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Australia loves everything Irish 04 February 1999 - Queensland's most successful Gaelic Football Club is riding the wave of Irish popularity by doing something quite different - electing its first Australian-born president. Shamrocks - winners of five Queensland senior mens league titles, which is more that any other club - are this year under the direction of Harold Peacock, a former Sports Administrator of the Year with the Australian Society of Sports Administrators, and importantly for the traditionally Irish game, he's Australian! The Brisbane-based Shamrocks club has its sign-on BBQ at Oxley in a week's time, and is expecting a bumper crop of new players as the popularity of Gaelic Football swells. "With the popularity of all things Irish following Riverdance, football is booming especially after the huge profile it received with the International Rules tour of Ireland by the AFL recently," Peacock said. "Demand by new players has meant we've added Under 14 teams for boys and girls this year, something that's never been done before." "The popularity is not coming just from the Irish community, but from right across the spectrum, with mens, ladies and juniors all wanting to join because of the speed and relative safety of the game." Backed principally by Sun Engineering and East Coast Gravel, Shamrocks last year won three trophies in the mens and ladies competitions, including the senior mens league for a record fifth time since the Queensland league started in 1984. Also a club record number of mens and ladies players represented Queensland in the Australasian Gaelic Games in Brisbane last October, in which the Queensland mens minors (under 18) won the championship for the first time. Australasian representative mens and ladies teams are expected to tour Ireland in 2000 as part of an international Gaelic Football festival in Dublin. Shamrocks hold their annual sign-on BBQ at 102 Englefield Road, Oxley, from 1pm on Saturday 13 February. Intersted players call secretary Kym Eagle on 07-3219 4147 for more information. Double Championship losses end 1998 20 September 1998 - Shamrocks did the mighty green uniforms proud, despite losing two Championship Finals to finish the 1998 Queensland Gaelic Football competition over the weekend. Shamrocks Ladies recovered from a disastrous first half to play out a most entertaining match against arch-rivals Souths/Harps, eventually losing by 17 points in the ladies championship final. Jacqueline Peacock was best afield in the second stanza, leaving opponents wining in her wake, while Maxine Ram was as solid as can be in defence. And the Shamrocks mens reserve team outplayed Souths in their final, but failed on the scoreboard by six points. Greg Layton was dominant in the mid-field for Shamrocks, while Craig Johnston was outstanding in defence. Unfortunately missed opportunities were costly for the 'Rocks, with full forward Harold Peacock failing to capitalise - although he was hampered by a lacerated hand early in the match which later required stitches. Dominic scored a great goal late in the game as Shamrocks powered back in the closing moments in a gutsy display. As it was, 1998 was successful for the Shamrocks, with the Seniors winning the Brisbane Shield and the League Title for the first time in six years, and the Ladies also winning the Brisbane Shield. Also a club record 15 Shamrocks players were selected to represent Queensland Gaelic Football at the 1998 Australasian Gaelic Games. See the Australasian Games Homepage for the latest news and scores.
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