High Level of Sportsmanship
at the ISSC GAA Tournament
By RONAN DEANE
VANCOUVER - The rules were flying around on the afternoon of June 27 at the annual Irish Sporting and Social Gaelic tournament for anyone to review.
They are the same as other years, but contain the amendments made to both championships to reflect the addition of knock-out fixtures in the final rounds.
Special thanks to the Vancouver tournament organizers for their impressive facilities, great food and entertainment, not to mention, the memorable week-end of Gaelic games.
Conor Walshe must receive a special pat on the back for a job well done, along with the numerous others on hand to keep the Vancouver tournament at the usual high standard that they set for themselves.
Congratulations to the impressive Ladies of Vancouver who beat all that was set out before them.
It was the Vancouver Celts that won the day in the end, and we look forward to the possibility of a second Vancouver Ladies club in the Western Canada Division next season.
Helen Keohane was dogged in midfield and upstaged taller players in fielding balls that they may have been forgiven for thinking were most likely to be theirs.
It was great to see the Albertan girls comradery, and they represented themselves ably in the matches against the Seattle and Vancouver teams. Seattle Gaels, as usual, brought their own brand of football and good spirits to the evenings festivities.
Special mention for the Vancouver Irish squad, in their swanky gear (shame about na Stacai Oraiste), that showed there was even a bit more to the Vancouver GAA scene than we were expecting at the outset of the season.
The Vancouver AFL was again an excellent team and it really was great to see them back playing football with a ball of the proper shape. Their presence had been missed in the last two seasons' tournaments.
Congratulations to the Vancouver Celts men for taking the honours on the field of play against a determined Edmonton.
Young Declan Reilly was the heart of all of the Wolfe Tones' best moves and was thoroughly deserving of his MVP award.
Calgary and the Harps came up just short against the two finalists, and were thankful that they didn't have to play out the gruelling drawn, extra time ding-dong battle that saw the advantage swing first this way and then that.
Only a penalty save in at the end of the first half of extra time put a stupper in a great Edmonton challenge.
On behalf of the Western Canada Divisional Board we were happy to see some fair contests on the field of play and a general high level of sportsmanship. Special thanks, especially to John O'Flynn, and the other referees for stepping up and standing in the cross-fire.
We look forward to more of the same in Edmonton on July 26-27.
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