Abertay Gaelic football team press
release:
What exactly is the Trench Cup:
"The Trench Cup is the trophy presented for the Higher
Education Gaelic football championship" (GAA).
The Trench Cup is the second highest University based competition
in Ireland, with the Sigerson Cup being the elite group.
The institutes of Ireland participate in this cup. However, with
Gaelic football growing stronger in Britain and the rest of the
world, Abertay have managed to secure a place in Gaelic football
history.
Abertay are honoured to be playing in the Trench Cup as
no other University in the world have ever managed to win against
an Irish University never mind qualify for the final of the
Trench Cup.
Not only have Abertay won the British Championship, but
they also now get the chance to play against some of the nations
best
Francie
McCabe P.R.O. Abertay GFC
Background:
British Teams = 38 (only one qualifies)
Irish Teams = 20 (that qualified)
Total = 21 participating teams in the actual knockout stage
Below are the elite teams: These are the teams, which qualified
for the Trench cup.
Cadets (1) (12) Marino
Carlow I.T. (2) (13) Portobello
Limerick I.T. (3) (14) Magee College
Castlebar I.T. (4) (15) N.W.I.F.H.E.
G.M.I.T Letterfrack (5) (16) Cork College of Further Education
St. Pats C.E. (6) (17) Cavan College
Inichcore College (7) (18) Letterkenny I.T.
N.C.I. (8) (19) British Winners(ABERTAY)
Griffith College (9) (20) Blanchardstown I.T
Tallaght I.T. (10) (21) Cork College of Commerc
Coláiste Íde (11)
Gaelic Football Rules
The Gaelic Athletic Association has introduced experimental rule
changes into selected football competitions in the belief that
these changes will help the progress and development of the
game. The experimental changes include: changes in bookable offences,
a restriction on solo-runs and the introduction of the 'mark'
system.
Players will now be allowed to lift the ball directly from the ground
provided they are not in a kneeling, sitting, lying or sliding position.
Two referees will officiate in experimental games in two
of the four provinces. This year's national league competition will
see the introduction of a yellow and red card system, as
in soccer.
TEAMS
A Gaelic football team consists of 15 players and a number
of substitutes, who may be called into the game at any stage. The
team's manager chooses his starting 15 and substitutes from a 'panel'
of players. Only three substitutes can be used in one match.
Every football team has a goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders
and six forwards.
Championship football matches last 70 minutes and league
matches last 60 minutes. Inter county and Inter club teams
will wear their own registered distinctive colours. In all football
matches the goalkeeper will wear a different colour jersey to the
rest of his team.
Gaelic Football is not as dangerous as Hurling so protective
clothing is not necessary.
Each year Inter County and Inter club teams compete in various competitions.
The most famous and respected competition of all is the All-Ireland
Championship. This is a knockout championship that runs from May
to September and only County teams are eligible to play. Every year
a draw is made in each of the four provinces to decide which teams
will play each other. Venues are decided upon and the matches are
then played.
Winning teams progress to the next round while losing teams are
eliminated and must wait until the following year's championship
to try again. Each province has its own final - the winner goes
on to play in the All-Ireland semi-final against one of the other
provincial winners.
The winning teams in the semi-finals proceed to the All-Ireland
final, played on the third Sunday in September. The All-Ireland
final is always played in Croke Park, Dublin. The winners receive
the famous Sam Maguire Cup. During the winter months, the
National League is played. Inter county teams are placed
into one of four divisions depending on ability. At the end of each
league campaign teams can be promoted to another division or relegated
from the one they are already in. The league is looked upon by many
as a warm-up for the championship campaign. As a result of this,
new players are often tried out and regular players play out of
position. Managers experiment with many combinations trying
to reach the ideal formation for the championship games in the summer.
THE PLAY
The ball is officially in play once the referee has given the signal
for the game to start or restart.
