THE 2008 ASIAN GAELIC GAMES 10th-12th October 2008 Penang

This year, for the first time ever, the Asian Gaelic Games were held in Malaysia on the beautiful island of Penang. The Games are the largest Irish sporting event in Asia with 40 teams of men, ladies and children competing in football, hurling and all-out craíc.

Kuala Lumpur's local Gaelic football team, the Orang Éire, are now over a year old. Since competing in last year's Games in Singapore (see our September 2007 issue), the club has been growing steadily with generous support from the St. Patrick's Society and many others. Having hosted their own competition last November and travelled to Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore again in the meantime, the time was right to take things to the next level.

Two men's football teams were picked and, in another first for Malaysia, a ladies squad was also assembled. Training began in earnest over July, August and September and, in no time at all, the Games were upon us.

For those who might be unfamiliar with Gaelic Football, it is played with a round ball on a rectangular pitch with goalposts that are similar to rugby, except that the crossbar is lower and there is a goal, like a soccer goal, underneath. You score by kicking or punching the ball over the bar for one point or into the net below the bar for a goal, worth three points. You can carrying the ball in your hands but must alternatively bounce it or drop it to your foot and kick it back into your hands. This last move, called 'solo-ing', is quite tricky and slows down all but the most skilful of attackers.

THE TOUR AND FIRST NIGHT
Flights were booked, cars filled with petrol and the whole touring troupe, over sixty people, met up in Trader's Hotel Georgetown on Friday 10th October. The President of the GAA, Nickey Brennan, the Chariman of the Overseas Committee, Séamuis Howlin, and the great television and radio commentator, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh had all travelled over for the Games and the Friday evening event was made up of some warm words of welcome, some food and drink and the draw for the weekend.

The Orange Éire picked two Men's teams of more or less equal strength and designated them team Blue and team Yellow. The Blue team got a tougher draw for the first day although the Yellows weren't too relaxed either. The Ladies team were one of 11 squads from all over Asia, ranging in their make-up from the hardcore lifetime players to the more casual 'pick it up over the weekend' athletes. The most important members of the club - the kids contingent - set the tone for the weekend with a display of running, jumping, somersaulting and all-out mayhem that had everyone on their toes. Even Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh gave some commentary on them at one point.

Everyone had dressed in the special, limited edition red shirts that were made for the tournament (already something of a collector's item), and things were turning into a real party when the bar was closed at midnight and most of the KL-ites went off to bed. Hotel staff were bemused by the sight of their grand piano in the lobby getting hijacked by Aidan 'Man-oar' Cotter and a gaggle of Orang Éire wives, girlfriends and supporters, but it was something that they were to see much more of over the weekend and in fairness they kept the beer flowing regardless of the hour.

MATCH REPORT: THE FIRST DAY
An 08:30 meeting on the Saturday morning had everyone out of their beds and down to the polo grounds where four pitches had been marked out. The ground itself was in good condition and each team from around Asia had been designated a tent to serve as their base for the weekend. The Orang Éire were seated next to Jakarta, Taiwan, Qatar and Thailand and before long there were friendly greetings exchanged along good wishes for the tournament. A cruel injury had taken one of KL's best players, Mayo-born Jonathan Cleary, out for the tournament. But JC quickly found a new job as manager for the whole weekend. He set up stall on the sideline for every game and called out the substitutions with a calm, clever eye for where we needed to bolster our game.

The Yellows were up first facing newcomers Jakarta. It took a little while to settle down but big Ben Tuite in the midfield and Darragh Mallon up in front of him starting scoring before too long. Ben got really stuck in in the second half and gave away a penalty, but true to his excellent form, top goalie Patrick Erler saved it without a second thought. Jakarta did manage to score a goal as the game progressed but the Yellow's star striker, Johnny 'Ladyshades' Lucey, taking a free kick late in the play, scored a goal with assured confidence. Jakarta 1-2, Orang Éire Yellow 2-3.

