GAA World Games 2023

Derry, Northern Ireland

The 2023 edition of the GAA World Games games took place Monday 24th July to Friday 28th July in Derry. Monday to Thursday took place in the fantastic facilities at the Owenbeg Centre of Excellence in Dungiven, with the finals taking place in Celtic Park in Derry city itself on the Friday. Over 1500 players across 93 teams from 25 countries competed in the various competitions across the week, highlighting all that is good about the GAA, both nationally and internationally.

Asia was well represented, sending 7 teams in total. The competitions were divided into the Open (Irish and non-Irish born players) and International (Non-Irish born players only) categories. Asian teams competed in the Men’s Open Football, Men’s International Football (Cairde Khmer Cambodia),Open Hurling, Open Camogie, Ladies Open Football, Ladies International Football (Cairde Khmer Cambodia and Korea & Japan).

The men and women from Cairde Khmer were the stars of the show for the week. The club and it’s representatives put in a massive effort to get these two teams to Derry and kitted out. For many of the players, this was their first time outside Cambodia. The club’s social media account has many more pictures, videos and details of the wonderful players and does them and the club more justice than I ever could here.

The Men’s Open Football had 6 teams competing – the top two after the group stages would proceed to the cup final and the remaining four would go into semi-finals for the shield. Ahead of the competition, the expectation was that Australasia and the Middle East would be the teams to beat (a trend that carried across all open categories it would seem). The Middle East Mens Open teams had historically been very strong, winning all 3 previous outings of the World Games.

The men’s first game was against Australasia on Monday afternoon, and true to form, the southern hemisphere team was very strong, running from the back in numbers. A late first half goal meant that Asia had to go out and chase the game in the 2nd half – leaving more space for the Australasians to exploit. They ran out clear winners in the end. Day 2 saw Asia face Italy and Iberia, the Asia team being too strong for both, and winning well. Wednesday morning, Asia faced off against the Middle East in a game that would likely decide who appeared in the cup final against Australasia later that week. The Asian team put in a very spirited display and made the Middle East team work hard to break them down. In the end, the Middle Eastern team ran out 7 points clear, a score-line which didn’t reflect the fight that the Asian team put up. The last group game against Benelux was for standings only, as both teams would be playing in the shield on Thursday. Asia triumphed and finished 3rd in the group standings.

The shield was to be played entirely on the Thursday in Owenbeg, Asia’s semi-final was against Iberia in the morning while Italy faced off against Benelux. Asia and Benelux got the better of their semi match-ups and faced off in the final. In the end, the Asia Men were a class above the European team, the longer time duration in the play-off games working in their advantage and comprehensively putting away the competition with a score-line of 8-15 to 1-1, claiming the shield victory.

The Australasian team were the eventual cup winners, beating the Middle East on a score-line of 3-7 to 1-5 on Friday morning in Celtic Park, Derry.

4 teams competed in the Open Hurling during the week, but unlike the Mens Open Football, there was no shield competition. Australasia and the Middle East were again the teams to beat in this category, putting up big scores against both Asia and Benelux during the group stages. Both of the Asia vs Benelux group games were tightly contested, both sides being equal to each other on both occasions and finishing level. Monday saw a good performance against the Australasians, with the wet conditions proving a bit of an equaliser, but they only improved as the week went on and the Asian team losing numbers, notably Cormac Foley. The Asia team faced off against Benelux again in the 3rd place play-off on Thursday, and produced a very solid performance to win out on a score-line of 1-11 to 1-5.

The Middle East claimed victory in the cup final, beating Australasia 1-23 to 3-14.

The Ladies footballers finished fourth after some very competitive Open round games, but unfortunately lost out to a formidable Australasia Team in the Open Cup semi final, who went on to win the cup. Rosa played a stellar role as captain of the Asia team throughout the week, playing her textbook full back role against literally world class opposition. Christy Dailly outran every opponent that came her way and put on an incredible defensive midfield performance. Hannah Farmer showed the diversity of her skill set with her work rate in the back line leaving nothing to the imagination. Christina Kelly, Sinéad Kennedy and Caitriona Treanor caused serious threats up front- an exciting prospect for the AGGs!

The Camogs also fought hard throughout the Open round games and brought home the silverware after beating Britain 1 in a closely contested shield final, 1-8 to 1-6! Sinéad O’Neill, MVP of the Asian Camogie team and Sinéad Kennedy ruled the roost in the middle and forward line. Schyler Neale supported on every inch of grass and picked up the Most Improved award, news has it she is coming for the BIG award this year – watch this space!! We wouldn’t have got over the line if it wasn’t for the Fitzhenry sisters, Erin and Roisin, who accepted the late call up to fill in for injured teammates, after a few pints in the now infamous Peadar O’Donnells!

Thanks to Caitriona Treanor for the write-ups on Ladies Football and Camogie.

Men’s International Football
A massive 28 teams competed in the Men’s International Football Competition across two divisions. Asia was represented by Cairde Khmer in the 2nd divisions. The men put up some good competition in the group stages, certainly proving no push-overs. Unfortunately, they were beaten, but only by a fewe points in each of their group games. This put them into a plate semi-final against Catalonia, where they were beaten by only a goal. The Cambodians can take some solace in the fact that the Catalonians were the eventual winners of the plate and they made them work for the win in the semi final.

Ladies International Football (Cairde Khmer Cambodia)
Ladies International Football saw 20 teams competing and the Cairde Khmer team were in group 1A. The girls were outclassed in most of their group stage matches, which put them into a plate quarter final against Central & Eastern Europe on Thursday morning. The girls played hard and came away with a confident win on a score-line of 1-3 to 0-1, putting them into the plate quarter finals. Unfortunately, they came against a strong Europe 1 team, who they had already played and lost to in the group stages. The result was the same this time out, with the Europeans taking the win, 6-3 to 1-1. Europe 1 eventually claimed the plate victory later that day. Similar to the men, the women lost out to the eventual winners of their competition.

Ladies International Football (Korea & Japan)
The 2nd Asian Ladies International football team was made up of representatives from Korea and Japan. They were playing in group 1B. Similar to the Cambodians, the team had stiff competition from some strong group stages, but pulled off a win against the French Gasconha team. This saw them straight through to the plate semi-finals also, where they played the another French team, Siróc. The Asian team was beaten by the narrowest of margins, losing out by a single point on score-line of 1-2 to 1-1. The Siróc team were eventually beaten by the same Europe1 team that bested the Cambodians also.

Huge thanks have to be given to the GAA, Derry GAA, Derry City, the organising committee and all of the volunteers throughout the week for putting on such an excellent week of games. A mention also has to go out to all of the players who travelled, the managers (PC, Jen, Cormac, Seamus, Mick, Derek and Joe) for getting the teams together and running the lines during the week, the Asian County Board, and Joe Trolan in particular, who does massive work for the GAA in the region. One last mention to our number 1 fans, Kymbo and Bláthnaid, who supported throughout every game!

A special word of thanks to the Orsi family, who instigated the hosting of the World Games in Derry and whose presence and support was felt by our squad throughout the week. The girls proudly wore the Lisa Orsi Foundation wristbands bearing the slogan “Lisa Orsi Legend, Champion, Friend” during their World Games Campaign in memory of our former clubmate – Once a Lion, Always a Lion.

Full match results list available: here
Full team list: here
More photos and videos: here