GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 2 Sample Test, June 5, 2014 | Page 9

BIGGEST NCGAA NATIONALS – WHAT THEY SAID
DUBLIN NATIVE, BRIAN BARRY
– MONTANA GRIZZLIES CO-FOUNDER
Having come over to Montana
last August, even representing
the university on a hurling field
seemed farfetched enough, but
sealing our place as the best college team in the nation in Gaelic
Park was something different.
Hurling is something ingrained
in my nature and blood, and the
chance to help spread the gospel in
somewhere so far-afield as Montana is an opportunity which I will
always cherish.
After months of hard work, both
on the field and on the fundraising
front, it was a relief to finally get
on the plane. Playing on Paddy’s
Field and finally seeing the team

gelling on the stage we were awaiting all year was massive. The team
was no longer relying on Naoise
[Waldron] up front to do all the
scoring. Clearing the ball, I had
several to aim at. And by God they
delivered.
On Sunday, the heat in Gaelic
Park was hard to deal with. USA
94 taught us that an Irishman
shouldn’t be subjected to these
conditions, and a Steve Stauntonstyle cap wouldn’t have gone amiss.
To bring back a national championship to Montana is something
special. But this is only the beginning. Hurling is about to blow up
in the North-West. Griz Abú.

SOPHIE FRIEDL FROM CALIFORNIA
– MONTANA GRIZZLIES PLAYER

When
we got
to nationals,
and then
won, I was
ecstatic!

I had no idea what
hurling was when I went
to my first practice back
in October. All I knew
was that Brain had been
nagging me for weeks
about coming out to
practice and “getting involved”. I immediately
fell in love with the fast
pace and competitive nature of Ireland’s national
sport. Over the next few
months the rest of the
team and I worked hard
almost every day—rain,
shine, or snow—to hone
our hooking, blocking,
hand-passing, and striking. When we got to nationals, and then won, I
was ecstatic! All of our
months of hard work and
dedication finally paid
off just the way we intended when Naoise and
Brian started the club in
August.

Brian Barry (maroon) in action recently at Montana University in the Northwest Cascade
League. (Photo: Montana University Grizzlies)

SIMON GILLESPIE
– NECGAA CHAIRMAN & NYGAA
GAMES DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
American County Board. The great
thing though about this tournament is that the players themselves
must put in a lot of work as administrators and coordinators for the
team both on and off the field.

The event was a tremendous s Ս