Fullen Gaels

Fullen Gaels are the only hurling club in Lancashire, England. The Gaels were formed in February 2005 in Manchester by a small group passionate about the game and also with a desire to re-introduce the sport to Lancashire after an absence of two decades, when the Sarsfields club disbanded.

Due to lack of other hurling clubs in the north-west area, Fullen Gaels compete in the Warwickshire county championship, along with the winners of the title 6 years running in 2005, John Mitchell's, as well as Roger Casement's, Erin go Bragh and Sean McDermott's. The club also competed in the London Hurling League division 2 in 2006, winning one game and losing three. There is a healthy mix of Irish-born players and second-generation Irish at the club. Many of the Gaels' players also compete in Gaelic football, turning out for some of the Manchester-based teams such as St.Brendan's, St.Peter's and St.Lawrence's.

Fullen Gaels call Hough End their home pitch, although Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham is where most of the clashes with the other teams in Warwickshire occur. Fullen Gaels have proven themselves to be worthy challengers in the championship, reaching two finals in their first season, though losing on both occasions to John Mitchell's and Roger Casement's respectively. However, 2006 would bring to Manchester the first silverware in the Gaels' history, when they won the Ronan Cup at British GAA headquarters at Emerald GAA Grounds , London. They defeated Clann na Gael by 3-11 to 1-11. However, they were eliminated from the Warwickshire SHC by Casement's at the semi-final stage by conceding a goal in the last minute, and were again thwarted by Casement's in the Houlihan Cup semi-final, where they were beaten by four points in September 2006.

The Clubs name is derived from Rev. Fr. Emmet Fullen of Derry, who was a founding member of the St Lawrences GFC, Previous Lancashire County Board Chairman and Lancashire Player.

The Crest was designed by Seán Hackett who also designed the Lancashire County Board Crest. The crest depicts the red rose of Lancashire.

Honours

2005: Runners-up, Warwickshire Senior Hurling Championship; Runners-up, Warwickshire Houlihan Cup

2006: Winners, London Ronan Cup

External links

* [http://www.fullengaels.com] fullen gaels website
* [http://www.gaa.ie] GAA official website
* [http://www.hoganstand.com]