this year but that was the same goal last year and we ended up winning the league. All we can do is take every game as it comes and try to win them all.”

The management team along with Jesse, and vice-captains Niall Collins and Michael Lynders, met at the start of the year to assess their goals for the season. They agreed that “it’s obviously a massive step up." In Division 1 there will be matches against inter-county players on a weekly basis. The team know that “staying up would be a good achievement.”

However, Jesse is adamant that they don’t limit themselves. “We’ll go out to beat every team and we want to hold Donabate as a fortress. We want to make sure teams don’t like coming out to Donabate because they’re in for a massive game. That’s what we as a team set out to do.”

Aside from the league, Jesse has unfinished business with the Intermediate Championship. “We’re definitely aiming to win the Intermediate Championship this year. That’s the real goal because we’ve found ourselves stuck there over the last few years. We see ourselves as a senior side and so we should be playing in the Senior Championship.”

The St Pats captain envisages a bright future for the club who mark their 90th anniversary this year. They are the biggest sporting organisation in the area, with nearly 600 active playing members and 200 non-playing members. When Jesse started playing there were only two adult teams; one in division 6 and the other in division 10.

Now the club is packed at the weekends. There are nurseries, juvenile teams, and there are hundreds of children who enjoy being part of this club which thrives on its community spirit. Blitzes are played on a regular basis in the club and the minor team are competing at a higher level than the team Jesse and the senior panel of today were playing at. There is an extremely positive vibe around the club at the moment. Jesse notes the importance of integrating everyone within the club.

“I think we’re setting an example for the younger lads. We started training with a few of the under 16’s this year, purely just to try and break them in. They’ll get used to the squad easier that way. They’re really enjoying it and they’re looking up to some of the older lads.”

“They can see where we came from and where we are now. I think it’s massively impacted a lot of them to even knock the drink on the head. Committing to our hectic training schedule and giving up the weekend for matches is a huge commitment for a young lad at the age of 16. It stops them acting the maggot as well.”

Jesse goes on to say that: “it is a lot of training that we are doing but to be fair they’re all buying into it. I really think that’s down to the success of the first team. Nobody wants to come up as a 16 year old and play Division 6 football. I find it great to see the hard work pay off and to do it with lads you grew up with, your best friends, it means an awful lot to me. But now we want to push on even further as a team, as a bunch of friends, and as a parish.”

Jesse speaks about the positive energy which is resonating in Donabate as a result of the success the senior team has achieved. “It’s huge for the parish. You can see the rise in attendances now. It went from basically nothing to two or three hundred watching our games. It’s great to see. It’s had a ripple effect right down through the parish. Everyone has seemed to notice us and it has given everyone a lift around the club.”

The team have infinite ambitions and Jesse reiterates his desire to achieve success in the Intermediate Championship. “We really are out to win the Intermediate Championship this year. However, we are aware that the competition is even tougher this year. Castleknock and Naomh Barrog are two teams on the up who have recently broke into division 2 and they’ll be looking to get into the Senior Championship too. Fingallians will also be a threat. They’ve beaten us in the past but we really think it’s ours to win. Hopefully we can do it this year.”

Jesse is aware that there are plans for the club to celebrate their 90th birthday and he tentatively remarks that: “nobody wants to mark a 90th by being relegated.” He goes on to say that: “we want to give a good account of ourselves for the club and for the parish.”The team are aware that there is an added pressure as the club prepare to celebrate their milestone. 

“We want to do well for everyone that comes up to support us. We’re grateful for the club backing us. There’s always pressure on us to stay up, especially after we’re coming off the back of a promotion. Other clubs are looking at us and presuming that we’re going straight back down. But we know what our abilities are and what we are capable of. For that reason, we’re always confident going into games.”

Jesse contemplates the notion of reaching the unfathomable heights at the top of Division 1. “If we make Donabate a fortress like we have done over the past couple of years then anything is possible. Reaching the top four isn’t a million miles away and that would secure a play-off. If we play to our strengths and to the best of our abilities, we reckon we can take anyone on our day. It’s a good mentality to have. But it is our first year in Division 1 so we’ll see how it goes.”

Jesse's St Pats Donabate are taking on Ballymun Kickams on Sunday at 10.30am in Donabate.

S.DAWSON 06/03/14