Vancouver Harps
Double Up in Edmonton
By RONAN DEANE
EDMONTON - The 2007 Western Canada GAA calendar commenced formally at the Edmonton Rugby Union fields in South Edmonton, on Canada Day Week-end. Both the men's and ladies' tournaments were to feature the three Western Canada Division teams, but the men's play would also feature the newly formed Red Deer Eire Og team.
As usual, the Championship first round would be played out on the Saturday, during the tournament round robin stages, with the Edmonton tournament knock-out stages being played on Sunday. Red Deer competed admirably in the round robin play defeating the host team, and Rory Lynch and his cohorts have left an impression on the Western Canada GAA scene.
Western Canadian Championship Round-Up - Round 1
 |
|
STEPHANIE HAHN, Vancouver Harps, Ladies MVP
|
The men's championship is all but decided after the results from Saturday's play. The Calgary Chieftains led by the inspirational Adrian Lagan and a wealth of experienced players, outplayed both of their opponents.
And the result of the Vancouver Harps and Edmonton Wolfe Tones clash will have done neither of them any favours. A draw means that Calgary will recapture the championship (that they last won in 2004) should they record one victory in the final round of play next month in Burnaby, B.C.
The ladies' championship, however, is wide open. The ladies of Edmonton and Vancouver played out an enthralling game - a single point separated the sides. Edmonton edging it in an epic match-up. Cathy Jackson (Vancouver) and Carlin Achison Johnstone (Edmonton).
Both teams where able to secure victory over a depleted Calgary Chieftainettes side and know that they will be playing for the championship when they next meet in August.
The round-robin action of Saturday was followed by an evening of great entertainment in the Irish Sports and Social Club, with the hospitality of the hosts the usual "top-class" that visiting teams have come to expect.
 |
|
PETER AGNEW, Vancouver Harps, Men's MVP.
|
Conversation centred on the massive showing of the Vancouver ladies, the performances of the revitalized Chieftains men's team and the strength of the new boys from Red Deer.
Sunday's play was again notable for another titanic clash in the ladies between the Wolfe Tones and Harps. Stephanie Hahn putting in an MVP performance from the back-line to help Vancouver to a narrow victory over the hosts.
Though Saturday's match-ups in the men's were noteworthy for the dominance of Calgary, Sunday's final proved to be a case of saving the best wine for last. Calgary were looking to be heading for a narrow victory to retain the Edmonton trophy, when Vancouver snatched a last gasp equalizer.
Extra time followed, but this time it was the Harps, lead by MVP Peter Agnew, that eked out the slender victory.
A notable result in that it was the first time in the new millennium that an away club has taken both the ladies and men's tournament title in the same weekend.
 |
|
Erin McGinley accepted the trophy for the ladies, while Owen Nolan accepted the men's (the newly titled Christy Whelehan Cup, named after and presented by none other than the great Westmeath man himself).
|
|
