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GUERNSEY GAELS GAA:
Only formed in June 1997, the club has already strongly contested The Brendan Memorial Cup, The Black Stuff 7's and The Muratti Cup against Jersey, and it now hosts an annual St.Patrick's Weekend 7-a-side tournament.

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CLUB FACTS AND BACKGROUND

Guernsey Gaels, although only formed in June 1997, have had a few hectic years in existence. They owe their origins to former Sligo star Ray Tully, who was looking for Gaelic Footballers of all shapes and sizes, living in Guernsey to go across to Jersey for a warm up match before Jersey's first outing in the London Championship last summer. In his search for players, Ray unearthed a group of people with a stron passioon for and interested in Gaelic Football. Jersey were soon informed that the game would be a full 15-a-side , Guernsey v. Jersey match.

Bloodied and beaten on the day but unbowed, the Guernsey lads were eager for more and returned n August to give Jersey a great run for their money in a thrilling 13-a-side game. At this stage the Gaels had several Guernsey locals with strong Irish connections, in their ranks.

With the scent of victory firmly in their nostrils, Guernsey headed for Amsterdam in November to take part in a 11-a-side tournament. Despite fielding a weakened team the Gaels reached the final only to be beaten by the Hague by a single point.

march of this year saw the Gaels make history by hosting a 7-a-side tournament and in the first ever Gaelic Football match inGuernsey, they convincingly defeated St.Michaels from London. The tournament, held on St.Patrick's Weekend, was a runaway success with teams from Guernsey, Jersey and London competing for the First National Building Society sponsored event. The tournament received media coverage over the weekend and the Guernsay people are now fully aware of their footballing Gaels.

After Easter '98, Guernsey set their sights on the European 7s in Luxembourg at the end of May. Despite defeating Amsterdam conquerors The Hague in a bruising semi-final, they were narrowly defeated by Paris in the final.

More heartbreak was to follow in their recent three point loss to Jersey in the now annual Muratti Cup. Inter insular rivalry is very strong in all sports and it is a measure of gealic Football's standing on the islands that it has been given Muratti status. All major sports on the two islands compete every year for their own Muratti Cup.

The Guernsey lads are at this stage sick to death of their "gallant losers" tag and minds are already on ending the trophy famine in Amsterdam inNovember. Other events in the pipeline are a corporate golf day in Guernsey in the middle of October each year. Next year's Gaels 7-a-side will probably take place in early May in the hope of attracting even more teams to the event.
The Gaels would love to have sent more players to represent Europe in the Irish Holidays International Festival in Dublin in 1998 & 2000, but work commitments ruled a number of them out. After a hectic year that most established clubs would be proud of, let alone a newly formed team and many of the current players vowing not to leave Guernsy until there is at least some silverware in the cabinet, exciting times lie ahead for the Guernsey Gaels !

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