Australasia were crowned World Champions three times at Celtic Park on Friday 28 July as our Irish men’s and Irish women’s footballers, and camogie team claimed some great final wins.
Results
Open men’s football cup final
Australasia 3-7 – 1-5 Middle East
Camogie cup final
Australasia 4-9 – 1-4 Middle East
Open women’s football cup final
Australasia 3-10 – 0-5 Parnells
Hurling cup final
Australasia 3-14 – 1-23 Middle East
Round-ups
Men’s open football
Our Irish men’s football team claimed their first World Games title with a professional performance over Middle East, winning 3-7 to 1-5. The lads got off on the front foot with some early scores from Seán McSweeney, while Cory Quinn and Adam Neely rattled the net to take in a two-goal cushion at the half.
The second-half was executed perfectly from the lads, and co-managers Donncha Lynch and Barry Devine will be delighted with their team’s management of this game. Another goal at the restart put the team in pole position, and, apart from a minor aberration which saw Middle East nab a goal, the lads controlled the game with great discipline. Players all over the field were instrumental in this win, from Diarmuid Larkin and Evin Scanlon to Aaron McCarney and Liam Casey, but Conor Ffrench, like he’s been all week, was absolutely superb in his trademark point-guard role, and he duly picked up the player of the final award. Congratulations to the players and management on the win and on a fantastic week of football.
Camogie
The big occasion at Celtic Park did little to affect our camógs’ imperious form as they won convincingly over Middle East to pick up their third successive World Games title. The opening stages were nip and tick, and our opponents defended well, but it was only a matter of time before our ace forwards in the Farrell sisters in Shelly and Meighan, and Áine Cunningham picked off scores, including a few three-pointers. The team’s ruthless attack was complemented by a defence who were akin to white on rice on Middle East’s forwards, only conceding a point in the first period.
The second half was a measured and controlled performance, and the likes of Lorna O’Dwyer, Claire Nolan, and Suzie Dunphy, who landed a great solo goal, were key to an overall fantastic team performance. Congratulations to Meighan Farrell whose brilliant performance earned her the player of the final accolade. Co-managers Mossy Oakes and Ollie Gordon will be thrilled with their team, who showed determination and tenacity to match their star quality. Congratulations to the team and management for the three-in-a-row success.
Open women’s football
Our Irish-born women’s footballers landed back-to-back World Games titles with a stunning 3-10 0-5 win over Parnells of London. It was an excellent performance from start to finish, with Australasia leaders all over the pitch dominating their opponents. Stoic defending from Laura Gallagher, Aisling Bourke, Jade O’Donnell and Tricia Melanaphy kept Parnells out, while player of the match Maud-Annie Foley was her usual commanding presence in the middle of the field. Up front, meanwhile, Rachel Talbot, Ciara Burke, Andrea O’Reilly and Eilís Ní Chaiside gave their defence no respite. Parnells really came at our girls in the second half, but we simply refused to let them breach our lines, limiting them to a few meagre points. It finished 3-10 to 0-5, and the girls were full value for their win. Congratulations to all involved on an emphatic victory and a great tournament overall, including the management trio of Brendan Coleman, Ryan McErlean and Marty Hasson.
Hurling
Our hurlers succumbed to a three-point loss against Middle East after a game of the highest quality. With a win each in the teams’ previous encounters this week, as well as the history of this fixture at the World Games, this tie was always going to be a humdinger. It’s safe to say the scoreboard operator was kept busy here as attack after attack resulted in a score. It was back and forth for the first half until we finally got the edge landing a goal. But it was short-lived as Middle East immediately answered back with a goal of their own, and they took in a two-point lead at the break. It was all to play for in the second half. Middle East, however, started landing scores with more regularity to build up a three-point margin. We narrowed the deficit through a Kevin Hetherton goal, but Middle East continued to answer with scores of their own. It ended 1-23 to 3-14 in favour of Middle East. Commiserations to the management and players who put in fine performances all week, and congratulations to a fine Middle East side.
Day 1 round-up – Monday 24 July Day 2 round-up – Tuesday 25 July Day 3 round-up – Wednesday 26 July Day 4 round-up – Thursday 27 July
