Seoul Gaels hosted the second annual Korean Gaelic Games on Saturday, 7^th June & provided two full men’s panels playing under the guises of Wolfhounds and Syntek Korea, two of the Club’s main  sponsors. Seoul Celtic, this year’s Seoul Sunday Football League Division 1 Champions, also entered a team that contained a number of experienced Seoul Gaels as well as a few new converts to the game. Gwangju GFC and Daegu GFC rounded out the bracket, & ensured the men’s competition would be fiercely contended.

The women’s side of the competition contained three teams of players from the Seoul Gaels, The Blues, Team Black and D’Orange.  The women’s teams were bolstered by many newcomers to Gaelic Football.  Women of all nationalities and from soccer, basketball and rugby backgrounds came out to compete and quickly adapted to the game.

Post Match write up

The 2008 Korean Gaelic Games

A strapping bunch of men in blue football shirts stood around a table in Phillies of Haebangcheon last Friday night. Drink was flowing and so was the conversation. They were the men of Gwangju Gaelic Football Club and they were setting out their battle plans for the 2008 Korean Gaelic Games, held last Saturday from 10am to 6pm at Hanam City Stadium in eastern Seoul.

This was the second year running that the Korean Gaelic Games have been held in Seoul. Last year’s games were a recognized success as the hometown Seoul team beat competition from Beijing and Japan.  A scheduling clash and the proliferation of Gaelic Football tournaments around Asia meant there was no international presence at this year’s games; however, there was a welcome development with the formation and participation of men’s teams from both Daegu and Gwangju.

The Seoul Gaels hosted the tournament and provided two full men’s panels playing under the guises of Wolfhounds and Syntek Korea, two of the Club’s principle sponsors. Seoul Celtic, this year’s Seoul Sunday Football League Division 1 Champions, also entered a team that contained a number of experienced Seoul Gaels as well as a few new converts to the game.  Gwangju GFC and Daegu GFC rounded out the bracket, and ensure the men’s competition would be fiercely contended. 

The women’s side of the competition contained three teams of players from the Seoul Gaels, The Blues, Team Black and D’Orange.  The women’s teams were bolstered by many newcomers to Gaelic Football.  Women of all nationalities and from soccer, basketball and rugby backgrounds came out to compete and quickly adapted to the game. 

The tournament was league based with the top teams progressing to knock out stages. Competition was fierce and the pitch side doctor was kept busy throughout the day. The standard of football on show enthralled the watching players and spectators alike and as the day wore on the intensity and quality of the games got better and better.

The men’s competition was a close affair played to the death, and was topped off with a fantastic display of football from Seoul Celtic and Syntek Korea in the final. A last minute goal saw Seoul Celtic win out in the end by a single score to claim the Cup. In the Plate final, Gwangju dominated from the start to beat Wolfhounds in a solid and entertaining game of football.

Through the opening stages, the women’s side of the competition was dominated by The Blues. The final saw them pitted against Team Black who produced the upset of the day with a thrilling victory that saw them lift the Cup.

The men’s and women’s MVPs as voted by their fellow players were Sean Cummane and Karen Timbs respectively.

The presentation of the Cups and MVP awards took place at a post-games event in the Wolfhound Pub in Itaewon. Noreen O’Sullivan, First Secretary of the Embassy of Ireland in Seoul, was on hand to present the winners with the Murphy Cups, named after and donated by Irish Ambassador to Korea, Conor Murphy, unfortunately unable to attend due to ill health. The festivities went on well into the night and the Cups were filled and emptied a number of times.

The following day was rough and eager to recount the previoius day’s action, those Gaels that could face it were joined by players from Daegu and Gwangju at Watts on Tap in Sinchon for a bit of quality food and drinks.

With the Korean Gaelic Games out of the way for another year, Gaelic Football in Korea turns it’s attention to preparations for the Asian Gaelic Games in Penang, Malaysia this coming October. It will definitely be a long and busy summer.

For a more colorful insight to the men’s tournament have a look at John Buckley's account of the day. Enjoy!

More information on Gaelic Football in Korea can be found at www.seoulgaels.com or contact Club Secretary, Taidgh Simpson, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .