Hong Kong won the men’s football event at the Asian Gaelic Games in Suwon on Sunday, while Singapore beat Seoul Gaels in the women’s final.

Seoul Gaels had hoped home advantage would bring them a title, but only the women’s team made the final. There was, however, consolation from a win in the men’s second tier competition and increased Korean participation, with new teams from outside Seoul in the games.

The 15th Asian Gaelic Games were opened Friday by Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore, at the Ibis Hotel in Suwon.

With around 700 players from 14 different countries, this year’s competition, held at Suwon’s World Cup Stadium complex, welcomed three new clubs (Mongolia, Busan Celts and Daegu) to the celebration of Irish sport.

Gilmore said the growing popularity of Gaelic football, both globally and in Asia made a strong case for it to be accepted as an Olympic sport.

Fifty-nine teams battled it out in three competitions to set up Sunday’s knock-out stages in the three tiers, the top tier cup, the B cup in the men’s second tier and bowl for the women’s, and the third tier plate.

By noon on Sunday the stage was set for the finals. Taiwan’s men would face Shanghai for the plate, while Malaysia’s ladies set up a final against a team from Vietnam. In the battle for the bowl, the women from Shanghai were up against another Chinese club from Suzhou. The men’s final in the B cup would be decided between the Seoul Gaels and the Arabian Celts. 

The men from Taiwan took the plate, winning 12-6, with the Malaysian team winning the women’s event (14-5). Suzhou won the ladies’ bowl (4-1). Seoul Gaels’ men walked away with the B cup before a marching band brought the four teams competing in the cup finals onto the pitch.

The ladies from Seoul Gaels would face last year’s winners and three-time champions from Singapore. Hong Kong and Singapore would fight it out for the men’s cup.

In the ladies’ final, Seoul Gaels put up a valiant fight, but rued missed opportunities as Singapore converted their chances against the run of play. Singapore lifted the trophy after a 10-6 victory.

Winning captain, Caoimhe McNamara, congratulated the Seoul Gaels women’s team for being “immense opponents,” and added that her team was glad to have won out in a “dogfight of a game.”

The men’s cup was lifted by Hong Kong (14-7) who had looked in devastating form throughout the tournament. Although the sending off of a Singapore player made it a little easier for Hong Kong to close out the game, they always looked like the more dangerous side.

William Murray, who captained his side to victory, said that “football was coming home” to Hong Kong, who have now won the competition a record fifth time after having been denied by Dubai last year. Hong Kong hosted last year’s event, and Murray felt that Seoul had indeed put on a showpiece worthy of the game.

Gaelic Athletic Association overseas chairman, Joe McDonagh, thought the hosting of this event in Korea illustrated how Gaelic football was growing from strength to strength in Asia.

GAA president, Christy Cooney, applauded the outstanding organization by Seoul Gaels chairman Joe Trolan and club public relations officer Helen Cooke. He pointed out that the event was arranged entirely on a volunteer basis. This volunteer culture, Cooney felt, was one of the reasons that Gaelic sports have been so successful.

It is this love and passion for the game that motivated Trolan to sacrifice close to a year of time and energy to host the event.

Trolan said the fierce intensity and avid support he witnessed over the weekend made it all worthwhile. He added that it would be hard to argue against Gaelic football making a valuable contribution as an Olympic event.

By William du Plessis (wim.duplessis@gmail.com)