Gaelic games shine in the Brisbane sun 

By John Daly

More than 400 players braved the intense Australian sun at Willawong, Brisbane for the 2025 Australasia Championships – the highlight of the Gaelic games calendar in Australia and New Zealand – from Friday to Sunday, October 3-5.

Featuring 19 state teams from across Australia and New Zealand, with every county in Ireland represented, the three-day tournament saw New South Wales (Sydney) claim the men’s senior football and camogie competitions. Victoria (Melbourne) landed the women’s senior football and – after a final for the ages – the hurling crown, while the intermediate titles saw first-time victors in Auckland (men) and South Australia (Adelaide) (women).

Played in blistering heat at the superb Willawong Gaelic games grounds 30 minutes south of Brisbane (the host city for the 2032 Olympics), the first two days saw round robin games played across the six competitions – the top two teams in the round robins qualifying for Sunday’s finals.

Men’s intermediate football

Finals day started off with the men’s intermediate decider where beaten finalists in 2024, Auckland, were hoping to go a step further against a predominantly Australian-born South Australia side. The New Zealand team continued their imperious form from the group stages into the final and led by five points at half-time following a Cian McQuillan goal right before the short whistle.

It was short-lived, however, as SA came flying out of the traps and raised a green flag thanks to a Steven Clay association football-style goal to reduce the margin. In a fiercely competitive second half, the Aucklanders managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and despite a late SA onslaught, Auckland got over the line by five points to win their first Australasia intermediate title. It’s the Kiwis’ first Australasia silverware since 1997 when they won the senior title in Wellington, and with a couple more additions, they might fancy the senior grade again in 2026.

Result: Auckland 1-10 – 1-5 South Australia

Final Best on Ground: Dave Kiely, Auckland and Barryroe, Cork

Women’s senior football

The women’s senior final followed with New South Wales and Victoria going toe to toe 30 years on from the inaugural women’s competition at these championships. The Sydney side have had the better of this rivalry in recent years, shading last year’s final by a point in a thrilling final. But a Victoria side replete with former intercounty talent – including Cork quintet: Orlagh Farmer, Eimear Scally, Aoife Nic a Bháird, twins Daire and Eimear Kiely – were going to take some stopping – and that they did.

Having cruised through the group stage, they did not relent at the last hurdle and took in a sven-point lead at the half thanks to goals by Abbie Scannell and Lauren Boyle. The second half was a continuation of the blitz, and although New South Wales landed two goals late on, they were mere consolation as Victoria ran out comfortable winners. It is remarkably Victoria’s second-ever championship win, their first coming in 2017, but it will be all the sweeter as they scuppered New South Wales’ drive for five.

Result: Victoria 5-10 – 2-4 New South Wales

Final Best on Ground: Eimear Scally, Victoria (Padraig Pearses and Éire Óg, Cork)

Women’s intermediate football

The women’s intermediate final saw South Australia take on New Zealand with the former, like their men’s team, featuring mostly Australian-born players. Having lost the last two finals, South Australia were on a mission to claim their first title as they won their four group games over Queensland and New Zealand. They continued their solid form into the final against the Kiwis, who comprised players from Auckland and Wellington, including a few homegrown players. The Adelaide side’s experience shone through, and they ran out comfortable winners. The final scoreline, however, is not a true reflection of New Zealand, who played some fine football over the weekend and recorded two good wins over Queensland. Many of the South Australia team are likely to represent Australasia at the 2026 World Games in Waterford and this win is a great fillip ahead of the tournament in eight months’ time.

Result: South Australia 3-12 – 1-2 New Zealand

Final Best on Ground: Siena Covino, South Australia (Flinders O’Neill)

Hurling

The game of the day was a final for the ages with Western Australia once again pitted against Victoria. The 2024 final between the sides, described by GAA President Jarlath Burns as one of the most fiercely competitive games had spectators hoping for another classic, and both teams duly obliged. With the temperature hitting the high 20s at Willawong, so too was the high temperature of this game. After a tit-for-tat battle of the highest quality over 60 minutes, the sides were tied at 1-18 apiece.

Extra-time continued in the same vein, and with four minutes left on the clock, WA’s Eric Killeen must have thought he had won it with a fine goal. But Victoria, having 2024’s defeat fresh in the memory, refused to die and struck two late points to rescue a draw and bring the game to penalties. In front of a rapt crowd, both sides slotted their first penalties, but two fine saves from Victoria keeper Darragh O'Callaghan poised them nicely for the win. Up stepped Dylan Shaughnessy for Victoria’s fifth penalty, and the Loughrea man drove his penalty home to win Victoria’s 11th title and avenge last year’s defeat.

Result: Western Australia 2-20 – 2-20 Victoria (AET)

Victoria won 4-2 on penalties

Final Best on Ground: Odhran Floyd, Victoria (Wolfe Tones and Newport, Tipperary)

Camogie

New South Wales camógs have dominated this competition since its introduction to the championships in 2011, and they were in no mood to give up their favourites tag this weekend. Having dispatched hosts Queensland and Victoria in the group stage, they were well positioned in the final again against Victoria. A quick start saw them build an early six-point lead, which they took in at the short whistle. The second half continued much the same, with former Wexford player Jackie Quigley dominating around the middle. Victoria continued to battle hard, but a well-worked team goal, finished by captain Gráinne Egan put the game to bed and earned the team from Sydney an eighth championship crown.

