GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 38 – November 16, 2015 | Page 28

PARIS, FRANCE
NOVEMBER 12, 2015

FRANCE MEN DRAW WITH
IRISH SELECTION, BELGIUM
LADIES TRIUMPH
MARK BRANNIGAN REPORTING
A major sporting and cultural event took place in Paris on the 7th of November 2015, with the French national Gaelic football team in both men’s and women’s
codes playing their second ever matches.
Last year, both teams played and won the first ever international Gaelic football matches to be held, against
Italy in Toulouse, France. This year, both teams faced
a much stiffer task with the women’s team playing
against Belgium GAA, the current European champions, and the men’s team playing against a selection of
Irish players living in France.
THE GAMES

It’s all action between France’s men’s national Gaelic Football team (blue) and
a selection of Irish players living in France. The game ended in a draw last
weekend in Paris. Photo: Paris Gaels.

In the end, the French women’s team lost about
by just 5 points, on a scoreline of 4-14 to 4-9 in
what was a pulsating contest from start to finish. While
there are some non-Irish attached to the Belgium side
the majority are Irish and for the all French Ladies team
to be just 5 points adrift at the end was an excellent
showing.

The French men’s team drew with the Irish selection,

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with the Irish scoring the equalising point with the very
last kick of the game. The match ended 3-10 a piece.
The scoreline shows the extent how Gaelic Football is growing among locals willing to take up the game and be competitive. The Irish selection squad had quality players throughout
and for the all French men’s team to gain a draw is a fantastic
for the players and for the future of Gaelic football in France.