February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Eamonn Kelly
Boston’s new Irish Cultural Center, in suburban Canton, will be the site of this year’s North American County Board GAA annual championship, which will be held over the Labor Day weekend.
Hosted by the local Northeast Divisional Board, it will be the first time in four years that the national playoffs will be played in the Boston area. In 1996, when the tournament was held at Dilboy stadium in Somerville, 32 games were played over the three-day weekend. Such has been the growth in this annual event that close to 50 games (including under age football) will be on this year’s schedule.
Under the dynamic chairmanship of Donegalman John McDevitt, and a joint Herculean effort between the GAA and the Irish Cultural Center volunteers, three playing fields are ready for action. In addition to the labor-intensive job of preparing the facilities, the committee had to focus on transportation and accommodation arrangements, the two elements that can cause the most headaches for the organizers.
Following the conclusion of the various divisional championships over the past couple of weeks, the following cities will be represented in the playoffs: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, .DC.
The huge schedule, which starts at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, includes the following competitions: camogie, ladies’ junior and senior football, men’s junior A and B football, men’s intermediate and senior football, minor (under 18) football, junior and senior hurling. In addition, there will be an extensive juvenile program that will include underage 10, 12 and 14 competitions.
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It will be difficult to predict which clubs will bring home trophies as several of last year’s winners have failed to retain their divisional titles. In senior hurling, current national champion Chicago Harry Bolands and Boston Tipperary failed to retain their divisional titles. However, Tipperary remain in the hunt for hurling honors as they have qualified for the playoffs as beaten finalists in the host city championship. In senior football, Boston Shannon Blues and North American champions Chicago Wolfe Tones could not hold on to their divisional titles and there are new champions in the Philadelphia division, where Donegal emerged as winners.
Senior Hurling
Current Senior hurling champions Chicago Harry Bolands will not be in Boston this year to seek a record-breaking 14th North American title, having been defeated by Cuchulainn in the Central division final. Cuchulainn, who won their only title in 1995, will play Boston Tipperary in the semifinal. Recently crowned Northeast champions Boston Galway, following their win over Tipperary last Sunday, will play Western division winners San Francisco Na Fianna in the other semifinal.
Junior Hurling
Biggest surprise in the junior hurling competition is the withdrawal of current North American champions Los Angeles St. Patrick’s, who cannot field a team. They were to meet Northeast winners Boston Galway, the team they beat in last year’s epic final, in this year’s semifinal. Galway will now advance to the final. They will play the winners of the Chicago Cuchulainn-Boston Cork semifinal game.
Senior Football
Chicago Wolfe Tones who were seeking their fifth national title were dethroned by a well-balanced and very strong St. Brendan’s team in the Chicago Central division final. St. Brendan’s, who played below expectations until the final this year, will need to repeat that performance to regain the title they last won in 1983. They play 1998 winners Boston McAnespies in the semifinal next Saturday. Cork, who defeated McAnespies in a thrilling Northeast divisional final last Sunday, will be favorites to beat Philadelphia champions Donegal in the other semifinal. Donegal, who last captured the title in 1993, defeated Derry in a hard fought Philadelphia divisional final.
Intermediate Football
As in senior hurling and football, only three cities will be competing in the intermediate football competition. Similar to the senior competitions, the host city, Boston, will be entering two teams to provide for two semifinals. In the first semifinal, Northeast champions Boston Notre Dame will play Kevin Barry, the Philadelphia champions. Kevin Barry had a big win over Young Irelands in their divisional final. In the other semifinal Northeast runners-up Boston Columbkilles will face last years beaten finalists, San Francisco Sons of Boru’s. The Boru’s, who had an impressive season retained their Western division title by defeating the Ulster club in the final.
Junior Football (A)
The St. Pats team from Florida’s Fort Lauderdale area who last year relinquished the junior A title they won in 1997 and 1998, will be back as favorites to take the trophy away from Chicago St. Brendan’s, who will be representing the Central division again this year. The Florida team have a quarterfinal match with the Southern California winners, San Diego Clan na Gael on Friday, while current champions St. Brendan’s will take on new Midwest champions, Cleveland St. Jarlaths. In the third quarterfinal game, Philadelphia Donegal will play Boston McAnespies.
The fifth team, San Francisco Young Irelanders, who received a bye to the semifinals will play the winners of the Cleveland/Chicago game.
Junior Football (B)
The junior football B division is always the most competitive competition of the playoff as one club cities are striving for success, several for the first time. With last year’s winners, Cleveland St. Charletts now competing in the junior A division, the football junior B competition is wide open. Based on last year’s performance and with expected improvement the Gaels of Seattle and Atlanta may offer the biggest challenge for the trophy. Both teams clash in one of the quarterfinals on Friday. Also on Friday will be the other quarterfinal between the Denver Gaels and Washington Gaels. New addition to the B division this year is Pittsburgh Celtic who were runners-up in the Midwest division. They will play the St. Pats B team from Florida in a semifinal clash on Saturday.
Ladies Senior Football
There is a good chance we may see a repeat of last year’s thrilling ladies senior football final between Boston Shamrocks, the eventual winners, and Chicago Erins Rovers. Both clubs, who are enjoying a great season, will not clash in the semifinals. The shamrocks, after a huge win in last Sunday’s Northeast final, will meet San Francisco Fog City Harps in one semifinal, while the Rovers will clash with Northeast runner-up Boston Roscommon.
Ladies Junior Football
Boston Shamrocks B team will be competing in this competition having defeated Inisfail in their divisional final last week. They play San Francisco Fog City Harps in the opening game of the playoffs on Friday morning. Other pairings are: Denver Gaels vs. Atlanta Clan na Gael, Florida St. Pats vs. Detroit St. Anns, Seattle Gaels vs. winners of Florida/Detroit game, Philadelphia Harps vs. Los Angeles OC Rosins.
Camogie
Boston is expected to regain the camogie title but may face a top challenge from San Francisco Shamrocks who will be playing in their third final. Chicago St. Mary’s will be at a disadvantage with no competition in the Central division.
Besides the minor football competition, several cities will be competing in under age groups, 10, 12 and 14.