Dubai Celts clinch second double in a week

Dubai Celts clinched a second double in the space of a week, winning the senior hurling and camogie titles on the opening weekend of the Middle East GAA Hurling and Camogie League at The Sevens Stadium.

Both teams picked up where they left off at the end of last season in March, when they lifted the league titles, producing impressive performances against Jumeirah Gaels on this occasion.

In the camogie final, Celts ran out 3-5 to 0-5 winners over Jumeirah, with goals from Aoibheann Malone (Corofin, Clare), Emily Cahill (Kilmaley, Clare) and Roisin Kavanagh (St. Fechin’s, Louth) proving the difference in an entertaining contest.

Captain Melissa Lyons (Clane, Kildare) was one of the standout performers throughout the day, contributing a number of fine scores and showing superb accuracy from placed balls.

It was also a second senior victory in the space of a week for several Celts players, after the club won the senior ladies tournament the previous weekend for the first time since Bahrain in 2016. Lyons, Cahill, Kavanagh and Aine Barry (Éire Óg, Cork) all starred in both successes.

The hurling final was a much tighter affair in the opening half, with the sides locked at 1-3 apiece at the break.

Celts, however, upped the tempo after the restart, with Sean O’Connor (Granagh-Ballingarry, Limerick), Gary Tynan (Danesfort, Kilkenny), Emmet Nolan (Birr, Offaly) and skipper Ross King (Rathdowney-Errill, Laois) all coming to the fore.

That said, it was very much a team performance from Wes Morrissey's men, with every player from 1 to 14 making a major contribution.

Nolan, in particular, picked up where he left off last season, scoring two goals in the final after finding the net three times in the final round of the league back in March.

Special mention also goes to Tynan, who seemed to cover every blade of grass on the pitch. He was like a Maserati whenever the loose ball broke, driving onto it at pace and constantly pushing Celts forward with his neat passing and long-range shooting.

It capped another memorable day for Dubai Celts, who continue to set the standard in both senior hurling and camogie.

The next round of the Middle East GAA Hurling and Camogie League takes place on November 21 at Al Reem.