The Ladies were up next and faced the formidable Singapore A team. The KL side put up a strong defence and the game saw the beginnings of some good passing movements. Jessica Lourdes Keating, the most-experienced ladies player in Orang Éire history, had to serve as ladies manager for the tournament due to family commitments, and quickly got some order on the girls with her aggressive directions from the pitch-side. However the Singapore team had really impressive levels of fitness and skills and held the lead from the start. They eventually took the game by an unrecorded score.

The Blues then took on the Men's Singapore C team. This side included many players who would usually have made Singapore's A team but on this occasion they were focussed on the second division title and played a hard, physical game of football that saw a good many frees awarded against them. One of our newcomers, Myles Anceschi, got an unlucky knock that had him out for pretty much the rest of the weekend. The Blues took a little while to find their form and Singapore C opened up a lead in the meantime. On another day the game could have been taken by KL, but Singapore managed to hold on in front and win by a few points.

The Blues were also the next team to take the field against our close friends and rivals from Thailand. The Bangkok boys had suffered a severe injury in their first game but were keen to get stuck in against KL and lost no time in putting a few points over the bar. Gaolie extraordinaire, Pat Gorham, made a few of his trademark saves but the pressure was growing and he had to take a Thai attacker down and concede a penalty in the first half. The goal from this penalty saw Thailand going into the break with a good lead but the Blues rallied and the second half was definitely theirs at the start. Seamus Moriarty and Martin McMyler in the middle of the park started fielding passes and a few points were on the board before long. However, just as things seemed to be going the Blues' way, a minor collision with the Bangkok goalie saw a freak accident occur and in a terrible run of bad luck, Thailand lost their second player to a broken leg. The medics responded, after some prompting, and he was stretchered away to the nearby hospital. Time was called and the game was declared a draw.

The ladies were then up against the reigning champions, Hong Kong. Despite establishing a better rhythm of play and again making some good passing movements from Mairead Moriarty and Jen Collins in defence right the way up to Ciara Quigley and Laura Mallon in attack, the Hong Kong ladies were dominant and carefully took points and goals to move into a strong lead. The focus at the break was on containment and the second half did see more improvements, but the experience of the older side again took them through to victory.

At the same time as the ladies, the Men's Yellow team lined up against another powerhouse from China, Shenzen. Previously strong contenders for the overall trophy, the Shenzen 2008 squad were hit with a lot of injuries and were definitely not at their best. The Yellows lost no time in shutting them down in the middle of the park with John English and Mike 'Bomber' Thomas letting very little ball get through to the KL defence. The big Dennis Muldowney from North Carolina was put up front and scored a great point - his first for the club. Another welcome addition to the attack was a musician who had travelled out from Ireland for a week of concerts. Cathal McGarrigle, the bodhrán player, was of slight build, but had a killer turn of pace and scored an excellent goal. Shenzen got a little scrappy towards the end picking up a couple of yellow cards, but the Orang Éire pushed through and came out on top 2-4 to 1-1.

Next up the Blues faced the boys from Taiwan who had also suffered from injuries and had a reduced squad. This match saw our KL heroes really settle into their game with some dominant passing movements and attacking play. Forwards Niall Keating and Liam Mallon scored point after point and a few goals as well. The Taiwan boys did their best but the Blues really shut them down and the game closed (according to memory) 2-3 to 0-2.

At the same time the Men's Yellow team faced the formidable Singapore B squad. Being such close neighbours there is naturally a close rivalry between KL and the Lion City and this game proved to be full of it. The fast-paced runs out of the midfield were tough for the Yellow team to deal with and defenders Eóin Duggan and Danny McBride had their work cut out for them. But the blocking was exemplary and Singapore were frustrated at almost every turn. Unfortunately, the Yellows had some bad luck when shooting on goal themselves and the game eventually went Singapore's way, finishing an exhausting 0-0 to 0-4.

