Scandinavia to Spain; the GAA gospel is gone global

IT’S the silver lining on the darkest of clouds.

Sparse training sessions and clubs unable to field teams are a sad reality for the GAA at home these days, but some consolation comes in the knowledge that young athletes aren’t turning their backs on the sport but bringing it with them and spreading the ethos of the Association.

The Scandinavian Gaelic Football Championship reaches its climax in August, with Stockholm and Malmo deadlocked going into the final round. The Iberian Championship was decided recently, with Valencia Sant Vicent crowned champions for the first time in the club’s brief history.

The championship was set up in 2005 and has seen a steady rise in participation.

Paul Murphy, of the victorious Valencia team, shed some light on the tournament.

“Madrid Harps were the inaugural winners in 2005,” he said. “Back then there were only three teams, Madrid Harps, Marbella-Costa Gaels and Barcelona Gaels. As the years went on more teams started up with Pamplona joining the competition followed by Valencia GAA. This year has seen a record number of teams take part. Eight in total; Seville, A Coruña and Madrid O’Donnell’s being the newest teams.”

Valencia proved themselves worthy winners of the 2011 contest. Having won the previous three rounds of the tournament they knew a place in the final in Barcelona last Saturday would be enough to seal them the title of Iberian champions.

But in true GAA spirit they weren’t willing to settle and completed a 13-game unbeaten run, beating the hosts 2-9 to 2-5 in the final.