Gaelic game good ‘craic’

MEET the Illawarra's newest sporting team " the Fighting Leprechauns.

The Leprechauns are a first for the region " they are the first team from regional NSW to play in the 60-year-old Sydney competition.

The side is the brainchild of University of Wollongong's programs manager Lee Murray, who is also the first person from the Illawarra to hold a level one Gaelic football coaching certificate.

"Gaelic football is something different," Murray said.

"I have seen it on television and thought "?why not?'

"The sport is fresh and people with different sporting skills can play a part."

The Fighting Leprechauns have an exhibition match against Sydney's Clan na Gael at University Oval 2 on Saturday from 3pm.

The next day they resume their league season with a match against defending premiers Young Ireland.

Murray said players with backgrounds in basketball, soccer, rugby union and Australian rules would all flourish in the new sport.

"A Gaelic footballer has got to be able to run all day, have speed and good vision," he said.

"The ball is round and has to be dribbled every four steps so a basketballer would pick the game up easily.

"Obviously Australian rules players and rugby players can also adapt pretty quickly."

The Leprechauns have players ranging from 17 to 45 years from across the Illawarra.

Gaelic football is 15-a-side and played on a field 130m by 80m. At each end are rugby posts " balls travelling over the crossbar " overs - are worth three points.

Scoring underneath the crossbar nets one side three points.

The game is fast, but tackling is banned.

q Contined page 55

Shoulder charges, however, are common.

Most of the well-established Sydney clubs the Leprechauns face are stocked with Irish ex-pats.

The side, which now includes three Irish players, plus University students, and players from the northern suburbs, Dapto, Shellharbour and Kiama.

They may need the luck of the Irish to score any major on field success in their inaugural season, which will run until June before a new competition kicks off until October.

So far from three games they have sustained three losses, but are pumped for this weekend's clash.

Making the match even sweeter is that the Leprechauns have taken possession of gleaming new jerseys after playing in borrowed soccer strips for their first three matches.

The matches are played on Sundays at Auburn's Princes Park.

The Leprechauns have received sponsorship from the RDL Corporation " the company that owns well-known Wollongong nightspots such as the Glasshouse, and New Millennium Trophies and Gifts.

The team trains at the university on Wednesday nights from 6.30pm

For anyone wanting more information, please phone Lee Murray on 4221 5358 or 0414 655 572.