The ladies third game was also against a Singapore team (I know it seems like we just played Singapore all weekend, but they brought about 150 people!). The Lions' C team were a much better match for the KL girls and the experience of Malaysia's first two games showed immediately. There was strong possession in the midfield, and ace attacker Melissa Sargeant had big impact on play. The team had managed to pick up two girls from the Thailand touring party and both Nicole Iberri, at the front and Cat Wynn Roberts, at the back, did good work. Also to feature were Hafizah Abdul Ghani and Carla McNally - two relative newcomers who have come on in leaps and bounds. Singapore managed a few scores despite keeper Olivia Cottrill's best efforts, but nobody gave up and again the KL side started putting points over the bar and balls into the net. Laura Mallon's scores were particularly well taken. The exact final score was lost in the celebrations that erupted as Malaysia first ladies team recorded their first win.

The Blues were back facing a tougher side in their last game of the day: Hong Kong's B team. Hong Kong are serious opposition in Asian football and have seen many county players pass through their ranks. Nevertheless, the Blues took the game to them from the off. Aidan 'Man-oar' Cotter (for a description of his nickname see our June/July issue) really put in the effort at half forward covering as much ground with his legs as those sweet chubby fingers do when gliding across a keyboard. Aidan Higgins and super-sub Ronan Casey also lifted their game with strong defensive efforts at the back of the park, but Hong Kong's skill and physical superiority meant that they pulled in front, taking regular points and a couple of goals. The game finished, disappointingly, in their favour.

Things looked up for the Yellow's though as they togged out for their last game of the day. Vietnam B are well-known to the lads from the South East Asian Games which were held in Ha Noi last June. The KL side beat the hosts on that occasion and went into this encounter with plenty of confidence. The Viet Celts, as they are known, have some real talent in their ranks with local Vietnamese, English and French players who managed to execute some effective passing movements and lead for the whole game with a goal and a couple of points by the end. But the Yellows pulled even at half time. Rónan 'Happy Feet' Kelly made things tough for them at the back and Malaysia stuck to the game plan. Safe passes, letting the ball do the work, using the space to make runs. Points were put on the board and in the final minute, a few simple passes lead to an excellent goal. Final score Orang Éire Yellows 1-4 to Viet Celts B 1-2.

A QUIET NIGHT?
It had been a gruelling day in the Penang sunshine but everyone made it back to the hotel in good time to get spruced up and head out to the Club dinner. 61 guests were eventually seated at the Ocean Green seafood restaurant and managed to get the waiters to hurry things up so everyone was fed. A few quiet drinks were taken and then it was back home to bed at the civilised hour of 09:30. Unless you were one of the ones who stayed up again at the piano until God knows what time! The wives and girlfriends, family members and supporters who had travelled with the teams were to be heard singing into the wee hours. Rumour has it that one of our supporters, somewhat the worse for drink, picked up some stray accomplice and ended up sitting at the foot of the bed of one of the Orang Éire players. The two were heard to mutter "that's my bag. I think this is my room. Where are we at all?…" until they spotted a couple asleep in the bed and beat a hasty retreat. Thankfully, the police did not have to be alerted to the kerfuffle.

MATCH REPORT: THE SECOND DAY
Sunday started bright and early with the knock-out stages of the Games. The Ladies had the unenviable task of taking on Shanghai A just after breakfast. Although they had achieved much the day before, finding the rhythm was quite tough against a team with so much skill and fitness. Local star Ai Lynn Gan finally donned the navy shirt for her first game for the Orang Éire and Canadian Sandra Gentry-Hacker also got stuck in in the half back position. But things didn't go the girls' way and despite some hard running, good passing and a few shots on goal the game ended with Shanghai on top. Nevertheless the ladies had done themselves proud, representing Malaysia for the first time ever in Gaelic Football. For another account of their weekend, see Captain Mairead O'Dwyer's article in this issue. Heads were held high as everyone moved over to watch the Yellows in their Quarter Final for the Men's B Division Cup.

The Arabian Celts - a collection of players from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and other spots in the gulf - were the opponents and proved to be a very decent team. The victories of the day before were still in the Yellow's minds but they were generally put on the defensive for the first half. The defenders and goalie saw a lot of the ball but Mike Fox at the back was instrumental in starting off some fine passing play. Unfortunately the KL team failed to convert all but one of their chances, while the Arabian Celts worked very hard to get a few points on the board. The second half was more evenly matched. Mike 'Bomber' Thomas in particular showed a physical commitment that was unmatched by anyone else on the team and again the Yellows worked hard but never really hit the flow of the day before. A good break from the Gulf boys saw them score a goal, and despite a strong attack in the last minute, and the referee ignoring a clear penalty as a player was taken down in front of goal, the final whistle went sending the Yellows out of the Asian Gaelic Games 0-1 to 1-2.

