GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 20 – February 22, 2015 | Page 37

QATAR MIDDLE EAST MEN’S FOOTBALL RD 4 – FINAL ROUND FEBRUARY 18, 2015 ABU DHABI AWARDED MIDDLE EAST CROWN In what was one of the most exciting ever Middle East men’s senior football leagues, with new winners in each of the four rounds, the final episode last Friday Feb 13 in Qatar, proved somewhat low-keyed as this year’s crown was awarded to Abu Dhabi Na Fianna A, on account of Dubai A having to pull out of a playoff league decider. The concluding stages of the Middle East Men’s Senior Football League had been scheduled for February 20th but was brought forward a week to last Friday at the same venue in Qatar. TOO CLOSE TO CALL Heading into the fourth and final Abu Dhabi Na Fianna A crowned Middle East League Senior Men’s winners. (Photo: Michael Barry/Qatar GAA Facebook) round of this 8 team, 9-aside format, things looked completely different to last year as just four points separated the top three teams and the league too close to call. This time 12 months ago, Dubai A were the hot favourites to take honours as they had won the first three rounds and duly obliged when also taking the decider. But this year has been anything but clear-cut as we have had no less than three different winners in the opening rounds -– Abu Dhabi, Arabian Celts, and Dubai B surprise packet last time out at Al Ain. So prior to last weekend’s final round at the Doha Rugby Club, the standings showed Abu Dhabi A, who had finished 37