GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 21 – March 14, 2015 | Page 31

The ladies final pairing has become
the annual meeting between two of the
great teams of South Australia’s womens
football. In their semi-final the scoreline
didn’t do justice to the closeness of the
game, but in the final it was back and
forth all through with nothing between
the sides. Irish Australian Blues had to
fight all the way to defeat a determined
Onkaparinga team by one point where
it ended Blues 1-10 to Onkas 2-6. Another fine victory for the Irish Australian
Blues their 5th in a row in the Finn Cup.
Woman of the Match was Belinda White
from Irish Australian Blues.
This was followed by the men’s final, a
Western Ireland players (stripes) surround St. Brendan’s player in the men’s final.
closely fought and highly entertaining
Photo: Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of South Australia.
encounter for the Hannigan Cup. In the
early going St. Brendans had more possession but struggled
“I was delighted with how the season went,” said Conlon.
in the final third as Western Ireland’s defence was solid led
by Jon Floreani whose side made the most of scoring oppor“There was a lot of progress made getting a lot of extra teams
tunities. Brendans gradually gained a foothold but were far
in. Our season started really well with having three teams in
from secure when holding a slim one point lead at the break.
the Australasian Championships [last Sept-Oct] and we hope
The league champion’s piled on the pressure in the second
to have four teams this year in Wellington.
half which resulted in two crucial goals from Paddy Brennan
and though Western Ireland kept on battling they couldn’t
“We were able to add teams to both the men’s and ladies
breach the St. Brendan’s defense. Final score St. Brendans
league competitions and as well we saw the re-introduction of
2-9 Western Ireland 0-9. Paddy Brennan from St Brendan’s
hurling to South Australia,” said the outgoing president [intook Man of the Match.
coming president is Australian, Stephen Clay.
The day was also capped off with Channel 7 TV, who had
broadcasted live and free-to -air the football and hurling
championships from Ireland last year, at St. Mary’s Park for
the finals.
The season has come to an end for South Australia GAA and
outgoing president Tony Conlon told Gaelic Sports World of
his overall satisfaction with how things went this year.

AUDIO:
Conlon hopes that South Australia GAA can develop both
off and on the field in future years.

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