ABU DHABI // The Middle East teams took a clean sweep of the major honours at Saturday’s Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) World Games, winning both the men’s and ladies’ events to be crowned the inaugural global champions.
Played under the lights at Zayed Sports City, a keenly contested all-Middle Eastern men’s Gaelic football final finished with Middle East 2 taking the title by seven points, defeating their No 1 team 4-13 to 1-15 to conclude the two-day event in the capital.
With each side comprising players from clubs spread across the region, friendships were put to one side for the showpiece fixture, which culminated in Joe Milea lifting the silverware for Middle East 2.
“I’m a little bit in shock, to be honest,” Milea said seconds after the final whistle. “It was a great game of football, with both teams very evenly matched. It could’ve gone either way right to the last moment – I can barely believe we’ve been fortunate to come out on top.
“I’m trying to get used to the feeling.”
The men’s final marked the conclusion of the first World Games, which featured 28 teams from across the globe, including sides based in North America, Canada, South America, Australasia, Europe and South Africa.
“It’s a great end to a great weekend,” Milea said.
“To win it is definitely one of the better GAA experiences I’ve ever had, that’s for sure.”
There was yet more regional success in the ladies’ World Cup, with Middle East 1 coming from behind to see off Australasia by two points, the “home” side winning 4-7 to 2-11.
Australasia began the match brilliantly and raced two goals up, but Middle East, made up of players from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar, rallied in a stirring second-half display to seal the trophy. “It was such a tight game all the way through, but we’re just delighted to have hung on,” said Una Harkin, the Middle East 1 captain. “Every single person is ecstatic, we’re over the moon. Just can’t believe it – there are tears of joy, everything.
“The target was to get to the final and win it, and we’ve done that. Australasia are a strong team and we knew it’d be one of the hardest games we’ve ever come across, so to win is unbelievable.”
In the men’s Plate final, Canada defeated Europe 6-9 to 2-5, while in the ladies’ section Europe were again the vanquished, losing to New York 4-11 to 2-4.
Earlier, Argentina were crowned champions in the International Cup courtesy of an extra-time victory against Spain’s Galicia with the South Americans triumphing 1-4 to 0-4.
In the ladies’ International Cup final, Canada defeated the Middle East 3-7 to 3-4.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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