This past weekend in Boston, the men's and women's Sigerson Cup teams competed against a team of elite US players. The much-awaited visit honoured Queen's University's 100 years of Gaelic athletics.
The teams headed to the pitch at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton, eager to finish their journey with four victories, having just finished their exhibition matches in New York with victories in both.
Early in the game, the O'Connor Cup girls dominated, scoring an astounding six goals and twenty-four points against the US team's three goals and one. With a 2-25 victory over the Boston team's goal and 10 points, the Sigerson Cup squad was likewise victorious.
Speaking on the amazing victory for both Queen's teams, manager Sarah Marley said, “It was fantastic for the girls and boys to have the renowned Canton experience. It was also a fantastic chance to highlight all the wonderful aspects of Gaelic games, such as the excellent player camaraderie and the high level of technical talent displayed.”
Come behind the scenes with us on our USA GAA tour 🎬
— Queen's University Belfast 🎓 (@QUBelfast) June 11, 2024
Our Gaelic football teams took the States by storm this week as they played @NewYorkGAA. A thrilling game between the two sides saw @QueensGAA women's and men’s teams winning both their matches. Queen’s women’s took home… pic.twitter.com/EvH0qx919g
In addition to commemorating the centenary, the tour sought to strengthen relationships between the Northern Irish University and US partners by creating avenues for alumni involvement, academic cooperation, and public engagement for Queen's sport and other endeavours. For Queens, it was the first time seeing the US east coast. They do, however, already hope that it will become a regular occurrence.
“It's evident that Gaelic football is flourishing in Boston, and hopefully Queen's University Belfast will return soon,” Marley stated.