September Road: GAA’s world domination plan is coming along nicely

When the GAA invaded America in September, 1888, it took nine days for the “Wisconsin” to negotiate the Atlantic and reach New York.

The Continental European invasion happened at the weekend on multiple fronts – with a 700-strong force assembling in Luxembourg, Austria, France, Sweden and Italy.

“The gospel of Gaelic games has now spread to 70 competitive clubs in 20 different countries, with a further 20 clubs in development in towns and villages throughout Europe,” says Brian Clerkin, PRO of the European County Board.

Yes, this weekend in, literally, the world of GAA, there are European rounds in the Benelux region (hosted in Luxembourg) the area covered by Central and East Europe (Vienna), the North and West region (Saint-Brieuc), Scandinavia (Gothenburg) and the Swiss-Italy section (Padova).

The clubs involved have such wonderful names as the Prague Hibernians, Madrid O’Donnells, Cumann Warszawa and Slovak Shamrocks.

And while the clubs will always attract Irish expats (and, unfortunately, there is a steady supply coming from Ireland to boost squads), the clubs have been successful in bringing in some locals.

In fact, bonus points are awarded in some tournaments for fielding non-Irish players.

Congratulations to all involved in spreading the word of the GAA bible.

And, in case you were wondering, the Zurich men’s and women’s teams prevailed in Italy at the weekend.

World domination is surely only months away now.

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SHOW UP LEAGUE GAPS

There’s been a lot of (valid) talk about the gap between the teams in Division One of the Allianz Football League and those in Division Two.

Well, there also appears to be some open space between the counties in Division Two and those in the two sections below it.

And not, perhaps, the way you might think.

With all the matches below the semi-final stage in the provincial championships having now been completed, of the 16 teams in the bottom two divisions in the football league, eight have reached their respective provincial semi-finals – the same number as from the top two divisions. Of course, because of the provincial system, some counties have reached the semi-final stage without kicking a ball – while others had a torturous route.

In Division One, only Tyrone have not reached a provincial semi-final (and therefore are in this morning’s qualifier draw), and, to be fair, that was because they were beaten by another Division One side, Donegal.

But of the eight in Division Two, only one –Wexford – have reached a provincial semi-final, the other seven having taken the qualifier route.

AGAINST THE ODDS

Too late now, but Mayo to beat Roscommon by 10-12 points 6/1

TWITTER TWADDLE

Tommy Walsh @tommywalshkor
Sam Maguire's first time in Australia! @TadhgKennelly @CocknBull_Bondi (see picture at top)

RTECountryWide @RTECountryWide
Reports of no check points getting to Enniskillen for FH V CN. G8 used as ploy to get Cavan folk there early to buy their dinner! #gaa

LONG SUMMER FOR THURLES SARSFIELDS

Last year's Tipperary and Munster club senior hurling champions, Thurles Sarsfields, have limped out of this year's county championship already. They fell at the first hurdle in the county competition last night when Nenagh Eire Óg produced a 0-15 to 0-12 shock.

Lar Corbett, injured for Tipp’s defeat to Limerick last week, lined out for Sars, but got a straight red card only a few minutes in after an off-the-ball incident.

Meanwhile, Jason Forde, who also missed last week’s game (due to illness), hit 10 points for his club Silvermines in their one-point victory over Borris-Ileigh. Amazingly, three of his scores were direct from sideline cuts.

Eoin Kelly was also sent off as Mullinahone lost by a point against Killenaule in the South Tipperary senior hurling championship semi-final. Kelly scored all 11 points for Mullinahone but was dismissed late on for a second bookable offence. Killenaule will meet Carrick Swan in the South final.