Interstate Teams Take On Tassie’s Gaelic Football Best

Three interstate teams will take on their Tasmanian rivals in the state’s annual Gaelic Football Blitz. The lightning tournament will be held on Saturday 14 November at the Metro ground, Allunga Road, Chigwell.

In the men’s division, Geelong Gaels (VIC) and Irish Australians (SA) will line up against local teams Hobart Shamrocks and the Celts-Tigers. The teams will play a round robin followed by a final between the top two.

In the women’s, a Tasmanian representative side will take on the visitors from ACT in a head-to-head three match series.

“It’s always exciting for our players to pit their skills against interstate opposition,” said TGFHA president Amanda Watkins. “In recent years we have also sent teams to play in tournaments elsewhere, so this is ideal preparation.”

She said she was hoping the weather would clear but the participants were all very keen regardless. “The Blitz is always a big social occasion,” Watkins said. “There’s fun on and off the field which is why this is such a great sport to be involved with.”

The first game kicks off at 9.30am and the games run through the day until the men’s final at 4.15pm followed by trophy presentation. Spectator entry is free and there will be food and drinks available for purchase.

Although the modern presence of Gaelic football is relatively new to Tasmania, it is likely that convicts and settlers of Irish descent played the game here in the 1800’s.
Amanda Watkins, Tasmanian Gaelic Football & Hurling Association President, Alan Whykes, Media Liaison