GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 18 – January 24, 2015 | Page 14

The Alberta Cup is run over 2-3 rounds in men’s and ladies Gaelic Football and at different locations in Western
Canada. Last year it was held at Red Deer in June with the
second round in July at Calgary. Round 1 in the men’s
football went to a dominant Calgary with Fort McMurray
men’s team coming in second place. In that same round,
the all Canadian Fort McMurray ladies were equally dominant in their section. This incredible local and new team
won in their very first year in 2012, won again in 2013 and
by the end of the second round in Calgary just did enough
to pull off a fantastic Alberta Cup treble. The men’s overall
Alberta Cup saw Calgary retain their crown. Wolfe Tones
and Calgary have been strong teams in this event each season and should feature again this year.
Meanwhile, the two new clubs in Saskatchewan (center of
Canada) decided to form a football league last year when
playing games over seven rounds. The more experienced
Regina Gaels had the better of the inaugural event and no
doubt the folks in Saskatoon will want
to change things around this year.
The last couple of years has seen new
clubs spring up across Canada and
it’s not just the Irish driving growth
but local Canadians getting stuck into
Gaelic Sports.

AUSTRALIA &
NEW ZEALAND
(AUSTRALASIA)
Encompassing a huge geographic
span of two countries, Australasia
GAA is made up of different Australia state entities - New South Wales,
Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia,
as well New Zealand’s Auckland,

14

Photo: Brisbane Souths

Christchurch and Wellington areas. There are some 64 GAA
clubs in the region.
The annual Australasian GAA State Championships are
without doubt the overall showcase event for this international unit and this year a record number of 25 teams competed
in all four GAA codes at Melbourne in Victoria last October.
This is a hugely competitive event over five days and features
U18 teams in action as well. Picking the best players from
each of the clubs to represent each state, this competition
is one of the most competitive in the World GAA calendar.
Men’s football champions last year were host’s Victoria who
defeated Western Australia. Shock exits for reigning champions New South Wales and fancied Queensland (QLD)