NACB RoundupTones, Brendans take home the hardware

By Eamonn Kelly

CHICAGO – The rain has played havoc with the various championship Cup schedules here in Chicago over the previous two weekends. The following makeup games were played: On Thursday evening, the St. Brendans were victorious over the Padraic Pearses (Senior Football).

On Saturday evening, two Junior games were played – Parnells vs. St. Brendans and Wolfe Tones vs. Padraic Pearses. Both games were played in good spirit. with St. Brendans and Wolfe Tones advancing toward the final.

On Sunday afternoon. the St. Brendans Juniors captured the Holleran Cup in an easy victory over the John McBrides. Although the play was well distributed throughout, the McBrides didn’t make use of their chances. Final score 1-10 to 0-4.

Hurling saw Limerick advance to the Peter Ryan Championship Cup final over Erins Own. Erins Own didn’t capitalize on their chances unlike Limerick’s Mike Benson who was the highest scorer with six points. Final score 01-6 to 0-10.

In senior football, Wolfe Tones won the Paddy Rynne Championship Cup over Padraic Pearses. The sides ended the first half with one point between them, Tones on top. The Tones came back in the second half, scoring 2-6 to the Pearses 1-3 sealing victory. Final score 3-12 to 1-11.

Make-up games scheduled for the coming week include Wolfe Tones vs. Parnells (Sr.) on Wednesday evening and Limerick vs. Harry Bolands on Thursday evening. No games are scheduled for Memorial weekend as the Gaelic Park Irish fest takes place. Games will return on May 31 with the beginning of the Guinness Junior League.

NACB Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The Phoenix Park Hotel in downtown Washington D.C. was the venue for the recent North American County Board’s annual pre-playoff meeting. As in previous years, the objective of the meeting was for the National Board to meet with the local host playoff committee to review the plans already in place for the 1998 championship finals.

In addition, it provided a rare opportunity for the American Board to convene in person to address other business needs rather than through teleconferencing which has become the most cost effective way for the board to conduct affairs in light of the huge geographical distance that separates most of their officials.

Besides the North American County Board officers, all divisional boards around the country were represented at the meeting. The first item on the agenda was a group inspection of the playing facilities located in Germantown, a community in Montgomery County, Md. During a five-hour meeting that followed the field inspection, the local playoff committee, comprising officers from the Washington, D.C., Gaels Football Club, reported on the plans already in place for the Labor Day weekend tournament.

Committee chairman Albert Healy gave a detailed account of the arrangements made for the accommodation and transportation, considered among the major items for the successful staging of this huge tournament. Based on team affiliations from the various divisions at least 14 cities, some with several teams, are expected to be represented in the finals. Consequently, it is anticipated that over a thousand people from out-of-town will be attending the games.

It is estimated that 35 games will be played during the course of the playoffs in the following competitions: Football – Men’s senior, intermediate, Junior A, Junior B, Ladies Senior, Junior A. Hurling – Senior, Junior. Confirmation on the camogie competition is pending.

Since a new NACB rule prohibits a divisional champion from getting a bye to the national finals a draw was made to make up the fourth teams in Senior football, Intermediate football and Senior Hurling. Ironically, the draw resulted in the North East (Boston) division providing the fourth team in all categories. An extra team was also required to avoid a bye in men’s Junior “A” football. Philadelphia’s runner-up finalist will fulfill that role.

While all finals are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 6, all divisions we advised that the tournament could extend to Monday (Labor Day) in the event that an unusual number of games require overtime in the course of the weekend. The annual awards banquet is planned for Sunday night at the Double Tree Hotel in Germantown.

In other business, the Board announced that Guinness Corporation will again sponsor the NACB championship, focusing on the four major division cities, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco including the playoffs in Washington. Other than the North/East division (Boston), which started the championship last week, the first round won’t start in the other divisions until late May or early June. Highlight of the Guinness sponsorship will be the weekly presentation of a Waterford Crystal plaque to the Guinness Player of the Day in all of the four divisions. In addition, a Season’s MVP award will be presented to the best player in each division with the selected player winning a trip for two to Ireland.

Chairman Paddy Rooney, gave a brief report on Congress 1998 and it’s impact on the North American County Board. He explained the changes in Rule 41 of the Official Guide in regard to County Transfers and Sanctions, and emphasized that they will be fully implemented. Likewise, he stated that the rule forbidding NACB players from playing in New York will be enforced by both county boards. Before the meeting adjourned a discussion on Rule 21 (members of the British armed forces and police shall not be eligible for membership of the association) resulted in the majority of the divisions voting for the rule’s retention at next week’s special Congress.

Following is the draw for the 1998 NACB championship playoffs:

Senior Hurling

Northeast 1 (Boston) vs. Western (SanFran/San Jose)

Central (Chicago) vs. Northeast 2 (Boston)

Men’s Senior Football

North East 1 vs. Central

Philadelphia vs. Northeast 2

Men’s Intermediate Football

North East 1 vs. Philadelphia

Western vs. Northeast 2

Junior Hurling

Western vs. Philadelphia

So. Cal (L.A./San Diego) vs. Northeast

Men’s Junior “A” Football

Philadelphia 2 vs. Western

So. Cal vs. Midwest (Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh,

Florida (Pompano Beach) vs. Philadelphia 1

Central vs. Northeast

Men’s Junior “B” Football

Northwest (Seattle) vs. Atlanta

Florida vs. Midwest

So. Cal vs. Washington

Denver – Bye

Ladies Senior Football

Philadelphia vs. Central

Western vs. Northeast

Ladies Junior Football

Midwest/Denver vs. Northeast

So. Cal vs. Atlanta

Philadelphia vs. Northwest

Florida vs. Western