Chicago Patriots Gaelic Football Club

Chicago Patriots

Founded:	2005
County:	North American
Division	Central Division Board
Nickname:
Club Colours:	Blue & White
Grounds:	Gaelic Park, Chicago
Standard colours

Chicago Patriots Gaelic Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association in Chicago, USA The Patriots were formed by long time Chicago GAA supporter Joseph Begley in the Spring of 2005. This new team was formed to compete as an all American-born team in the North American finals in the Junior C competition. The team was successful after dispatching challenging competition from the likes of Denver, Atlanta, and Philadelphia over Labor Day weekend in 2005. They repeated as North American Junior C champions once again in 2008 defeating Boston in the finals.

After winning a second Junior C title the Patriots stepped up to the B level competition for the 2009 season. The team fell short of victory in 2009 Junior B competition, losing to eventual winners San Francisco in Boston.

In 2010 North American Finals in Chicago, The Patriots returned to winning ways taking the Junior B title. The Patriots beat both Boston and Philadelphia along the way. The final game proved to be an excellent contest with the Patriots taking a thrilling one point victory over Detroit. The come-from-behind victory was inspired by an excellent second-half performance by Irish-born full forward Jack O'Doherty. The 2010 team included four Irish-based players in addition to the great crop of talented American players. The team was Captained by Tommy Dolan, who had the distinction of winning two titles this year, the second being a Junior C Hurling title with the Chicago Cusacks. As a result of winning the Junior B Championship, the team will compete next year in the Junior A competition.

For the first time in 2010 two Patriots teams were fielded; one in Junior B and one in Junior C. The C team did not fare as well as the B team, going down to eventual group winners Austin Celtic Cowboys.

Recently, it has been announced that Patriots founder Joe Begley will be inducted into the North American GAA Hall of Fame. Begley had a distinguished career as a player and has since been instrumental in helping to develop American-based players and teams in Chicago.