Dubai Celts GAA are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, but it was rivals Abu Dhabi Na Fianna who shone at the GAA Middle East Championships last month.
Held on Friday, March 27, at Dubai Sports City, it was that familiar name of Abu Dhabi who claimed all key honours in the senior ladies and men’s championships at the tournament, thus adding to their Middle Eastern League success earlier in the year.
In mixed weather conditions, teams from across the Middle East and as far as New Zealand entered the event, which was particularly special for the club celebrating two decades.
In the men’s intermediate grade the ever improving Sharjah Gaels were superb in winning the league while it was the Arabian Legends who took the spoils in the plate competition.
The highly anticipated action was to be seen in the four Senior Championship competitions, with tensions running high since the teams last met in Abu Dhabi.
The Men’s Senior B Championship offered up some of the best football of the day with Arabian Celts, Abu Dhabi B, Dubai Celts B and Qatar B all gunning for success.
It was, however, the men from the capital who came out victorious after defeating a heavily fancied Arabian Celts team in an entertaining final.
The Senior Men’s Championship was always going to be one of the most interesting match-ups of the day.
Hosts Dubai, along with Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Al Ain were all in with a shout of clinching the coveted trophy.
Al Ain were the surprise package, beating favourites Dubai in the last four to secure a place in the final.
However, the day belonged to Abu Dhabi who, like their colleagues in the ladies championship, claimed senior honours.
All in all, it was a great success and showcased the growing popularity of GAA around the world, a fantastic tribute to the 20 years of community spirit that has been built by Dubai Celts.