The ball will remain in play until:
- the referee signals the game to stop
- the ball has passed over any of the boundary lines
- the ball is touched in play by anyone other than a player
The ball can be struck with the hand and kicked. Players
may kick the ball from the ground or out of their hands. When a
player is making an attack with the ball in their hands they may
not exceed the maximum of four consecutive steps. If the player
wants to continue the move he/she must either bounce the ball off
the ground or toe-tap it.
A toe-tap is to release the ball from the hands to the foot and
kick it back to the hands. A toe-tap can also be known as a solo.
A skilful player must be able to retain possession while toe-tapping
the ball in attack.
A player may 'side charge' another player providing the player committing
the tackle has one foot on the ground. A player can only side charge
another player providing the opponent is in possession of the ball,
or playing the ball at the time, or when both players are racing
in the same direction as the ball to play it.
SET PLAY
There are no corner kicks awarded in Gaelic Football. If the ball
goes out over the end line off one of the defending players a '45'
metre free kick is awarded to the attacking team. An attacking player
will then take a free kick forty-five metres from the goal.
If the ball goes out of play over the sideline the referee will
award a 'sideline kick'. The player taking the kick must kick the
ball out of their hands or from the ground. Under no circumstances
can the player throw the ball into play as is the case in soccer.
SCORING
In Gaelic Football there are two methods of recording scores. A
'point' is scored when the ball is played over the crossbar between
the posts by either team. A 'goal' is scored when the ball is played
over the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar by either
team.
In both Gaelic Football and Hurling a goal is equal to three points.
Points are generally easier to score than goals as the goalkeeper
will be unable to save a high kicked ball.
The winning team is the one that outscores their opponents
OFFICIALS
The referee is the official in charge of the game. The referee is
assisted by two linesman and four umpires. The referee plays a central
role in the game following the play on the pitch, while two umpires
take up position at each of the two goals.
The linesmen follow the game from the sidelines.
The referee's decision is final, but the two linesmen and the four
umpires may be called upon for additional input into a decision
made by the referee. The linesmen and umpires, also known as officials,
act as extra 'eyes' for the referee.
FOULS
There are many ways that a player can commit a foul.
Technical fouls include:
- throwing the ball instead of hand passing it,
- lifting the ball straight of the ground,
- deliberately placing your body over the ball therefore 'killing'
the ball,
- wrestling the ball from an opponent who has caught the ball,
- to bounce the ball more than once consecutively after catching
it.
Players will not usually be booked for committing technical fouls
as they are seen as minor offences. However players will be booked
for aggressive fouls:
- Striking or attempting to strike an opponent with any part of
the body
- kicking or attempting to kick an opponent stamping on an opponent
- behaving in a dangerous fashion towards an opponent striking or
attempting to strike an official
The third type of foul is known as 'Dissent'. Dissent is to openly
disagree with any official about any decision.
BOOKINGS
A - A player who has his name taken for a caution able foul/offence
will be shown a yellow card.
B - A player who has been already cautioned as in (A) will be shown
a second yellow card, followed by a red card and will be sent off
the field of play for the duration of the game only (this would
have resulted in a two-week suspension previously).
C - A player who commits an ordering off offence will be shown the
red card.
D - Referee's reports will be required to be submitted to the GAC
within three days of the game and/or within 24 hours if it is deemed
necessary (Irelandgaa.com)".
End of Rules
Men only:
Yes, the Trench Cup is participated by men
only and there are cups/championships/leagues for women as well.
Quantity/number of teams:
I would be accurate enough when I say 38 from Britain only one
who qualifies and 20 who qualify from Ireland so there are different
answers to the question.
21 finalists.
In total I would say there are about over 80 contestants/Gaelic
football teams participating.
