Boston Gaelic Athletic Finals Set for Next Weekend

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Rory O’Donnell of the PRO Boston Northeast Board.

The finals of the Boston Championships in Gaelic Football and Hurling will take place at the  this weekend, Aug. 25-26.

Teams have been battling it out all summer long to win the prize of champions in several categories of gaelic football and hurling. At the highest level, senior competition, teams are composed of a combination of local players and players who are spending the summer in the area. Many of these players play and have played at the highest level in Ireland. The championships have been the best in several years with close, intensely contested games.  

Gaelic Football resembles a combination of soccer and rugby. It is a fast, physical, and high scoring game. The game is played with a round ball and players can carry the ball, pass with their feet or hands, and score by kicking the ball between the uprights for a point, or into the net for a goal. A goal is worth three points. Hurling is played with a wooden stick made of ash, and ball resembling a baseball. Players strike the ball from their hands or on the ground with the stick, and can run by balancing the ball on the end of the stick. It is supremely skillful and one of the most exciting games that the world has to offer.

The Senior Gaelic football final will be contested between Donegal and Shannon Blues.  Both teams are based south of Boston in Quincy. Though Shannon Blues have gone unbeaten all season Donegal will be considered favourites. Donegal has a team laden with top quality talent and will be hard to beat. The senior hurling final will be between Brighton based Galway, who are the reigning champions, and Wexford. The local rivalry is sure to produce an intensely contested affair. In ladies senior football final it is Boston Shamrocks and Connacht Ladies who will contest the final. The Shamrocks, who were formed in 1993, are Boston’s oldest ladies club, and Connacht Ladies in the final in their first year in existence.

The games will take place at the Irish Cultural Centre, which is located off Rte. 138 in Canton. Admission is $10. Children aged 16 and under enter free of charge.  

There will be concessions available, as well as a playground and activities for kids.  

Whether you are familiar with these sports or not the weekend ahead is one to look forward to. Come and check out the best of live Gaelic Athletic Sports that you will see in North America.

For directions to the Irish Cultural Center, visit www.irishculture.org.

For information about the Boston GAA, please check out www.bostongaa.org.  

Weekend Schedule

Saturday, Aug. 25

• 3:00 Junior Hurling Final: Tipperary v. Fr. Tom Burke’s
• 5:00 Junior B Football: Cork v. Kerry
  Field B
• 3:00 Junior C Hurling Final: Barley House Wolves v. Portland HC

Sunday, Aug. 26

• 11:30 Junior A Football Final: Donegal v. Wolfe Tones
• 1:00 Ladies Senior Football Final: Connacht Ladies v. Boston Shamrocks
• 2:30 Senior Hurling Final: Galway v. Wexford
• 4:00 Men’s Senior Football Final: Donegal v. Shannon Blues