Taking the Field of Glory: Irish Football, Hurling Games this month in town

Taking the Field of Glory: GAA Monthly
By Vincent Beach

For new readers and new Gaelic games enthusiasts, as we report scores throughout the summer, please know that two scores are recorded for each team.  The first number is for goals scored; goals equal three points.  The second number is for points (over the bar), worth one point each.  The combined total is what matters in determining the game winner.  Example from 2019-2020s All Ireland Club Final: Corofin 1-12 to Kilcoo 0-7 … Corofin total points were 15 (3+12) to Kilcoo’s 7 (0+7).

Midwest Scores
Starting out the 2021 Midwest regular season on May 29, Buffalo Na Fianna (new adult team from the youth program) traveled down to Pittsburgh to take on the Celtics in men’s Gaelic Football.  The 2019 USGAA Junior A champions handled the upstarts 7-11 (42) to 0-2 (2). 

The next weekend of action on June 5^th, Na Fianna once again traveled, this time to Cleveland.  Na Fianna improved in scoring, some say 2-3 (9 points), some say 1-6 (9 points), but still fell to the Cleveland Saints, who tallied 3-13 (22 points).  Fair play to the new lads for traveling early and competing on the road. 

Also, on June 5, the Midwest hurling season started with the Akron Celtic Guards traveling to the Pucas in Pittsburgh.  In a high scoring game, the Pucas won out by the final score of 8-25 (49) to 4-17 (29).  We will provide updated standings next month.

Midwest News 
Unfortunately for the team and their competitors in the Midwest, the Buffalo ladies were unable to register a full team.  They have been scratched from the previously determined schedules, leaving Cleveland and Pittsburgh to play each other only, during the regular season, and leaving the two clubs looking forward to some different competition at the Midwest Invitational on July 26 in Detroit. 

Clubs will be confirmed soon but interested teams outside the Midwest include Chicago Aisling Gaels (LF), Chicago Erin’s Rovers (LF), Michael Cusack’s (H), Chicago Padraic Pearse (MF), Chicago James Joyce (MF).  The call is out to Heartland, Mid-Atlantic, and Philadelphia clubs. 

The Midwest Invitational will include adult hurling, ladies’ football, and men’s football on Detroit’s Belle Isle (Nashua Drive, Detroit Michigan).  Games start at 10AM and the post tournament celebration will be back “on the mainland,” at Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar.  The fun continues Sunday morning with brunch at the Gaelic League of Detroit.  Special hotel rates are available at the Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Detroit (use code: GTF).   

Cleveland 
With the Buffalo ladies scratching, the Cleveland lady footballers had a very competitive intra-squad match on June 5. The ladies divided into the “greens” and the “whites” for a 7-a-side match.  Final score: Greens 1-20 (23) to Whites 4-19 (31).  Following the ladies’ morning match, the Saints took on Na Fianna as described above.

Cleveland had several debutants on the field, including Dave Bauer (F/HF), Mike Chambers (M), Dayne Plemmons (M), Ryan Bush (HF), Fergus Gallagher (HF), Stephan Lambert (HB), and Jake Altman (G).  Starting the match were Steve Pepin (G), Chris McAndrews (FB), Charlie Kaman (FB), Tim McDonnel (HB), Daniel “Murzzzz” Murray (HB), Dan Kampman (HB), Liam Chambers (M), Dayne Plemmons (M), Ryan Bush (HF), Ronan Forrestal (HF), Chris Greggila (HF), Christian Foisy (FF), and the legendary John Kernan (FF). 

First half scores included: Foisy (2 goals, 1 a PK – 3 points), Bush (1-0), Forrestal (0-1), Kaufmann (0-1), L. Chambers (0-1).  Cleveland totaled 3-6 to Na Fianna’s 2-1 by halftime.  Wides were in favor of Buffalo at 5 to Cleveland’s 1.  The second half included scores from: Foisy (0-1), Bauer (0-1), Bush (0-1), Forrestal (0-1), Greggila (0-1), M. Chambers (0-1), and E. Kaman (0-1) with Jake Altman between the pipes registering a second half shutout for goals.  The wides tally tightened-up with Buffalo registering 4 and Cleveland 3.  Others seeing significant playing time were Alec Stott (FB), Stephan Lambert (HB), Anthony Hanley (M), Colin Irwin (M/HF), and Peter Dietz (HF/FF). 

