Vancouver - Chieftains Men and Harps Ladies Rule West

By RONAN DEANE

VANCOUVER - The second and final round of the Western Canadian Championship was played out in glorious sunshine on the rugby fields at Burnaby Lake on the August long weekend.

RONAN DEANE at the 2007 Western Canadian GAA Championships at the rugby fields at Burnaby Lake on the August long weekend.	AIDAN O'CALLAGHAN of Seattle picked up the West Limerick Holdings North West Challenge Cup (hurling trophy).	ADRIAN LAGAN accepting the plaque on behalf of the Calgary Chieftains Men's Football Team who won the Western Canadian Championship.

The Western Canadian teams were joined by a strong showing from the Seattle Gaels (two ladies teams and the hurlers), and Vancouver fielded four teams, with Shamrock Rovers and the Harps playing Gaelic football, the Harps ladies and a hurling selection also fielding teams.

Western Canadian Championship Round-Up - Final Round
The Men's Championship was not going to be pried away from the leaders after the first round. The Calgary Chieftains arrived in town with their backs up, knowing that they could afford one loss in their day's play.

The Harps however did make them sweat a little, recording a relatively comfortable win to give themselves a chance. A chance only if Edmonton were able to do the business. Alas, for the Harps, the Chieftains knuckled down, and a fine display from Brendan O' Hara and Tim Hammill in the middle of the park sent the championship back to Calgary for the first time since 2004.

The Ladies' championship fizzled out in the sun in Burnaby. The ladies of Edmonton and Calgary had difficulty in making the trip this year, and so combined to form an Albertan team.

In doing so they forfeited their games in the final round. This in no way takes away from the efforts of the Harps in their victory. Witnesses of Saturday and Sunday's play will feel safe in the knowledge that the "Best in the West" had won the Championship.

Rene McGloin and Tara Philips have begun to play a type of football that the west's more experienced men would be proud of.

Ledcor, one of the largest construction companies in North America and a large employer in Western Canada will be delighted that their first year of sponsorship of the Western Canada Division proved such an entertaining one.

The round-robin Gaelic Football action of Saturday was followed by two games of hurling between a combined AB/BC Team and the Seattle Gaels hurlers. Some fine hurling in two closely contested fixtures had to compete for an audience with the De Danaan Irish dancers who put on an incredible performance in the Burnaby Lake Clubhouse.

That night the ISSC hosted a beautiful dinner at the Cambrian Hall with some rocking music provided by Mark Downey and the Jolly Rogers. Conversation centred on the whereabouts of the Western Canada trophies, the origins of the Siege of Ennis, and how the Chieftans had coaxed Doug Maynard back from the Island.

Vancouver Tournament Results
Sunday was a day of emotions. The Calgary Chieftains were unable to contain a revitalised Wolfe Tones, and they were dumped out at the semi-final.

The Harps and Rovers played out an entertaining scrimmage. The final then was a game that Vancouver simply wanted more. The club, as if making up for its short-comings in the championship, cold-heartedly went for their second tournament title of the year.

Derek Healy and Cathal Lockey leading from the half-forward line. Brian Daly of Edmonton, the tournament MVP, could not lift his team and though they never gave up there was only going to be one winner.

The Ladies provided the cherry on the icing on the cake however. Allowing the Seattle team to combine, the Harps borrowed three Albertans, and played out an enthralling game against the Gaels. It was end to end stuff played at a frenetic pace.

The Harps controlled much of the first half, but somehow the Gaels managed to stay in touch. Katrina McAndrew (Harps) and January Chay (Gaels and tournament MVP) were relentless in their pursuit of each other, the ball and anyone else that thought they were coming through the middle of the park.

THE CALGARY CHIEFTAINS, the winning team at the 2007 Calgary Western Canadian GAA tournament.

An early Seattle flurry in the second half did the damage and although they rallied the Harps could not claw back the deficit.

So, Meg Starbird collected the Kevin McFadden Memorial Cup on behalf of Seattle. Kevin Murray, in potentially his last match with the Harps, collected the Men's. Aidan O'Callaghan of Seattle, pretending to be a hurler, picked up the West Limerick Holdings North West Challenge Cup.

Thanks to all the Irish Sporting and Social Club of Vancouver for making the weekend run smoothly and efficiently. Marcus Treacy, with a bathtub full of sweat equity, really outdid himself, but maybe that's all in a day's work for a Kerry man.

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