GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 38 – November 16, 2015 | Page 18

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE GAC CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT
NOVEMBER 1, 2015

PORTS WIN CHAMPIONSHIP
JAMESON HURLEY REPORTING

PORTS AND LEESIDERS
BATTLE FOR LEAGUE TITLE
After 6 weeks of league play, the Ports faced
off against the Leesiders on Sunday November
1st to decide who would be crowned champions. The Leesiders earned a chance to challenge
the league-leading Ports when they narrowly
defeated the Blue Notes in week 6. The Ports,
who suffered two defeats in week 6, would look
to break the Leesiders’ newfound momentum in
hopes of hoisting the Harper Iron Hurley at the
day’s end.
FAST AND FURIOUS

Ports Championship Team. Back row from left to right: Nick Chamberlain,
Torre Stroud, Caleb Harper, Brian Goodwin, Brendan Rauer, Sam D’Amico, Johnny
Watson. Front row: Katie Sampuda, Emily Rodriguez, and Gillian Walshe-Langford.
Photo: Megan Scott.

To say that the atmosphere was tense with anticipation
would be an understatement. The captains, Brendan Rauer
for the Ports and Corbett Ouellette for the Leesiders, rallied their sides, and the teams took to the pitch. From the
opening whistle, the play was fast and furious. Johnny Watson was the first to find the target when his long shot, which
looked to be headed for a point, slipped just under the bar
for a Ports’ goal. Watson was quick to follow with a point,
giving the Ports a confidence building early lead of 1-1 to no
score. The Leesiders, finding motivation under the zealous
cheering of Captain Ouellette, tightened their defense and

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played smart balls into their forward line. Ouellette, along
the quick and agile Grant Gill found the target for the Leesiders, leveling the score.
KEEPER BARRY STANDS STRONG
The Ports tried to respond, but despite some great balls
into the forward line, the confident goalkeeping of Liam
Barry denied the Ports time after time. The boy from Cork,
Barry, brought the crowd to their feet as he blocked a shot
from the Ports’ powerful mid-fielder, Nick Chamberlain,