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

their opening victory when they had too much for Andalucía. However, Estrela Vermelha – the All Galician side,
who had won this year’s Galicia League, but were not able
to attend round 1, would be the big danger.
The Men´s 11- a side tournament consisted of 12 teams,
while the ladies event had 8 participating in a 7- a side format. This was the largest number of participating teams in
the championship so far. This is mainly down to Galicia fast
becoming a major stronghold in Gaelic Football and with
some teams being able to field two sides in both men’s and
ladies codes.

MINUTE SILENCE FOR GEMA
It is also worth mentioning that Gaelic football is not just a
sport, it is a way of life and a family. No more so highlighted
by the minutes silence held before the ladies final for Irmandinhas player Gema Calvo who had tragically lost her battle
with cancer the previous year. Her parents were invited to
centre field and the team stood together arm in arm holding
out a jersey with her Number 8 printed on the back. There
was not a dry eye in the place following that moment and to
see the entire Irmandinhas side playing their first half with
tears still in their eyes shows that even when the games are

The Ladies teams playing were as
follows – Irmandinhos A Estrada,
Braithreachas, Fillos De Breogan,
Estrela Vermelha, Mecas, Pontevedra, Artabras/Auriense all from
Galicia and Madrid.
TEAM OF TOURNAMENT
Host’s Irmandinhos A Estrada took
the honours in the Ladies final that
was contested by two Galician teams.
They faced a very exciting and strong
Fillos De Breogan side in the decider.
Irmandinhos A Estrada Ladies Champions. Photo: Courtesy of Marcos Gañete.
However, it was the Irmandinhas outfit who were the team of the tournament as they had blown away all opposition on route to the
played outside of Ireland, GAA is still very much about comchampionship game. The final itself was a good contest and
munity and family.
end-to-end throughout. Fillos put up a brave fight to stop
the Irmandinhas onslaught of attacks, but at half time it was
The 12 Men’s teams who participated were as follows – MaIrmandinhas who went in with a comfortable lead. The secdrid, Barcelona and Valencia, and from Galicia – Irmandinond half saw Fillos come out with all guns blazing and they
hos A Estrada, Fillos De Breogan, Estrela Vermelha, Mecos
started to eat into the Irmandinhas lead. In the end howFG, Pontevedra, Braithreachas, Vigo, Artabros and Auriense
ever, it just wasn’t enough with the excellent Irmandinhas
FG. The competition was eventually played out between the
side running out comfortable winners by a margin of seven
two most exciting sides in the tournament – the host’s Irmandpoints. Estrela Vermelha took 3rd position beating Braithinhos A Estrada and Estrela Vermelha. Both teams had eased
reachas in the playoff.
their way through the early rounds to make it to the decider.

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