GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 28 – June 20, 2015 | Page 10

ing the deficit on an afternoon where temperatures
reached 93 degrees Fahrenheit (33 C).
Dallas kept the pace through the opening salvos of the
second half to maintain their lead, but with 20 minutes
to play the Cowboys’ Limerick men from Monaleen
combined to turn the emotional tide. Midfielder Darragh Bonfil found John O’Dwyer charging up the left
side after referee Colm Egan whistled for a free, and
the big center back cut a lovely score over the bar for
his second point of the game. It was O’Sullivan’s (1-03)
turn moments later, as he recorded the day’s first goal
to leave just a point between the teams.
Man of the Match O’Sullivan moved forward in the
closing stages, leaving some room to run in the middle
of the park. Celtic Cowboys have always had a strong
Munster connection, and after O’Dwyer (0-02) placed
an expert pass to the wing, a lovely move up the left
side from Adrian Mannix (Kilworth, Co. Cork) was
finished with the point it deserved to level the scores.
The Cowboys followed with
scores from James Casey
(Charleville, Co. Cork) and
Lehane (0-2) each put their
name to fantastic points to
put the Cowboys into the lead.
Bonfil (1-02) completed his
stellar day with a goal to ease
the breathing on the visitors’
side, and the Cowboys saw
out the final minutes to claim
a thrilling come from behind
win.
A beaming Lehane credited
the attitude of the whole panel
for the win. “I think we always
seem to develop great unity

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within this club. Everyone buys in to our ethos pretty quickly and understands what it’s like to represent
Austin and to win a Texas Championship.”
Austin’s junior footballers had a day to remember as
well, with center forward and man of the Match Sheamus Healy (Annaghdown, Co. Galway) dominating
throughout as Celtic Cowboys notched a 5-11 to 1-05
win over San Antonio’s San Patricios.
“We’ve worked hard in this Texas heat to get where we
are as a team,” commented junior captain American,
Rob Jaskula.
“Players like Sheamus Healy and Pat Doab have all the
moves in the book. Being able to train alongside players that have been on their county panels and played in
Croke Park improves us by leaps and bounds and motivates us to play our best.”
As the competition grows even bigger in Texas – Dallas Fionn MacCumhaills were champions at the NACB

Fionn MacCumhaills Elaine O’Connor (left) presents the Irish American Society Cup to Dawn
Zimmaro Captain of the Celtic Cowboys Ladies Football. Photo: Brendan O’Sullivan/Austin
Celtic Cowboys.