Preview of the upcoming Australasian Championship

Preview of the upcoming Australasian Championship

The
2005 Australasian Gaelic football and Hurling Championships will
be held in Brisbane at Gaelic Park, 308 Bowhill Road, Willawong
from Tuesday 4 October through to the finals on Sunday 10 October.
Over five playing days (Friday is a rest day) there will be 30
games played in minor, senior and women’s football and hurling.

Teams will represent all affiliates in at least one of the codes
viz. Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales,
and Queensland. The hurlers in New South Wales are to be congratulated
on providing three teams after the very late withdrawal of the
Victoria hurling team thereby ensuring hurling is part of the
Championships.

Women’s Football

Western Australia’s coach Fred McCormack will be looking to use
all his mind games to take his team at least one step further
than 2004 when they lost the final to Queensland. Fred is a great
believer in tactics and more than any other coach rotates his
players therefore the interchange rule which will be in effect
this year will give him even more scope. They will have some of
their Australasian players returning directly from Ireland to
participate. South Australia will again be coached for the third
year in succession by Mary O’Hagan and assisted by Maureen Lawlor
as Manager. They know what is required to be competitive and as
result have had their squad training solidly since June in a 7-a-side
competition to help compensate for the fact they are in their
off season.

The group has been bolstered by the inclusion of many players
who have been unable to travel in recent years and Tiffany Lee
who is making the return journey from the International tournament
in Ireland to play. Julia Boyle who has been a stalwart of women’s
football in Victoria is having her first stint as part of the
Victorian management team as well as playing. She could have been
in the International team but their loss is Victoria’s gain for
the Championships. They are a highly organised outfit this year
both on and off the field and expect to figure prominently. New
South Wales women always are to the fore however the introduction
of the “visa rule” seems to have affected them. As a result they
have only won once in four years after being virtually unbeatable
in 98, 99 and 2000. This year NSW will have a team of virtually
new faces. About the only one who has played before is Daveena
Doyle.

To help offset this they have an excellent management team of
Laura Connolly (Coach) and Orla Harrell (Manager). In Orla’s case
it is great to see her continued involvement after her career
as one of Australasia’s top footballers was cut short by a shoulder
injury. Queensland will be one of the hottest favourites on record
to retain their title not only because of their skill and athleticism
but also because of hometown advantage. This will balance the
loss of many of their best players who are competing in the International
tournament. The commitment of the Queensland girls is the fact
that many are flying back directly from Ireland to play in the
games. Tertia Dex who would have been playing for Australasia
in Ireland is injured but that has allowed her to step in to the
role of Coach of the Queensland girls.

Last year they had a record seven players selected in the Australasian
team and with many of these players available again it will be
a challenge to all their opponents in the round-robin preliminary
matches. Hurling As stated earlier it is only through the dedication
of the Club mentors in New South Wales and players from Sydney
Shamrocks, Central Coast and Craobh Padraig we have hurling at
this years games.

With some Queensland hurlers to be added to the three teams there
is the likelihood of a top class competition between the three
teams. Results will be updated daily during the championships
by logging on to www.gaelicfootball.com.au and clicking the Australasian
Championships section.

GERARD ROE SECRETARY