Wellington makes a clean sweep of national titles at St Patrick's Day gaelic football 7s championships in Auckland
Wednesday 18 March 2009, 12:44PM
By Justin McDermott
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Wellington Hutt Valley Gaelic Football Club made a clean sweep of national sevens titles on Sunday last by winning the senior men’s and ladies competitions. The competition took place in Auckland on Sunday and pitted the Wellington teams against 9 other teams including 7 from Auckland, one from Taranaki and a team from Fiji.
“This was a unique achievement for Wellington Hutt Valley Gaelic Football club to win both the ladies and the men’s competitions” said Columba Cryan President of Wellington Hutt Valley Gaelic Football club, “we had gone to this competition over the past few years and lost out narrowly so it’s a wonderful feeling to have won so comprehensively in both codes”
The men’s team faced strong competition throughout the competition but played a high quality of Gaelic Football and they faced Auckland club Celtics in the final. They won the game in comprehensive fashion on a score line of one goal and ten points (13 points in total) to no goals and four pints (4 points in total).
“The most satisfying thing about this win was the fact that we are a small close knit club in Wellington made up of a great mix of Irish, Kiwis and other nationalities who trained hard and have earned this title” said Wellington player Justin McDermott. “We are very proud to have represented Wellington Hutt Valley and that we are able to bring home the silverware”
The ladies final was an all Wellington affair with the Wellington team 'Rebellious rebels' defeating the other Wellington ladies team 'The scandalous scallions' by three points. Earlier in the day the two Wellington teams edged out 3 Auckland sides in the qualifiers. “The strength of ladies gaelic football in Wellington is obvious given our two teams contested the final. It just great to win and bring this title home, we are all so delighted as we have a great mix of Kiwis and Irish girls so it’s a great feeling” said Wellington ladies player Emma Foley.
The cups were presented to the winning Wellington Captains on Sunday the 15th March and big celebrations were held yesterday St Patricks Day, Tuesday 17th March in Wellington. For more information on Wellington gaelic football club please visit www.wellingtongaa.com.