CURRENT ISSUE:  OCTOBER 2023

Taking the Fields of Glory – Midwest Champions Reign, On to Nationals!

Taking the Field of Glory: GAA Monthly
Midwest Gaelic Athletic Association
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 3 points.  The second number is for single points (over the bar).  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
On June 12, Cleveland Hurlers hosted the Akron Celtic Guards at the WSIA’s Páirc na Naomh.  The experienced Akron side was better on the day, winning 4-8 to 0-9.  Albany also traveled to Syracuse on June 12.
The following weekend, June 19, saw the whole adult club of the Cleveland Saints take on the Pittsburgh clubs in football, ladies’ football, and hurling.

The Celtics (3-19 to 0-6), Banshees (4-8 to 0-2), and Pucas (8-26 to 0-1) got the sweep.   Other action included Detroit playing down the I-75 in Cincinnati, where Cincinnati won 4-10 to 2-10 and the Buffalo Fenians hosted and defeated the Albany Rebels 5-13 to 1-6. 

Finishing of the month of June, all the hurling clubs gathered for a blitz in Akron on the 26th.  The far-traveled Roc City HC took advantage of the trip to play both Cleveland and Pittsburgh.  Cleveland registered their first full-sided team win with a late score to win by one.  The Pucas defeated both Akron and Roc City.  The Fenians also made a quick turnaround from the week before to repay the visit to Albany, winning 1-16 to 2-6, while Buffalo Na Fianna hosted Pittsburgh.  Na Fianna sent a few shockwaves through the division with their draw score (3-19) with the reigning Junior A USGAA Champions, the Celtics. 

Starting the month of July, the Buffalo Fenians fell in their travel to Syracuse (0-7 to 1-11) on the 10th.  Cincinnati traveled up to Detroit, while Cleveland traveled to Buffalo with their men’s football and hurling teams.  The Saints traveled light, but that is everyone’s struggle, and fell to Na Fianna 1-15 to 1-3 (HT Cleveland trailed by 2) in football, and fell to Roc City in hurling.  The hurling loss will set-up a real Midwest playoff for the Junior D (Developmental Teams) representation at the USGAA Finals. 

Midwest News
The Pittsburgh Celtics branched out for the Charlotte regional tournament on July 10th, parting with a win and a loss to the host in the tarheel state.   

CLE Youth
The youth sessions of the summer will continue each Sunday from 3PM-4:15PM for football and 4:15 to 5:30 for hurling each Sunday at the WSIA.  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 ClevelandGAA.com website for registration. 

Look-Ahead and Standings
The Midwest GAA July Schedule includes an Adult Invitational in Detroit on the July 24th and the Miswest Finals in Pittsburgh on the 31st.  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. 

Hurling – Standings

Team

Wins

Losses

Pittsburgh Pucas

4

0

Akron Celtic Guards

2

1

Cleveland Saints

1

3

Roc City HC

1

3

 

Ladies’ Football Standings

Team

Wins

Losses

Pittsburgh Banshees

2

0

Cleveland Saints

0

2

 

Men’s Football Central Standings

Team

Wins

Losses

Ties

Pittsburgh Celtics

3

0

1

Buffalo Na Fianna

1

3

1

Cleveland Saints

1

3

0

 

 

 

 

Men’s Football East Standings

Team

Wins

Losses

Ties

Buffalo Fenians

2

1

0

Syracuse GFC

1

0

0

Albany Rebels

0

2

0

 

 

 

 

Men’s Football West Standings

Team

Wins

Losses

Ties

CLG Cincinnati

1

0

0

Detroit Wolfetones

0

1

0

 

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 6:30PM.  The hurlers are now training at Edgewater Park (lower rugby field) at 6PM.  The 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.

Akron Celtic Guards Recruiting for an Exciting Season
By Jenny Scarry and Nikki Custy

Akron Celtic Guards is a hurling/camogie team in Akron, Ohio, formed in 2002, and mentored early on by the infamous Al O’Leary. Hurling is the national sport of Ireland and the fastest game on grass. As such, is a great game for anyone to play.

The Guards are led by Patrick Custy, Adam Behm, Mike Ruane and Jason Ross (our own fitness coach).  The team welcomes anyone interested to our hurling, camogie (women’s hurling) and youth teams. Our adult team accepts ages eighteen and up, and our youth team accepts ages three to eighteen.

Everyone is welcome regardless of skill level and all equipment is provided. Practices are on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 (youth) and from 6:30 to dusk for adults, at 73 W Rosewood Avenue, Akron, OH 44301. Sunday’s adult practice starts at 1:00 at the same location.

Our team is also very social, and we go out together after games and practices to visit our sponsors. We enjoy spending time together at social events and host several throughout the year. Our next social event is a fundraiser for our youth team on Thursday July 22, 2021, at the Akron Rubber game. Tickets are available through our youth hurling Facebook page.

We welcome and would love to have new members join our club, as players or social members!

For Youth info: contact Jenny [email protected]; for adult: [email protected]

 

 

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