Barcelona win first round of Iberian Championship

The European Gaelic Football season got underway on Saturday in Barcelona, Spain, with five teams competing in a fiercely contested day's play.

Teams from Madrid, Pamplona, Valencia, Valls and hosts Barcelona played ten games in a league format before Madrid reached the final.

They were joined there by Barcelona Gaels who qualified on score difference from Valencia when both finished joint second.

This was a magnificent effort from a Valencia team in only their second season, explained Tony Bass, Secretary of the European GAA County Board.

Valls, backboned by Australian Rules players, entered their first ever European Board event and recorded their first ever competitive win, whilst a Pamplona team with many native players were very unlucky not do better on the day.

Referee Willie Cashin ( Tipperary ), who is also the European Board club development officer, said that it was very heartening for the GAA to note that over 50% of the players were non-Irish..

In an entertaining ladies football challenge, the experience of Barcelona Gaelettes proved too much for the newly formed Valancia girls.

The next round of the Iberian Championship takes place in Pamplona on March 29th, before moving on to Madrid in April and Valencia in May.

The winners will qualify for the pan-European Championship which takes place across the continent from July to November.

Full Results:

Barcelona    2-08    Valls     1-00
Barcelona   2-09   Madrid     0-07
Pamplona   1-02   Valencia    1-08
Valls           1-00     Madrid     1-07
Valencia     2-02   Barcelona     1-04
Valls           8-06     Pamplona    0-02
Madrid       3-04    Valencia       1-03
Pamplona  0-02     Barcelona    3-11
Madrid       5-04    Pamplona      0-02
Valls          0-03    Valencia     0-06   

Final    

Barcelona    6-09  Madrid   0-04

Ladies Football  

Valencia Ladies 0-10  Barcelona Gaelettes     2-12