European Gaelic Football Championship Finals 19-20 October 2013 Athlone Institute of Technology Clár oifigiúil Rúnaí: Antinae de Bháis European Gaelic Football Championship Finals Clár an Lae/Programme Saturday 19 October 2013 Sunday 20 October 2013 8.30 Team registration (upstairs in AIT 9.20 Tournament recommences International Arena) 12.00 Junior B Mens Final 9.00 Tournament commences Main pitch Games continue throughout the day. See schedule in centre 12.45 Senior B Mens Final pages of this programme. Main pitch 14.00 Camogie demonstration/skills 13.30 Junior Mens Final Astro-turf pitch Main pitch 15.00 Handball demonstration 14.00 Ladies Shield Final John Count McCormack Centre Astro-turf pitch 14.15 Intermediate Mens Final Main pitch 14.45 Ladies Championship Final Astro-turf pitch 15.00 Social Inclusion Children’s Game Main pitch 15.45 Senior A Mens Final Main pitch 19.00 Dinner followed by presentations and entertainment John Count McCormack Centre Programme edited by Brian Clerkin Designed by Communications & Marketing Office, AIT Printed by Brosna Press, Ferbane, Co Offaly Athlone Institute of Technology 1 Welcome from ECB Chairman n behalf of the European Board This weekend would not have been I would like to extend a warm possible without the immense planning Owelcome to all our clubs and their and support from everyone at AIT, players, friends of European GAA and all Westmeath GAA, and O’Neills. To them, a our guests. massive thank you. Our players appreciate it, especially the facilities they have the 2013 has seen a huge push in our opportunity to use, which may not be development in football and hurling, with normally available to them. multiple new clubs formed, our newly trained referees and coaching courses Athlone has been the focal point of taking place across the continent. To be our year in terms of events. We made invited to bring our finals to Ireland is a a change to our traditional style of deep recognition by the people who love competition in making it a two-day event. GAA, of the work we are doing and will Whether this continues will be for the continue to do. The fact that GAA county players and clubs to decide. boards, institutions and companies want us to bring our players and clubs to Ireland I hope you all enjoy this weekend at home reflects our importance, not just to Irish for some of you, and to the home of the people abroad or our new homes and the GAA. Especially our non-Irish players, locals who adopted Gaelic Games, but to enjoy it, the feeling of playing the game the greater GAA family. you’ve learned in your home town and bringing it to Ireland. Learn from the Uactarán Liam O’Neill has stated that experience and bring it home with you, the GAA abroad will be bigger than the encourage others to play and grow your GAA at home eventually, and that is the clubs. way we are going. We are a young Board in the greater scheme of things, but we Bain taitneamh as an deireadh seacthaine! will continue to push the development, increase playing numbers, improve the visibility of our games in the local communities we live in so, just like in Brian Sheehy Ireland, the GAA becomes a focal point of Chairperson of the European Board the community. 2 European Gaelic Football Championship Finals Teachtaireacht an Uachtaráin s cúis mhór áthais na focail seo a This is an extremely exciting period for leanas a scríobh agus fáilte croíúil a Europe GAA and this event provides a Ichur romhaibh go léir go IT Áth Luain. fantastic opportunity for their Irish players and non-Irish players to be a part of the I am delighted to be afforded this GAA celebrations. opportunity to extend a special ‘céad míle The GAA has made giant strides in Europe fáilte’ on behalf of Cumann Lúthchleas and the promotion, development and Gael to you all for the conclusion of the enjoyment of our games across the region European GAA season. is clear for all to see. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who I have no doubt this festival will bring have aided this growth and progress for vibrancy and colour to Athlone that will be their passion, energy and remarkable remembered for a long time to come as enthusiasm to promote our games over 500 players from across 20 different overseas. countries showcase their passion for our games. Finally, may I wish all players, teams, officials and the organising committee the The 30 teams that will take part will be very best of luck and thank them all and the heartbeat of this competition over competition sponsors O’Neills for their the coming days and the added support support in promoting this competition. On of travelling friends, club members and the field there will be winners and losers indeed GAA enthusiasts here in Ireland but I have no doubt that good times will be making the journey to see old friends will had and further friendships forged. ensure a unique atmosphere for all those involved. Rath Dé ar an obair, Those that travelled both near and far to support this wonderful occasion will not be left disappointed with over 80 games expected to be played on the Athlone IT campus this weekend to help make Liam Ó Néill this the largest ‘Gathering’ evening in Uachtarán Westmeath in 2013. Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Athlone Institute of Technology 3 Welcome from Ladies Gaelic Football President uirim fáilte do gach éinne go Baile Cumann Peil Gael na mBan fully Átha Luain ar an ocáid spéisialta appreciates the work of the European Cinniu. Board under the leadership of Brian Sheehy, Tony Bass, Daire Kivlehan, our As Uachtarán of Cumann Peil Gael na ladies football officer Monica Duran and mBan it gives me great pleasure to their colleagues. I thank all the clubs welcome you all to Athlone this weekend, throughout Europe for providing social for the European Championship finals. I interaction and integration not only would like to compliment the European amongst the Irish community, but also with County Board for their dedication, the various nationalities amongst whom commitment and enthusiasm in the they reside. promotion of Irish games, culture and heritage. Finally, as Uachtaráin I would like to thank the match officials, team mentors, Gaelic games continue to go from strength sponsors, administrators, and the various to strength in Europe and ladies Gaelic committees who organise tournaments football plays a key role in this growth. throughout Europe during the year and for Such is the popularity and growth of successfully ensuring that this weekend Gaelic games throughout the world that came to fruition. it is only a matter of time before there will be international competitions. Europe is I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend well placed to play a leading role in this and make many new friends as well as exciting venture and potentially become renewing old acquaintances. the leaders. The Ladies Gaelic Football Association is proud to be part of the Pat Quill Gaelic games family of six sports – ladies football, camogie, rounders, handball Uachtarán and men’s football and hurling – and to Cumann Peil Gael na mBan help foster the close links that continue to develop between all five associations. 4 European Gaelic Football Championship Finals Welcome from Chairman of Leinster Council chairde go léir, is mór an onóir domsa return home. Fáilte abhaile to one and all and a na cupla focail seo a scríobh inniu. it is my wish that everyone enjoys their stay, A rekindles old friendships and makes new ones. It gives me great pleasure to pen these few words on the occasion of the European In addition to our proud partnership with Football Finals. This year is unique in the Europe, Leinster GAA has also forged strong fact that the Finals are being held in Athlone, links with the third level sector. Athlone IT has which will ensure a very special atmosphere developed enviable sports facilities on their indeed. I look forward to two days of great campus, with GAA facilities a particular jewel action from both the men’s and ladies’ teams in the crown. A ringing endorsement of these encompassing senior, intermediate and junior facilities was evidenced as AIT has played grades. host to both the Sigerson Cup weekend and the Community Games earlier in the year. My This weekend perfectly complements thanks to all involved with the college, the Athlone’s appointment as a European Town of surrounding clubs and indeed the Westmeath Sport and all the more appropriate given that it County Board for all their assistance to date. is the year of The Gathering. My thanks to all our referees who are The European Board have once again officiating over the course of the weekend, done outstanding work in the build-up the volume of games make for a gruelling to this weekend, no mean feat indeed schedule and without their efforts, staging an considering that 24 clubs from over 70 event such as this would be impossible. Our countries participated over the course of the sponsors have been outstanding once again, championships. These Finals come hot on the and in this regard I would like to thank O’Neills heels of the historic participation of Guernsey and the Croke Park Hotel for their continuous Gaels in the Leinster Club Championship, support and I hope their representatives enjoy making it a hugely exciting time for all involved. the occasion. My thanks to Brian Sheehy, Tony Bass and their team for their efforts, which culminate this Finally, I hope that everyone attending these weekend.