2010 for HK GAA has been the year of "The Games"  with the committee putting in a sterling behind the scenes effort to ensure what will hopefully be a smooth running and successful games.  The downside of all this is that Chairman Moe (Shane Harmon), JJ Neville, Fergal Power and countless others are probably going to be snapped up by Lord Coe to help run that minor multi-sport event happening in London in 2012.  On a more serious note is it time to reconsider the format and mandate of the games - how many clubs have the enthusiasm and manpower to take on the organising burden of an event this size....

Meanwhile 2009 was brought to a very successful and musical conclusion through the Masquerade Ball where a number of members exchanged boots and jerseys for guitars and mikes forming HK GAA's very own house band (The GAA Station) which performed a storming set to a frienzied, fanatical, masked audience.  Rumours abound about record company disputes and creative differences as the band have kept a low profile since but fans are waiting patiently for a repeat performance.

On the pitch the momentum has ebbed and flowed throughout the year.  The ever popular Summer league ran in May and June and in the men's competition saw a very deserved victory for a powerful, strong-running all Aussie team defeating Happy Valley in the final - a popular result from the neutral's perspective judging by the crowd reaction during and after the game.  Of course it would be churlish to remark that 2 controversial refereeing decisions which led to 2 goals for the Aussies had any bearing on the 5 point victory (this last comment has of course nothing to do with the author being a member of the Happy Valley team!).

In the Ladies competition Admiralty Crokes emerged victors in a close, hard fought competition.  The other notable achievement during the Summer League was the classic hat trick (left foot, right foot, bounced off the back of his head) scored by John Hone which makes him the only player to score a hat trick in each of the last 3 decades of Summer League competition.  Expect him to be a standout marksman in this year's D competition.

On the touring side the Ladies have been a lot more active that their male counterparts making the trip to Korea for the North Asian Games.  In what was a very well run and enjoyable event the HK ladies did the club proud putting in a very gutsy performance before running out of steam against a strong Korean team in the final.

Closer to home saw Shenzhen host a very successful China Games both on and off the pitch.  In the final of the men's competition HK just about saw off the hosts in an entertaining, ding-dong battle whilst the HK ladies brave and gritty performance in the final just came up short as Shanghai emerged narrow victors in a very even contest.

However, arguably the most exciting and fun day of the year on the pitch involved very few of the adult members.  Organised by part-time banker and full-time GAA volunteer JJ Neville (with assistance from Damo Barry, Elaine Morgan and Sally Wong) the 1 day HK GAA primary school football festival turned out to be a fantastic success with a selection of local schools and International schools playing off against each other.  A great day was had by all and there were quite a fwe promising talents on display - the 1st step in developing home grown talent from the club.

So as off the pitch preparations for the Games contineu the on-pitch focus has gradually increased over the last couple of months even though as I"m sure other clubs can testify the typhoon season is doing its best to wreak havoc.  Of late a typical week has been Tuesday and Thursday cancelled due to rain with a few token games on Saturday before quickly adjourning to the pub where there seems to be a lot more enthusiasm about the games than ever shown on the training ground!

So not ideal prepration but as ever, once the games roll around HK GAA will be ready to give its all both on and off the pitch.