All hopes now rested with our Blue team. Their draw for the Men's Plate saw them take on the Vietnam B team that the Yellows had beaten the day before. Again, confidence was a key element of the KL strategy. Their Meath-born captain assured every player that if they didn't give 100% on the pitch, he'd personally kill them when they came off, and the Blues got stuck in from the off. A couple of points went on the board and then Vietnam came back with one of their own. However, the Blues really lifted their running game and pushed the other side hard right through to the second half. Two more points were added to the tally and despite an answer from the opponents; the Blues came out on top with a scoreline of 0-4 to 0-2 which belied the dominance of the Malaysian side.

By coincidence, the Blues then faced the Shenzen team that the Yellows had also played on the Saturday. The Chinese side had settled into a style of play that suited them and they were a much more cohesive team than the day before. However the Blues had also come on and right from the start they got stuck in, chasing down balls, calling to each other, running into position to take passes and looking for the attack. Hungarian star, Gabor Miklos, found some form in the half forward position and Conor Moriarty, another weekend pick-up from Cathal's band, showed good fitness in the midfield. While Shenzen's full-forward had a surprisingly good few shots on goal, the Blues were constantly on the counter-attack and never lost the lead for the whole game. Goal followed goal and the Blues' mighty effort saw them finish a strong 5-1 to 3-2.

KIDS
Next up were the VIPs of the Orang Éire; the Kids team. With goal posts delivered to Penang by the Club Chairman and new yellow jerseys for the occasion, the children had a very professional look when they took the field. They were joined by kids from Singapore and their skilled coach, Teresa Ryan, who put everyone through a run of drills and skills exercises where our KL team showed some real ability. The players were then split into two teams of more or less equal strength and a game got underway with the President of the GAA himself coming over to watch the proceedings. Highlights include great passing from Niamh Quigley and Aoife McBride, Adam and Johnny English running backwards and sideways to pass forwards, Peter and Mia English quietly collecting up the cones that formed the sideline of the pitch, Callum and Ethan Cleary covering ground like mad things with William Casey in hot pursuit and Marie Casey getting stuck in in the middle of the park. An outstanding performance was put in by Finn McBride who scored more goals than any other Orang Éire player all weekend (a real one to watch for the future). A second game was arranged with a swap of players but just as this was getting into full swing, the heavens opened and the rain stopped play. Nevertheless the first tour by the Orang Éire kids' squad was judged to be a great success.

THE FINAL
At last the rain stopped, the Blues began to warm up and the entire touring party took their chairs to the sideline for the main event: the Men's B Division Plate Final. Facing the last squad from Singapore, the mighty D team (whose coach boasted the most horrendous pair of shorts you have ever seen in your life, with a revealing side-cut that was just indecent), the lads had a focussed talk before the game and, once the referee was ready, things got underway. Singapore's running out of the mid-field was, as ever, the hallmark of their play, but the Blues were ready for them and Man-oar Cotter and Aidan Higgins didn't let anyone past them without a fight. Kenny 'Pee Pee' Woods at full-back blocked almost everything that they threw at him and possession began to go back to the Blues. Singapore took three points but Conor Moriarty in the midfield and Ruiarí Mallon (who was sorely missed the day before) made great sweeping runs forward and were instrumental in seeing that the side were level at half time.

