Auckland and South Australia wrapped up their seasons over the weekend, with Marist Rangers securing a memorable double in Auckland, while Flinders O’Neills and Western Ireland claimed the South Australian titles in Adelaide.
Auckland
Moire Park in West Auckland played host to the 2025 Auckland football championship finals, where the old saying “goals win games” held true. The men’s final saw a “Battle of the Bombays” as Marist of Auckland faced Naomh Críostóir from Waikato. The Auckland side dominated, emerging with a solid 5-9 to 2-3 victory.
The women’s final was a closer contest, but Marist’s finishing proved decisive against old rivals Celtic, with Marist winning 4-6 to 2-7 to complete a memorable double. Both Marist teams will now set their sights on national silverware at the New Zealand Championships, set to take place at Moire Park on March 22-23.
St Pat’s Emerald City also enjoyed success, securing the shield in both men’s and women’s competitions against Harps.
Breege Nolan and Cian McQuillan, Marist Rangers’ 2025 Auckland Championship-winning captains.
South Australia
At a sun-soaked St Mary’s Park in Adelaide, the South Australian finals provided an exciting conclusion to the season, with the action livestreamed on the Australasia Gaelic Games YouTube channel.
In the women’s final, Flinders O’Neills and the Irish Australian Blues contested the Tom Finn Cup. After a tight start, Flinders struck a few quick goals midway through the first half, including a brilliant team effort from Kat Reynolds and Lauren Saunders, to take control. They powered home to win 6-14 to 3-10.
In the men’s final, Flinders, who were making their first final appearance since the mid-1990s, and hoping to claim a historic club double, took on Western Ireland for the Betty Hannigan Cup. However, Western Ireland had other ideas, and after raising a green flag less than two minutes in, didn’t look back and secured a 10-point win, 1-17 to 0-10.
Best on Ground, Siena Covino of Flinders O’Neills, in full flight during the South Australia women’s football championship final against Irish Australian Blues on Saturday 1 March. Photo credit: Noe Llamas
