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GAA Footballers Victorious on World Stage
On Friday 18th May, a sun-soaked Old Trafford opened its doors to host a challenge match between their neighbouring GAA Club and a local soccer team. The unimaginable for St Lawrence’s Na Piarsaig soon became reality by 3:00pm that afternoon as they lined out in the purple and gold colours associated with their Club. It wasn’t quite at its full 80,000 capacity, but there were a few hundred fans from either side showing their support on the day and generating a fantastic atmosphere inside this world class stadium.
St Lawrence’s did not disappoint as they rose to the challenge of playing soccer in what might be described as ‘their own backyard’. From the whistle, they took the kick and broke down the right flank with the first attack. Interchanging play between Liam McGonagle and Paul Murphy put the latter through and the attempted chip over the keeper landed on the roof of the net, much to the crowd’s disappointment.
Moments later the same combination put through Seamus Murphy with a free header, but the opportunity was nodded inches wide as sighs of astonishment rang out around Old Trafford. It wasn’t long however, before those sighs turned to cheers, as Gerard Waldron latched onto a Rory O'Donoghue cross-field ball and drilled his shot passed the hapless goalkeeper. The celebrations mirrored those of any team that has scored on this stage as the players gathered in adulation at the corner of the Stretford End.
The opposition team seemed to lack the general fitness and pace of the Lawrence’s players and were ultimately defending for large periods of the game. Luke Byrne dominated the midfield, while Kieren Cunningham and Shane Goldrick provided the solidarity at the back that a game at this venue deserved. It came as no surprise that Lawrence’s extended their lead just before the interval. Substitute Liam Murphy, who plays wing-forward for the U16s, broke down the left flank and a series of first touch passes with Goldrick and Byrne put him through on goal. However, he selflessly squared the ball back to the oncoming Goldrick who had continued his run and finished a fine move low into the corner, seeing the Gaelic footballers 2-0 up at the break.
The second half resumed much the same as the first, with Lawrence’s continuing an attacking style of play. A number of chances went begging as McGonagle, Byrne and O’Donoghue all hit the woodwork in search of a third goal.
That finally came courtesy of some good build-up play involving Matt Brennan and Eamonn Murphy, with McGonagle’s final touch flicking the ball into the path of Goldrick. The Lawrence’s man showed a deft touch for a senior midfielder and brought the ball under control before chipping high into the corner past the approaching goalkeeper. This was as good a goal as you are likely to see at Old Trafford and rightly merited the applause it received from both the opposition and the game’s match officials.
Substitutes Peter Quinn and Kieran Murphy went close in the dying moments, but the scoreline finished a historic 3-0 to St Lawrence’s and a victory for the promotion of Gaelic games on a world stage in Manchester. Handshakes all round and a big congratualtions to the other team for a game played under very sporting conditions.
The day closed with a small presentation courtesy of betting chain and event sponsors BetFred©. Paul Murphy received the trophy on behalf of the team and thanked the organisers for providing a lifetime achievement for everyone involved. He gave praise to the St Lawrence’s committee and founder members for the establishment of the Club and expressed the desire for Gaelic football to become a recognised sport along the ranks of soccer and rugby in Britain.
Club Contacts
Address
St Lawrences GAA Club
Turn Moss Road
Stretford
Manchester
Lancashire
UK
M32 8QD
Phone
+ 44 77 0943 4978