Another item to note for the Cleveland GAA was the completion of a capital investment into a pole and netting system behind each goal.  It has been tremendously more enjoyable at training sessions, youth Sundays, puck-around, and games to not have to chase balls into the parking lot, onto the children’s playground, and into the detention pond.  We gave shout-outs to the early phases of the project last year for McConnel Ready Mix for the concrete donation, NCI for rebar and anchor bolts, and Beach Contracting for the poles.  These past few weeks the hardware has been affixed and the nets are up in thanks to material and equipment help from Lake Erie Electric and Mícheál Máirtín Mac an Ultaigh. 

Youth
The first youth session of the summer was held at the WSIA on June 6^th and will continue each Sunday from 3PM-415PM for football and 415 to 530 for hurling.  All ages will play at the same time on different areas of the pitch.  New players are always welcome.  We review skills and drills, and then let the players scrimmage.  Check the website for registration.

Craic
The Cleveland GAA was showcased in the recent iIrish: Stories, Songs, and Shenanigans Podcast, episode 29.  Thanks John O’Brien Jr for the coverage.  Fair play and go raibh míle maith agaibh to everyone who participated, sponsored, and volunteered at our annual Night at the Races in conjunction with the WSIA.  It was once again a huge success for the Club. 

Join the Cleveland GAA next at Goldhorn Brewery (1361 E. 55^th Street, Cleveland) on Friday July 2 from 5-8PM.  Start the long weekend out with an after work happy hour where each beer sold will kick a dollar to the GAA.  Check out Goldhorn’s website for their tasty beers and vast indoor and outdoor seating areas.  

Look-Ahead. 
The Midwest GAA July Schedule includes an Adult Invitational in Detroit on the July 24^th.  The USGAA Finals are in Boston on August 20-22.  The Midwest is looking to send at least three men’s football teams, Two ladies’ football teams, and two hurling teams. 

Cleveland Adults
Remember – new players are always welcome and can join throughout the summer.  The men’s football team will continue training on Tuesdays at Impett Field in Westpark and on Thursdays at the WSIA – both starting at 630PM. 

The hurlers are now training at Edgewater Park (lower rugby field) at 6PM. Tthe Ladies’ will continue with twice a week sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays at Impett starting at 6:30PM. Please visit the club website or contact the club directly to stay up to date on schedules as the summer times and days could change with sunlight and game schedules.  

Go raibh míle maith agaibh
(thanks y’all) to our readers and supporters.  We need your help and involvement, but would most like to share the fun of Irish sport and Cleveland community with you.  Consider getting involved at any level.  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 US of A.  Beyond sports, the Association also promotes Irish music, song and dance, and the Irish language as an integral part of its objectives. Cleveland GAA is open to all who want to play competitive sports, meet new people, and join an athletic, fitness-minded club for all ages. 

Follow @ClevelandGaelic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the 2020 activities for Men, Women, and Youth.  Or, visit ClevelandGAA.com.

*Vincent Thomas Francis Xavier Beach is a proud Greater Clevelander and emigrant of Michigan.  He joined the St. Pat’s Gaelic Football Club in 1999 and, with much help, is the current caretaker of the Cleveland GAA.  His Irish is a cross of dialects from the University of Cincinnati and An Cheathrú Rua.  With his wife, Michelle, he enjoys watching time absolutely fly by as their children, Ambrose (12), Bernadette (10), and Cedric (7), grow.  His other hustles are coaching CYO basketball at St. Mary of Berea, coaching soccer in Olmsted TWP, and slangin’ some engineering skills on local concrete and pipe projects.