Captain Liam Mallon rallied the lads and the second half began with some solid possession. A point was missed and Singapore got a lucky one over the bar when Niall Keating in the half forward position took a long ball, scrapped over it with a defender and then put in a shot from the sideline that can only be described as sublime. A brilliant point that completed his hat-trick for the game. The confidence of the team lifted and Seamus Moriarty, controlling the midfield, made a great run forward, passing to Martin McMyler who put it solidly into the net. Not to be caught napping, Martin then ran the length of the pitch to clear the ball away from the Blues goal. There were a few more shaky minutes with a truly heroic save by Pat Gorham (how does he do it?), before a quick counter attack led to another goal for KL. Coach JC had timed the substitutions to perfection, drafting Ronan Casey on in defence once last time and just when it looked like the team could run no more, the final whistle blew and the Blues had won a historic victory over Singapore to take the Men's B Division Plate. Final score: Singapore B 0-6 Orang Éire Blue 2-4.

The whole club went crazy. A victory tunnel was formed and several cans of beer were sprayed, Formula-1 style, over everyone. The Blue team had truly given everything they had and were deserving winners of the first Asian Gaelic Games trophy for the club. The teams then had their own pitch-side presentation ceremony presided over by our own Ambassador to Malaysia, Eugene Hutchinson. Trophies for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) were awarded to Mike 'Bomber' Thomas for the Yellows, Laura Mallon for the Ladies and Martin McMyler for the Blues.

AWARDS AND THE PARTY
The Games themselves continued and saw Hong Kong winning the Men's A Division and Seoul taking the Ladies trophy. A magnificent performance was also put in by the Penang Pumas who, in their first AGG, managed to get to the D Final where they lost, with honour, to Taiwan.

The run back to the hotel was less orderly than the day before with beers flowing and songs chanting out from every quarter. The Orang Éire's piano man lead pretty much everyone in the hotel in a rendition of 'We Are the Champions,' and another club stalwart, Ronan O'Carroll, arrived up with his wife Wai Fun just to join the party. But before long the buses were ready to take everyone out to the presentation ceremony in the Rasa Sayang resort. Things were just as crazy there as they had been at the hotel. Teams crammed into the ballroom and the prize-giving was run through with amazing efficiency by Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Uachtarán Nickey Brennan. The Blues got a spectacular cheer and the team was really partying hard when, out of the blue, the Asian County Board announced the winners of the inaugural Asian Club of the Year trophy. In a complete shock to everyone in the Orang Éire, the club was chosen as the Asian Club of the Year. Needless to say, the shock turned to elation and the roars from the lunatics in the reds shirts were noticed by everyone. Club Captain, Danny McBride was sent up on stage to receive the award.

There was one sad note in the evening. A great player for the Singapore Lions, Alan Power, who was just 37 when he passed away suddenly after playing Gaelic football last July, was commemorated in the MVP tournament trophy which was renamed in his honour. Alan had won the award last year and his family travelled out from Cork to present it to this year's winner. Many of the Orang Éire knew Alan from playing against him and were there the day he died. It was with great respect and fond memories that his mother and father were cheered on the stage that evening.

But the partying continued. Pianos, pitchers of beers and a bizarre dance-off were all to feature in the late night antics. For an idea of what went on and what the whole weekend was really like, check out the photos through the links on our website www.malaysiagaa.com

THANKS AND CONTACTS
The Club was privileged to have had the amazing support of so many people. Family and friends who helped out over the weekend and in the weeks leading up to the Games; thank you so much for all you did. The Orang Éire are also proudly sponsored by: The St. Patrick's Society, Finnegan's, Crown Relocations, Transport Events, Tech-Surf Technologies, Roemex and Revaero. We need more sponsors to help develop the game. If you want original Irish endorsement of your brand and a positive profile in Malaysia and the region, then please get in touch with us.

If you are interested in joining the club as a player, manager, spectator, supporter or in any capacity that you can think of, please get in touch with us through www.malaysiagaa.com or email malaysiagaa@gmail.com for details.

Alternatively you can contact;
Pat Gorham, h/p:012 284 6678, patg@tm.net.my
John English, h/p:012 798 8532, john.english@leblanc.com.my
Rónan Kelly, h/p:012 385 5636, rkelly@crownrelo.com
Jonathan Cleary, h/p:019 318 4127, jcleary.my@qucomhaps.com or
Eóin Duggan, h/p:019 313 2737, eoinduggan@gmail.com

for more information on playing or supporting or participating in Malaysian Gaelic Football.