Boston GAA season reaches playoff stages

The Boston Gaelic Athletic Association’s 2011 season is reaching its climax at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton.

There are 23 clubs under the umbrella of the Boston Northeast Divisional Board, fielding in excess of 40 teams. Clubs have been competing since May for the Gaelic football and hurling championships.

In football, there are four cups up for grabs at the senior, intermediate, junior A and junior B levels. The hurlers will compete for the senior, junior A and junior C championships. The ladies footballers championships have already been decided with Brighton-based Tír na nÓg (pronounced “Teer na Noge” — Land of Youth) winning both ladies categories.

The playoffs begin on Sunday, August 14, with the quarterfinals of the senior football championship. The semifinals take place the following Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21, with the finals on the last weekend of August. The eventual winners go on to represent the division at the North American County Board Finals the following weekend (Labor Day), which will be held in San Francisco.

There are many top-quality Gaelic football and hurling matches taking place with a high level of athleticism and skill on display. Most of the clubs are based in Boston and the surrounding towns, with some clubs farther away in Hartford, CT, Worcester, Concord, NH, and Portland, ME.

Gaelic football is a game of skill, speed, and plenty of scoring. Players can catch the ball and carry it for four steps, but then must bounce or “solo” the ball. The ball is passed by a hand-pass or a kick from the hands. Kick the ball between the posts and over the bar for a point, or under the bar into the net for a goal, which is worth three points (there are goalkeepers).

Hurling is played with a ball similar to a baseball and a stick (hurley). The game requires exceptional skill and is a wonder to behold. Players strike the ball on the ground or from the hand and the scoring is the same as in Gaelic football. The games are catching on in the United States, and there is now a dozen underage Gaelic football and hurling clubs in the New England area.

Come to the Irish Cultural Center to check out the games. The ICC is located on New Boston Drive in Canton (off Route 138). Children under 16 are admitted free. Admission is $10 for adults; for the finals it is $20. For directions, check www.irishculture.org. Contact information for all of the clubs is located at www.bostongaa.org. A schedule of games, results and tables is also available on the site.

Story and photos courtesy of Rory O’Donnell

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