Midwest Gaelic Athletic Association
USGAA & Midwest GAA Finals
The Champions Update. For the Midwest Finals hosted in Rochester, several teams competed for bids to the USGAA Finals. Winners were Camogie – Cleveland; Hurling – Pucas Junior D; Ladies’ Football (LGF) – Banshees; Junior C; Men’s Football (MGF) Junior D. These teams were joined in Philadelphia by teams that received automatic bids based on competition within the division: Celtics Junior A MGF, Cleveland Junior B MGF, Banshees Intermediate LGF, Cleveland Junior.
Over in Boston, Cleveland St. Pat’s – St. Jarlath’s camogie secured the Junior A championship, giving them back to back USGAA titles, as they won Junior B in 2025 – a huge accomplishment considering the jump in competition. The camógs are now an Intermediate team.
The Pittsburgh Celtics also deserve congratulations for pulling off the double in winning at both Junior A and Junior C with their two teams. Both will upgrade to Intermediate and Junior B in 2027.
The Cleveland footballers also saw success, although there were no gold medals. The ladies advanced to the Final against a very strong Chicago Erin Rovers, and the men saw their first Junior B win in many years when they battled Mexico City San Patricios. The men lost the next round to the eventual winners, Charlotte.
Midwest News – Akron’s Al O’Leary Annual Hurling and Camogie Tournament
Held October 3rd, with many teams traveling in, as well as the USGAA Chairperson from California, to view the competition and recognize the big man himself. Alphonsus O’Leary, at the prime age of 100 years, honorarily stepped out in goals for a game. Add another note for Cleveland camogie, who did not let a single point against for the entire weekend.
The Midwest All-Stars
The All-Stars took the fields in Nashville over the October 10th and 11th weekend. The Midwest sent teams compiled of players from across the division for men’s Gaelic football, camogie, and hurling. The Midwest ladies Gaelic football was selected and ready to play, but teams from other divisions were unable to be formed.
The Midwest Camogie team, comprised of twelve Cleveland ladies, made it to the final of the all-star tournament, but fell competitively to senior level San Franscisco side. The men’s football team also made it to the final, but fell to a very strong Southeast Division side. The hurlers did not advance to Sunday.
Congratulations to the Cleveland players being selected to the All-Stars. Men’s Football: Justin Lowry and Eddie Zuercher; Camogie: Rose Disckson, Maureen Mohney, Sarah O’Sullivan, Yi Wang, Anna Ibos, Nikki Kovics, Kayla Caruso, Angie Dietz, and Clodagh Murphy, with team Coach Joey Murphy; Hurling: Cavan Dickson, Tim McDonnel, Matt Ibos, Ryan Krueger, and Justus Vaitkevicius.
Youth Update
The Midwest Division sent thirty-five players to the Continental Youth Championships in Philadelphia. The players largely amalgamated with San Francisco and Chicago to field full teams. The kids were very successfully bringing twelve medals home to the Division.
The U8s, under the coaching leadership of Cleveland’s Michael Martin McNulty, won the tier 1 gold medal in hurling and a silver in football. The other medals now hanging in Midwest homes are: U8 girls’ football gold, U8 camogie silver, U10 boys’ football silver, U10 girls’ football gold, U10 camogie silver, U12 coed football gold, U1 girls’ football silver, U12 camogie gold, U16 boys’ football gold, U16 girl’s football silver, and U18 hurling silver.
Midwest Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AGMwas held on October 17th virtually, with strong attendance from all clubs. The executive board was retained for another year: Chair Matt Creed (Cincinnati), Vice-Chair Ed Reiser (Buffalo Fenians), Secretary Kayla Caruso (Cleveland), Treasurer Shawn Milligan (Rochester), Registrar Keith Knott (Akron), Public Relations Officer Kelly Goodrich (Pittsburgh), and Youth Officer Vincent Beach (Cleveland). Sean Gleason of Rochester was announced as the appointed divisional Development Officer.
The USGAA Convention will be held in San Diego, home of Ron Burgandy, November 6th and 7th. The USGAA Youth will hold their meeting on Friday evening before the entire delegation convenes on Saturday.
The Offseason is never really a downtime for club officers and coaches who are in their planning stages. For players and interested players, reach out to your hometown clubs to get involved in recruitment nights, indoor training, and city leagues. You will love it.
Finally, footballers – watch out for those new rules being trialed, including the three hand pass limit. Kick first!
Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
Thanks, y’all, to our readers and supporters. Fáilte (welcome) to all. The Gaelic Athletic Association is Ireland’s largest sporting organization and a bit of home for the Irish abroad here in the U.S. of A. Beyond sports, the Association also promotes Irish music, song and dance, and the Irish language as an integral part of its objectives.
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