Abertay's Success to date:
Year Competition
2000/2001 Trench Cup winners/runners up
British Champions
Scottish League Runners up
Scottish Championship runner up
Details of the above matches can be found at: http://dbs.tay.ac.uk/gaelicfootball/calander_match_reports_for_the_0.htm
1999/2000 Stirling 7 A Side Winners
British Championship runners up
Scottish Championship Winners
Scottish League Winners
1998/1999 Scottish League runners up
Scottish Championship Winners
British Championship runners up
1997/1998 Scottish Championship semi-finalists
British Plate semi-finalists
1996/1997 Scottish League Winners
Scottish Championship semi-finalists
British Championship Quarter-finalists
Success comments:
Obviously there is a successful streak in the team (as above) and
management of this has to be given credit.
Fr. Eugene O' Sullivan (Abertay Chaplain/Manager).
The Executive committee (as in http://dbs.tay.ac.uk/gaelicfootball/rollof.htm)
And the players of course.
Supporters of Abertay where brilliant at all events this year so
they are a successful element of the team as well and the University
for its support.
Competition:
Abertay University (Dundee, Scotland) vs. Tallagh IT
(Dublin, Ireland)
The winners of Britain have never ever won a match in Ireland before
in a Gaelic football competition of such a high calibre as the Trench
cup.
These are the only 2 teams left standing (out of over 80 teams
of at least 25 per squad = 2000 players alone excluding supporters).
This will be a battle of the giants. Support form all over Abertay/Scotland/Ireland
and the rest of the world will occur (i.e.
irelandgaa.com may publicise this via various resources - and
ALL developments will be posted right here on AbertayUnion.com).
Having the backing of the University would make all the Gaelic
team very proud to feel and have the support of their
own University (as Tallagh will have the support of their own people
as they are playing against Abertay in Dublin).
Abertay Cream of the crop:
Steven Kierns(Dublin), Micheal Forde (Letrim), Eddie Valentine
(Down), Ollie Mc Keown (Down), David Keane (Laios), John Stephens
(Roscommon), John Bell (Wexford), Richard Mc Redmond (Offaly), John
Cannon (Donegal), Ciaran Kelly (Dublin), Shane Kelly (Armagh), Owen
Archer (Dublin), Eugene O' Sullivan (mngr/Kilkenny), James Carmody
(Limerick), Niall Hegarty (Longford), Francis Mc Cabe (Armagh),
Barry O' Neill (Tyrone), Eoin O' Flynn (Kilkenny), Mickey Rea (Tyrone),
Matthew Reidy (Capt/Limerick), Padraig Moore (Tipperary), Damien
Treacy (Carlow), Daryle Devine (Tyrone), Colm Pyres (Down), Conor
Feehan (Armagh), Damien O' Dwyer (Tipperary).
Captain:
Matthew Reidy (Limerick)
I was speaking to Matthew recently and I will compile an interview
with him after training tonight and inform you of his quote via
e-mail tomorrow.
Special/Historical about the venue:
Parnell Park: Is the County's Main Ground
Main ground Located: Dublin Parnell Park, County Dublin
(Leinster, Ireland)
This is the main field for Dublin as you can observe from the above.
Croke Park (GAA's biggest stage to play on is closed for a year
so this is a massive arena to employ University students on ~ Plus
the GAA itself will be holding a presentation in Croke Park for
both teams after the match).
This alone illustrates the passion and respect that the GAA board
itself has for the Trench Cup, when they let the 2 participants
fight it out grittily on a county/national field.
This will be a very special event/location to play at as
the probability is that nobody on either side has ever achieved
status to play on this field (like playing in Manchester United's
ground for soccer players). These are the elite fields/facilities
for the top sportspeople.
_____________________________________________________________________
How Important a competition is this:
I'll get some feedback/quotes on views on this one from all the
team regarding importance. I for one see this as a grand opening
of bigger things to come (i.e. progress to the best in the World
Universities competitions such as the Sigersons Cup against
the likes of Jordanstown, county selectors, and even setting up
another team ("B" team at Abertay etc).
What are Abertay's chances? Are you
hopeful?
Francie
McCabe
(Student/Player/P.R.O. & Editor)
Webpage: http://dbs.tay.ac.uk/gaelicfootball/
|
