By Ray O'Hanlon
Forget the World Cup. Those guys got paid no matter what the result.
But no amount of quarters in his piggy bank will convince Conall Bracken that the moment of victory is anything other than a lifetime memory, no price tag attached.
Conall and his team mates on the Katonah, New York-based Setanta Gaelic football team played in last weekend's Rockland County GAA Denis McHugh Gaelic Football Tournament for children eight and under.
The tournament was part of a glorious weekend-long celebration of the opening of the new GAA facility in Orangeburg. "The U8's performed incredibly well, bringing Setanta its very first championship just a year after the club was formed. In sweltering heat, the U8's had to win an incredible five games in order to claim first place. They accomplished this feat with relentless offense and an impenetrable defense," said the Setanta club in an absolutely and utterly impartial press statement.
Meanwhile, organizers will be hoping for slightly cooler weather this weekend when the junior GAA action shifts to Long Island and the Continental Youth Championship Tournament. which runs four days from Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 1.
As many as 1500 players aged eight to 18 from the U.S., Ireland, Britain and Canada are gathering in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow for the tournament, which is run by the Gaelic Athletic Association Minor Board, and Gaelic 4 Girls.
An opening parade will take place on Thursday July 29 in Rockville Centre at 7 p.m. Details at www.cycgaa.org.
