GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 17 – January 10, 2015 | Page 23

Time out for Tipp in Dubai. (Photo courtesy of Paddy Darcy)

training sessions are being held this month in the United
Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, the second part of a Coaching Course & Award
Level 1 takes place in Dubai next weekend. The Middle East
GAA ratified as a new international ‘County Board’ in 2013
with some 60 teams across the region, held a coaching course
in their first year with 45 graduates and continue the project
over two days with workshops on 16-17 January in Foundation and Award Level courses in modules 2 through 7. The
held the first of the current coaching courses last October.
Round 3 of the Sperrin Metal Middle East League continues on January 30th in Al Ain, UAE in ladies and men’s
senior and intermediate Gaelic football. In senior men’s,
Abu Dhabi A hold sway but just by one point over surprise
packet Arabian Celts from Bahrain with last year’s dominant champs, Dubai A, in third three points adrift of top.

Qatar A and Al Ain are also well in the hunt. In men’s intermediate football, Dubai C are in front by one point but
Arabian Celts B and Clann na hOman are close behind with
a chasing pack of Naomh Alee from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Harps, Sharjah Gaels and Abu Dhabi C. In Ladies
senior and intermediate football, Abu Dhabi A and Al Ain A,
having won the opening two rounds and with five points to
spare over second placed sides are the teams to beat in Round
3 at Al Ain.
Last week in the Middle East it was a special occasion for the
Dubai Celts club as they hosted the Tipperary County Hurling
team from 29th Dec to 5th Jan. The club has put the welcome
carpet out for Donegal and Mayo footballers in the past as
well as Galway hurlers, but this time it was the men of the
‘Blue & Gold’ that took centre stage. The week-long visit was
both a holiday and a chance for some warm weather training
for the All Ireland finalists.

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