P4ML Middle East GAA Championship 2023

The P4ML Middle East GAA Championship took place in Zayed Sport City, Abu Dhabi on March 10^th and 11^th, with approximately 120 teams and 2,000 adult players coming together to compete on the pitch, with an additional 200 juvenile players in attendance with their coaches, parents and guardians.

This year was a special occasion, as it represented the 10^th year of Middle East GAA. Gaelic Games have been present in the region since the early 90’s, with continued growth over the years resulting in the establishment of the County Board in 2013. Since then, rapid expansion has taken place across men’s football, ladies’ football, hurling, camogie, handball, and juvenile sections. Middle East GAA would like to thank all those who have been involved in Gaelic Games in the region over the years and look forward to a bright future ahead. On Thursday, 9^th March, a reception was held at the residence of H.E. Ambassador Milton, with a small recap available here.

On this occasion in 2023, the P4ML Middle East GAA Championship was attended by GAA Uachtarán Larry McCarthy and Chairperson of World GAA Niall Erskine. Friday night saw hurling and camogie games take place, starting at 7pm and finishing late at night. Teams took to the fields amid a fantastic evening atmosphere to compete in their respective divisions, with groups of between 4 and 6 teams seeking to claim victory.

In Camogie, Dubai Celts continued their strong performances this year when they built on their strong league exploits to secure the triple win of Senior, Intermediate and Junior Cups on the night. Hometown club Abu Dhabi Na Fianna also produced a strong showing in the Intermediate Plate competition to take the honours there.

In Senior Hurling, 6 teams were split into two groups which then contested Cup and Plate competitions. This represented an increase in teams at Senior level from throughout the year and bodes well for the continued developed and expansion of the division in general. On the day, Dubai Celts captured the Cup trophy, complementing their league honours, while Dubai Celts B took home the plate trophy and showcased their ability in competing at the higher levels in future years.

The Intermediate Hurling Cup was won by Jumeirah Gaels, who put their heads down and worked hard after the conclusion of the league to ensure that they took the honours on the night. In the Plate competition, Abu Dhabi Na Fianna also built on their league finish of a semi-final in Round 4 by continuing the momentum to take home the Championship Plate.

There was a quick turnaround on Saturday morning, where throw-in for games began at 8am and temperatures steadily rose throughout the day as players and spectators descended on Abu Dhabi. In Ladies Senior Football, Abu Dhabi Na Fianna recorded a comprehensive Cup final win to complement their earlier league honours, while the same was true in the Men’s division where Jumeirah Gaels crowned an impressive year for the club by winning the Cup Championship for the first time, adding to their first league win just a few weeks earlier. Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi Na Fianna ladies joined their teammates on stage when they won the Ladies Plate final, while Sharjah Gaels took home the honours in the Men’s Plate division.

Intermediate Football was a competitive division for both male and female teams. In the Ladies’ division, Al Reem Shamrocks continued their impressive season by completing the double of League and Championship when they brought home the cup, a feat which was matched by Abu Dhabi Na Fianna in the Men’s division following a series of intriguing and competitive games throughout the day. In the Plate competition, Abu Dhabi Na Fianna ladies added to the list of hometown celebrations while, in the men’s division, Qatar GAA ensured they finished their season on a high, finishing a strong season in the Intermediate ranks.

The Ladies’ Junior A division saw Kerry Middle East GAA capitalise on their strong league form to secure the Cup competition also, while the Men’s Junior A Cup division saw some good fixtures between evenly matched teams, with Laochra Gaels coming out on top at the end of the day. In the Plate division, Dubai Celts continued their improved form across each tournament when they took home the honours, while Jumeirah Gaels finished their year strongly when capturing the Men’s Plate.

In Ladies’ Junior B, Abu Dhabi Na Fianna built on their tournament win and league title in Dubai by securing the Cup competition at Championship, while Plate honours also stayed in the city of Abu Dhabi when Al Reem Shamrocks won their division. The Men’s Junior B division saw Jumeirah Gaels take home the Cup honours, following a close finish in the league just a few weeks before. In the Plate competition, it was the men from Abu Dhabi Na Fianna who came to the fore to claim the honours after a few competitive games that morning.

Ladies Junior C saw a 6-team shootout with the teams from Abu Dhabi again coming to the fore, with Abu Dhabi Na Fianna winning the Cup competition and Al Reem Shamrocks winning the Plate. In Ladies Junior D, the absence of league winners Clann na hOman offered an opportunity for others to capitalise, and it was Dubai Celts who did just that when they secured the Cup competition. In the Plate division, the dedicated efforts of Kuwait Harps were justly rewarded when they won the division at the start of the day.

In the cooler evening climate, juvenile members from Abu Dhabi na Fianna and Dubai Eire Óg came together to play several games at Under-6, Under-8, Under-11, and Under-14 levels. Parents, guardians, family, and friends were on hand to cheer on the stars of the future as they took part on Championship weekend under the watchful eye of their coaches.

Middle East GAA would like to offer its thanks to all who took part throughout the weekend, making the P4ML Middle East GAA Championship a very memorable experience for all. This weekend was the biggest event of the year and represented a very fitting end to a season of games, competition, and fun. Congratulations and well done to all our winners across our 15 divisions this year. We thank PJ Moloney and P4ML for their support of the event as Championship sponsor and look forward to hosting bigger and better events in the future.

This represents the conclusion of our season on the field of play, with the AICC Middle East GAA League, the Middle East GAA juvenile tournament, and the P4ML Middle East GAA Championship spanning a total of 15 tournaments, taking place across 9 different locations and 3 different countries. We look forward to the GAA World Games competition this summer in Derry, where Middle East GAA will compete in Men's Football, Ladies Football, Hurling and Camogie against other units from around the world, including Asia GAA, Australasia GAA, Canada GAA, US GAA, New York GAA, Gaelic Games Europe, and Britain GAA. Trials will take place soon, and all interested players are advised to contact their clubs for further information.

Lastly, Middle East GAA would like to extend its sympathies to the loved ones, family, and friends of Caina Healey, a member of Abu Dhabi Na Fianna GAA club, who sadly passed away recently. Caina played with Abu Dhabi na Fianna over several years and lined out in the recent P4ML Middle East GAA Championship. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.