Beijing topple Hong Kong in thriller

BEIJING defeated Hong Kong in a thrilling men’s All-China Gaelic Games football final at the weekend, denying the champions a unique double three-in-a-row.

The Hong Kong ladies team, the current Asian champions, retained their crown with an impressive performance over a plucky multinational Beijing side.

But in a riveting men’s final Hong Kong fell at the last hurdle to a determined Beijing side 2-2 to 0-3.

Several hundred spectators attended the games, held in Beijing’s Chaoyang Stadium, many of whom were seeing gaelic games for the first time.

“It was amazing to see. Full of rough and tumble, but so much skill too,” said Wang Dufeng, who is a member of the local branch of the Communist Party and works for the local government.

In recent years gaelic games have flourished across Asia, with highly active clubs in most countries.

More than 150 players competed in the 3rd All-China Gaelic Games this weekend, representing clubs from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Dalian and Beijing. At least 22 nations - from Tanzania to Thailand, Mauritius to Malaysia - were represented on the playing field.