GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 23 – April 10, 2015 | Page 37

the season. The number of teams participating in this year’s league has been
good throughout and that trend continued for the end of season championships in Dubai with 56 sides taking part
involving an impressive 772 players.
KUWAIT AGAIN
At the intermediate level in ladies,
though Kuwait Harps A and Al Ain A,
at the end of four rounds finished tied
on 35 points, the Harps took the league
when winning a playoff match. These
two were joined by third placed Abu
Dhabi D and Dubai C. The top two of
The local Clan Oman team had a good championship and season. (Photo: Tina & Stew
Hunt/ Middle East GAA).
Kuwait and Al Ain made it through to
the championship final and once again
Kuwait Harps took the spoils adding the championship to their
termediate men’s league and championship again showed the
league title. It has been something of a breakthrough season for
competitive nature of games in the Middle East.
the Harps as the past few seasons they hadn’t played as much as
other teams but their league participation went very well. They
UNBEATEN RECORD
are mostly a mix of international players trained by two Canadians and were able to follow league form by taking the championThe league placements were a bit more clear-cut in the senship, and next season will see them take on the senior teams.
ior ladies grade as Abu Dhabi A went unbeaten through the
four rounds of the league and were the team to beat in the
championship. The sides closest were Dubai A and Abu DhaSHARJAH AND ABU DHABI C WIN
bi B, who had finished the league on 30 points after two secMeanwhile, the men’s intermediate competition saw Abu
ond and third place finishes, while Sharjah were the outsiders
Dhabi C, Clann na hOman, Sharjah Gaels and Arabian Celts
having finished as the final championship qualifier. It was no
from Bahrain taking to the pitch at the Dubai facility. The
surprise to see the unbeaten Abu Dhabi A team make the final
league’s last round had not been completed ahead of the seabut the big question was who would meet them in the decider.
son finale, so the final round and championship would count
With home advantage to Dubai, it was felt the advantage lay
towards both. The top two teams through the league were Abu
with them to make the final, however, it was the Abu Dhabi B
Dhabi C and Sharjah – who though they should have topped
team who came through the meet their A side for the chamthe table, were deducted points on account of them missing
pionship. In the final the Abu Dhabi A side had too much for
last year’s championship. These made it into the championthe B team and were crowned champions. The victory means
ship final and it was Sharjah who proved strongest. However,
that the Abu Dhabi A ladies team have gone undefeated in the
Abu Dhabi C’s runners-up position was enough for them to
league and championship for the past three years which is a
secure the league title. Having two separate winners of the inremarkable record and achievement.

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