Middle East GAA - Round 2 Review - 2022/23
December 21, 2022
Round 2 of the 2022/23 Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce Middle East League began with a hurling and camogie tournament in Al Ain on Friday, November 4th. The weather was cool and calm for “Friday Night Lights”, which had 4 pitches in operation to cater for 24 teams and over 300 players who descended on the Garden City for fun and games. Congratulations and thank you to all teams who travelled to take part, and especially to our tournament winners: Dubai Celts (Senior Camogie Cup), Dubai Celts (Senior Hurling Cup), Abu Dhabi Na Fianna (Intermediate Camogie Cup), Al Reem Shamrocks (Intermediate Hurling Cup), and Sharjah Gaels (Junior Camogie Cup). Thank you to Al Ain GAA for their efforts in hosting the tournament.
The next event took place at the Dubai Sevens stadium on Friday, 11th November for all male and female Junior A football teams. 3 pitches were in operation for the evening as 18 teams and over 200 players took to the field to play in a very competitive division which is delicately poised heading into Round 3. The tournament also offered an opportunity for the juvenile members from Dubai Éire Óg to get involved in the action, where over 100 children enjoyed a fun evening in the same location, playing football in the sun. Our adult tournament winners on the evening were Kerry Middle East (Ladies Junior A Cup) and Sharjah Gaels (Mens Junior A Cup). Well done to all teams who travelled to take part and thank you to Jumeirah Gaels for hosting the tournament. Medical services on the evening were provided by Fakeeh Hospital, Dubai.
There was a quick turnaround the very next day, Saturday 12th November, when Sharjah Gaels hosted Senior and Intermediate football competitions for all mens and ladies teams at Sharjah Wanderers Sports Club. This tournament saw the introduction of a Senior B pathway for ladies senior football, with seeding based on results from the previous round. This initiative seeks to enhance and protect levels of competition at the top of our divisions and will continue for the remainder of the season. On the day, alongside a Handball tournament, a great spectacle of competitive games unfolded on the football pitch, which leaves lots to play for in Round 3 in the new year. Congratulations to our Cup winners on the day: Sharjah Gaels (Senior Ladies), Jumeirah Gaels (Senior Men), and Qatar GAA (Intermediate Ladies and Men). Well done to all teams who took part and thank you also to Sharjah Gaels for their work in hosting the tournament.
Middle East GAA would like to say thank you specifically to our referees for all of their efforts in facilitating our tournaments. Our events cater for close to 2,000 people and without the support and presence of our referees, none of this would be possible. If you are interested in getting involved as a referee, please do not hesitate to get in touch. The level of our divisions range from highly competitive to social and fun, so there is a place for aspiring referees of all levels.
Following the conclusion of adult activities for 2022, two juvenile events were hosted by Dubai Éire Óg in football, and hurling & camogie, respectively. These took place at Dubai Sports City and GEMS Wellington Academy on 19th and 27th November, where over 150 children attended and were ably and enthusiastically supported by parents and guardians. Well done to Dubai Éire Óg for organising, and to Abu Dhabi Na Fianna who travelled to participate.
Elsewhere, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a similar event was run by Arabian Celts at Bahrain Rugby Club on Friday 18th November, where over 80 kids took part in a great day of fun activities in the winter sun. Well done to all involved in Arabian Celts on delivering this event, to all parents and children who took part, and to the members of Naomh Alee, Riyadh, and others from Khobar and Damman, who travelled from Saudi Arabia to participate.
This exciting level of juvenile activity bodes well for the new year, where approximately 350 children are expected to attend the first juvenile tournament to be specifically organised by Middle East GAA. This tournament, to be held in Sharjah Wanderers Sports Club on Saturday, February 4th, reflects the significant work that has happened at grassroots level over the years, and the growing numbers of children getting involved in our games. Entry is open to anybody who might be interested by contacting your local team or this board, and we hope that this can become an annual event in the calendar.
Also in the new year, the league continues with Round 3. Hurling & Camogie will be hosted by Dubai Celts on January 14th; Senior and Intermediate Football by Qatar GAA on January 21st; and Junior A-D football hosted by Al Ain GAA on January 27th (Junior B Men & Ladies and Junior D ladies) and January 28th (Junior A Men & Ladies and Junior C Ladies). Round 4 takes place in February and final standings in the AICC Middle East League will determine if teams play Cup or Plate competitions in the P4ML Middle East Championship, to be held in March 2023.
Photographs from the events in Round 2 will be uploaded and added to the Gallery of the website over the next few weeks.
Lastly, we wish all of our community a very happy Christmas period. Safe travels to those who are departing the region, and we look forward to a resumption of all activities once more in the new year. Nollaig shona daoibh agus athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit go léir!
The Middle East League is proudly sponsored by the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce.
The Middle East Championship is proudly sponsored by P4ML.
Middle East GAA is proudly supported by Jones Engineering.
The official equipment partner of Middle East GAA is O’Neills.