GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 37 – October 31, 2015 | Page 29

The South Australia Junior Academy also got things started recently in Adelaide. Photo: Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of South Australia.

Report from a South Australia GAA perspective on the recent 2015 Australasians in Wellington, NZ, courtesy of former president of the Gaelic Football & Hurling Association
of South Australia, Tony Conlon.
What a year for South Australian Gaelic football. Our men
and women represented South Australia with pride and good
sportsmanship at the recent Australasian championship held
in New Zealand.
The women’s team were full of heart, determination against
all the odds they just fell short at the last hurdle losing to
Queensland on a score line of South A 2-01 to Queensland
1-08 for the Silver Plate final. Our ladies fought tooth and
nail all the way right to the very end but ultimately left the
run too late. Some big wins during the championships included great efforts against Queensland and Canterbury.
With a team of predominantly non Irish players, the South
Australia ladies can hold their heads high.
Congrats to the All Australian women’s players Belinda
White, Chloe Roesler, Rebecca Roesler and Emma Roche.
The Men’s state team took a little bit of gelling. Some great

individual performances were fantastic to watch, but when
the team was on against Wellington we really showed the
country the hell for leather dangerous and skilful game of
South Australia Gaelic football - it was a big stepping stone
into bigger and better years to come. The Men finished 3rd
and proudly improve on their 5th place position in Victoria
last year.
Well done to our men’s all Australian representatives Patrick
Brennan, Jamie Conlon, Andy Crate and Michael Zaluski.
The state association is indebted everyone involved in both
men’s and Women’s team including Ken Brophy for coaching and guiding the men’s team in the art of Gaelic Football,
James McGovern for helping out with coaching also great insight into the game and big halftime talks. The women’s team
was guided by Australasian Vice-president Matthew Doecke
with assistance from Sean Curry ensuring that everything
was organised and accounted for. Kate Woodland brought
this wonderful squad together but was unable to travel to
New Zealand for the championships. The trip co-ordinator
Andrea Malone ensured that costs were kept to a minimum
even though facilities were top class. John Butters O’Leary
put in countless hours putting it all together and following
through with the vision.

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