Taking the Fields of Glory; 2nd Annual Memorial Tournament Recap

2nd Annual Memorial 7’s Tournament – Recap

We want to give a massive thanks to all who helped organize, volunteer, donate, travel, play, and attend our 2nd Annual 7’s held May 8^th.  We would have not had an amazing event without all of you. 26 fun and competitive football games were played; we are already looking forward to our event in 2022. 

Winner’s

Men’s:  Pittsburgh Celtics (now a two-time winner)
Ladies:  Milwaukee Miltown Gaels
Men Shield:  Detroit Wolfe Tones

To all Supporters, Alumni, Legends and Players,

Thanks to all that made this past weekend a success.   We were able to create (2) terrific fields, provide a great atmosphere and play 26 games this past Saturday.  

 Huge thank you to the volunteers:

• Ball Chasers – unbelievably great job of chasing/ retrieving balls in the muddy woods all day
  • Youth program 
• Concessions – worked pavilion/ prepared/ sold various food & drink items throughout day
  • Joe Fergus, Maureen English & her team
• Medical – provided care for injured players
  • Kellie King
• Event Operations – oversaw maintenance/ provided rides for whom needed it
  • Brendan Mulloy
• Field Marshalls – insured games flowed/ managed teams & referees
  • John Thompson, Bob Krulik, John Coyne, Mike Walsh
• The Vince Beach Family – huge amount of hours preparing fields & everything else to make things happen
  • Vince, Michelle & Kids & Tom Beach (who umpired almost the whole tournament)
• Ohio Irish American News – A true jewel to all NE Ohioans
  • John O’Brien – for his on-going support for us – ALWAYS
• Supporters – who braved the elements for 26 games
  • Started off chilly & wet – then the sky opened up to sun & blue skies
• The Gannon & Dunne Families
  • 2021 Tournament memorial recognized Sean Gannon this year
  • The Dunne Family sponsoring the MVP trophies & Annie providing a generous donation

Obviously, many more people should be recognized, but we all saw a very nice future unfolding with our Men’s and Ladies Teams.   We entered two teams for both and divided them equally.   All four teams came away with big wins, with one of the Men’s team reaching the Shield Final and the Ladies teams both winning several times and tying for 2^nd place with the Pittburgh Banshees.   We look forward to an exciting season.   The winning teams were as follows:

We hope to see you all this summer.

Up the CLE GAA!!  

Our main fund-raiser of the year is the “Night at the Races” to be held at WSIA on May 22^nd.   It is usually held in February – but you know the deal there.   

It’s always a well-attended event, as for $25 – you get a dinner and free drinks and fine people to hang out with.  Tables go quickly – so let us know if you are interested in attending.

 We are looking for many different levels of support, from sponsorship, program book ads etc … If you can’t go to the event – a horse sponsor is $15 or if you know a business that can donate a gift basket – that would work too. 

Horses will sell out quickly. You can venmo Jim Coyne at:  Jim-Coyne-77         

Taking the Field of Glory: GAA Monthly
Midwest Gaelic Athletic Association
Taking the Field of Glory: GAA Monthly
Midwest Gaelic Athletic Association
by Vincent Beach

Some may say hard luck, some may say good luck, but we made it work on Saturday May 7^th at the WSIA Club.  After a week of rain and a bit more early in the morning, the skies subsided and the sun shone down upon 26 games of Gaelic Football in Cleveland.  And wouldn’t you know it, the next day it rained and snowed.  Hats off to all the volunteers and specifically Jim Coyne.  His planning, organizing, and encouragement kept the train on the tracks and every schedule was met. 

Ladies Gaelic Football

Representing the Ladies’ Football for the 7’s were Chicago Aisling Gaels, Pittsbugh Banshees, Cleveland 1, Cleveland 2, and a Milltown Gaels (Milwaukee) club with a sprinkling of other players (including a few more Cleveland ladies).  The women played a round robin seeing each other only once – winner of the tournament held the best record after all the matches.  Every game, goal, and point counted; no backdoor. 

In the first game Cleveland Ladies 2 fell the Banshees (18-7), but Cleveland 1 defeated the Aisling Gaels in the next game (18-3).  Milltown-Milwaukee then beat the Banshees (22-12) while Cleveland 2 prevailed over the Gaels (8-6).  Before the break, Cleveland 1 played Milltown close matching them for 3 goals, but 5 points ended up separating the two as M-M won (16-11). 

In the second half of play, the Banshees came back to beat Cleveland 1 in a tight match (16-14) while Milltown-Milwaukee rolled past the Chicago (28-1).  The Aisling Gaels bounced right back and beat out the Banshees (15-12).  The two Cleveland teams went head to head in another tight game; Cleveland 2 won (13-11).  There’s a dizzying recap. 

Milltown-Milwaukee went undefeated to claim the 2021 Ladies Memorial Cup.  Comhairghdeas!  As for Cleveland, Bainisteoir (Coach) Dan Murray could not be happier fielding two competitive teams.  The ladies are looking forward to their first full sided match of 2021 on June 5^that the WSIA versus the Buffalo Ladies. 

Men’s Gaelic Football

The men’s side of play followed a winner’s and losers’ (shield) bracket of games giving nearly every team 4 games.  Joining the two Cleveland host teams were the Pittsburgh Celtics, Detroit Wolfetones, CLG Cincinnati (CLG = GAA as gaeilge), Buffalo Na Fianna, Chicago McBrides, Chicago James Joyce, and Milltown Gaels (Milwaukee). 

After falling to Detroit for the first game of the day, the Cleveland 2 men’s team made their way through the shield to meet Detroit again in the semi-final.  The Woltones’ defense was once again tough and saw them through to the final against the other Cleveland team. 

Cleveland 1 had also dropped into the shield bracket after defeating Milltown, but falling to Chicago McBrides.  So, the shield final put Cleveland 1 versus Detroit and the motor city had the petal to the floor from the tip-off sending 4 quick goals into the back of the Cleveland net.  It was too much to overcome for the hosts.  Comhairghdeas to Detroit, it was good to see deep bench and strong side again. 

The shield ran along side the champions bracket and saw defending Pittsburgh Celtics beat Detroit (20-9) then Chicago James Joyce (24-10) landing them in the final against Chicago McBrides. 
McBrides beat Buffalo for the first game before beating Cleveland 1.  In the final, the Celtics edged out the Chicago-side 18-16 to reclaim the 2021 Men’s Memorial Cup.  Again – as for the Cleveland Men, Bainisteoir Beach could not be happier with the balance of two squads of veterans and new players. 

The Men open up the regular season against the new Buffalo team, Na Fianna on June 5^th at the WSIA.  Check the website or social media for the announcement of games times.   

Youth Gaelic Football  

After several meetings and planning, the Midwest Invitational in Detroit will not go forward for June 26^th due to COVID issues in Michigan.  The Midwest Youth board has rejumbled the season, potentially moving the Invitational back to August.  Stay tuned.  In Cleveland, the fun begins June 6 (Sunday) at the WSIA.  Football will be 3PM-415PM for all ages and hurling will follow from 415PM to 530PM. 

Look-Ahead

The Midwest GAA June and July Schedule includes an Adult Invitational in Detroit on the July 24^th.  The Division looks to host clubs from the Heartland and Central Division to play Midwest Clubs in all codes (football and hurling, ladies and men). 

Cleveland Adults Gaelic Football and Hurling  

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 continue on Sundays in Brecksville at the Stadium Drive field and have started a weekday training at Edgewater Park (lower rugby field) at 6PM.  And, the Ladies’ will continue with twice a week sessions. 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 (11), Bernadette (10), and Cedric (6), 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.