Result: Western Australia 2-19 – 0-7 Victoria

Final Best on Ground: Jackie Quigley (Central Coast and Rathnure, Wexford)

Men’s senior football

The tournament finale would see hosts Queensland take on favourites New South Wales. Although they were up against a NSW oozing with talent, the Brisbane side won the last final meeting between the sides in 2019, and in front of a large home crowd, they would surely fancy their chances. As expected, they put it up to the group winners and 20 minutes in the sides were level five points apiece. But the sky blues from Sydney began to show their quality around the middle and up front with former intercounty players Harry Ladd (Dublin), John Clutterbuck (Louth) and Rian Brady (Longford) starting to pick off scores and propel their side to a four-point lead at the break. The second half was a measured performance from NSW as they extended their lead to eight points. Queensland kept it competitive, and they gave the reigning winners plenty to worry about in attack. But an end-to-end play with five minutes to go saw Ciarán Doyle of Naas latch onto a ball and drive it into the roof of the net, wrapping up the game and earning New South Wales their 23rd state title.

Result: 1-18 – 0-9 Victoria

Final Best on Ground: Ronan O’Toole (Penrith Gaels and St Loman’s, Westmeath)

The 2025 Australasia Championships showcased 42 games of exceptional quality from start to finish. Among the many in attendance were LGFA President Trina Murray and H.E. Ambassador Ms Fiona Flood, whose presence added prestige to the event. Officiating duties were expertly handled by a team of top-tier Australasia referees, ably supported by visiting officials from Ireland: Ronan Devaney (Laois), Marius Stones (Offaly), Jonathan Murphy (Carlow), and Anthony Marron (Monaghan) – all of whom delivered outstanding performances in some of the tournament’s most demanding fixtures.

The smooth running and great atmosphere over the three days were a credit to the excellent organisation and cooperation between the Queensland GFHA and Australasia Gaelic Games committees, whose tireless work ensured the championships were a resounding success.

All-Stars

Hurling

Darragh O’Callaghan VIC

Tommy Gallagher VIC

John McCarthy VIC

Dylan Shaughnessy VIC

Ben Hyland VIC

Darragh Brennan VIC

Kevin Palmer WA

Jack Quaid WA

Paudie O’Leary WA

Dáithí Heffernan WA

Shane Forde NSW

Darragh Lynch NSW

Darragh McGrath NSW

Brian Hogan QLD

Oisín Lynch QLD

Camogie

Michaela Kenneally NSW

Jackie Quigley NSW

Olivia Boyle NSW

Aisling Scanlon NSW

Catherine Finnerty NSW

Caoimhe Reidy NSW

Kiara Carroll NSW

Pam Morris VIC

Niamh McCarthy VIC

Chloe Reilly VIC

Sinéad Moran VIC

Aoife Dillon VIC

Leanne Donnelly QLD

Aoife O’Callaghan QLD

Caoimhe Harney QLD

Men’s senior football

Mikey O’Relly NSW

Brian Fitzgerald NSW

Jack Bambrick NSW

Jack Hussey NSW

Ronan O’Toole NSW

Harry Ladd NSW

John Clutterbuck NSW

Chris O’Neill QLD

Eunan Doherty QLD

Noel Sweeney QLD

Cathal McKenna QLD

Dermott McErlain QLD

Eoin Doonan VIC

Tommy Buckley VIC

Mark Plunkett VIC

Women’s senior football

Daire Kiely VIC

Aoibhinn Henderson VIC

Eimear Scally VIC

Abbie Scannell VIC

Lauren Boyle VIC

Mairi Moynihan VIC

Shauna Stevenson VIC

Emma Mulgrew NSW

Ciara Ryan (C) NSW

Abbie Traynor NSW

Alanna Conroy NSW

Anna McDonald NSW

Aoife Morrisroe QLD

Caoimhe O’Sullivan QLD

Grainne Faulkner QLD

Men’s intermediate football

Kevin McLoughlin AKL

Cian Crowe AKL

Cian McQuillan AKL

Dave Kiely AKL

Ciarán Brennan AKL

Craig Mooney AKL

Paddy Murdock AKL

Adam Smyth SA

Joshua Johns SA

Seán Walsh SA

Liam Mounce SA

Adam Shelly SA

Brian Harnett QLD

Patrick Murphy QLD

Evan Clarke QLD

Women’s intermediate football

Aoife O’Connell SA

Siena Covino SA

Kathryn Hamill SA

Hannah Custance SA

Holly Hays SA

Amy Jones SA

Anita Doecke SA

Éala Ní Cumhaill NZ

Anna O’Dea NZ

Moira O’Flaherty NZ

Noreen Cassidy NZ

Éadaoin Murphy NZ

Hannah Hyland QLD

Maeve Ryan QLD

Emer Burke QLD