KZN team aim for Gaelic gold
KZN's first ever Gaelic Football team are eager to defend their national title won last year.
AMONG the more remarkable achievements in sporting history last year, was the formation of KwaZulu-Natal’s first ever Gaelic Football, the Zulu Gaels. Not only did Danville Avenue resident and Irishman, Donal Ryan, the man behind it all, get the team up and running but he was also instrumental in helping the Zulu Gaels win the SA Gaels Spring Blitz national competition.
If that wasn’t enough, the team were also mentioned in the Irish press (Irish Mail on Sunday). Ryan, who grew up in the town of Athlone, County Westmeath, won three county titles with his club team, Garrycastle and is an avid exponent of the sport.
Ryan insists the lads and lasses are keen to defend their title at this year’s national competition. “It was a fantastic achievement to win the title last year considering Zulu Gaels was only a few months old. Most of that team are still involved this year and we have a few strong new additions too so we’re in much better shape this time around. So we’re rearing to go,” he enthused.
“Last year we flew into Joburg under the radar. They weren’t expecting us to be good! This year it will be very different so we’ll have to be wiser and more physical. Possession football will be key and we need to be patient to get the ball into the hands of our ace-marksmen.
Being the only gaelic football team in KZN, Ryan, said the team has benefited from playing with KZN’s Aussie Rules players. “Both sports are very similar and I think the team has benefited from training and playing together in both sports. It’s been a lot of fun and has helped us to find new talent. We’re confident that it will be the beginning of a long relationship between the two sports in Durban,” he said.
The grande finale will be on 22 September. Regardless of the outcome, Ryan said the team would be watching the All-Ireland Football Final later that day and enjoying the company of the Blaney Brothers. “We want to keep growing from here. The locals have really taken to the sport. I would love more people to join. That’s my dream to see the sport expand,” Ryan said.
For more information or to join contact Donal on 076 706 3612 or email donaloriain @gmail.com
