2008 NACB PLAYOFFS PREVIEW (from Eamonn Kelly) Boston's Irish Cultural Center in suburban Canton will be the site of this year's North American County Board GAA annual championship playoffs over the Labor Day weekend. Hosted by the local divisional board, it will be the first time since 2003 that the national playoffs will be played in the Boston area. Given the NACB criteria and guidelines to be followed in hosting this huge and prestigious event, it has been an enormous task for the Boston board and local committee to prepare this excellent facility for all the games. Under the dynamic chairmanship of Galwayman Bernie Connaughton, and a giant herculean effort between the GAA and the Irish Cultural Center volunteers, six playing fields are ready for action. Compared to five years ago when only three fields were required to facilitate the 45 adult 22 youth games schedule, the need for double the number of fields is a clear illustration of the growth of the national playoffs. Such is the expansion of the playoffs that 74 adult games plus the youth schedule were played at Chicago's Gaelic Park in last year's tournament. Given that 3 additional championships, ladies Intermediate football, American born hurling & football, plus over 40 hurling games, are added to this years schedule, it appears that a record number of games will be played. A total of 19 championships are to be competed for. In order to avoid teams getting bye's into final some divisions will be entering second teams for certain championships and a backdoor format will be applied in other cases where loosing teams will reenter the competition. Following the conclusion of most of the divisional championships over the past couple of weeks, the following cities will be represented in the playoffs - Allentown Pa, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Frederick MD, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland MN, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC. The huge schedule which starts at 9:00am on Friday, August 29 includes the following competitions - men's senior, intermediate, junior A, B, C, D football; ladies senior, Intermediate, junior A, B football; senior, junior A, B, C hurling; senior & junior camogie, plus American born hurling and men's football championships. In addition there will be a youth program that will include under age at three different age levels. It's very difficult to predict what cities and clubs will bring home trophies this year as several of last year's winners have failed to retain their divisional titles. In senior hurling, current national champions Chicago Cuchulainn failed to retain their divisional title while in senior football, Chicago St. Brendan's and San Francisco Ulster lost their divisional championships. As most divisions have now identified the teams that have qualified for this year's playoffs, following is a preview of this year championships. SENIOR HURLING Current champs Chicago Cuchulainn will not be in Boston this year to seek their 4th North American title having been defeated by Limerick for the Chicago title. Limerick who won their lone national title in 1977 will be considered the outsiders to gain their second title. However, since moving up to senior ranks from several years at junior level they have shown vast improvement and will provide a tough challenge. Likewise, Western champions Na Fianna after taking the divisional title from Naomh Padraig will be anxious to win their first senior championship since 1991. The 2008 title is expected to return to Boston for the first time since 2005 as both Tipperary and Wexford who have qualified for this years playoffs have engaged in a highly competitive local championship and are likely to go head to head for the national title. JUNIOR ìAî HURLING Similar to senior hurling the long campaign in Boston will benefit the two qualifiers, also Tipperary and Wexford, with Tipp being favorites to repeat last years success. Philadelphia Shamrocks and San Francisco Na Fianna are the two other qualifiers for the championship. JUNIOR ìBî HURLING The extensive promotion of hurling in the greater Milwaukee area saw the fruits of success with the Milwaukee club taking this title last year and are expected to retain the trophy. Twin City Robert Emmets who lost to Milwaukee in last years final hope to reach the final again this year and will be anxious to turn the tables on Milwaukee. Washington DC Gaels are expected to be strong challengers. Also in the mix are teams from Denver, Phoenix and Seattle. JUNIOR ìCî HURLING This competition which was won by Denver in 2007 is wide open for a challenge among teams from 9 different cities. Highlight is the appearance of four new teams, Concord and Barleyhounds from New Hampshire, Cusacks from Chicago and a team representing Allentown PA. Also in the competition are Denver, Twin Cities, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, St. Louis. MEN'S SENIOR FOOTBALL Chicago's big guns, Wolfe Tones and St. Brendan's, who between them have captured 19 NACB titles, will not be part of this years playoffs. Boston Mc. Anespies who lost to St. Brendan's in the 2007 decider will be favorites to take the honors they last held in 1998. They retained their divisional title with an impressive victory over a very good Donegal team. Their playoff semi-final opponent is Philadelphia Kevin Barry's , 2007 Intermediate champions and new comers to the senior stage. Also new at this level are the other two semi-finalists, Chicago Parnells and San Francisco Sean Treacy's. However, they both qualified with impressive credentials. Parnells beat current champions St. Brendan comprehensively in a three game series to win the Chicago title and are holder of 2 NACB junior ìAî titles in 2005 and 2006. To reach the playoffs Sean Treacy's beat 2005 NACB champions San Francisco Ulster in overtime in a classic Western decider. Being on the senior stage at the NACB playoff s for the first time is a much deserved reward for a hard working club celebrating their 10th university. MEN'S INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL This has been the most difficult competition to predict a winner since just a few teams compete . Usually only two or three divisions stage Intermediate championships where teams who feel they are not good enough to compete at senior level , and too strong to play in junior îAî, enter this competition. As a result of a very successful system in Boston this year the lowest 4 teams in the senior league competed for the Intermediate divisional championship. The two finalists, Kerry and Galway will join San Francisco Ulster in a round robin type playoff. Kerry, the runner-up will play Ulster while Galway will play the winner of that game for the title. MEN'S JUNIOR ìAî FOOTBALL Chicago Padraig Pearse who gave impressive displays in easy winning this competition last year will not be in Boston to defend their title having been defeated by their Chicago north side neighbors John McBrides in the Central divisional final. Following a tough Chicago campaign that included wins over established clubs St. Brendan's and Wolfe Tones, the McBrides will be strong contenders for the national title. The club took the NACB senior football title in 1987. Boston Donegal who defeated McAnespies in the recent Northeast divisional final will provide strong opposition as will Young Irelanders from Philadelphia and the San Francisco champions Ulster. MEN'S JUNIOR ìBî FOOTBALL This championship is always the most competitive men's competition of the playoffs as several one club cities are striving for success. Nine teams are competing for this year's title including current champions San Diego Setanta. Given their fine display in last years final with a winning margin of 22 points they are probably firm favorites to retain the title. Their greatest challenge should come from Charlotte James Connolly who only lost to them by 3 points in last year's semi-final. Other teams competing for the trophy are New England Celtic, Detroit Wolfe Tones, Philadelphia Kevin Barry's, Cleveland St. Jarlaths, Pittsburgh Celtics, Philadelphia Eire Og and Philadelphia St. Pat's. MEN'S JUNIOR ìCî FOOTBALL The junior ëCî division which was started in 2003 contributed to the ongoing promotion of Gaelic football for American born players over age for the youth program. With an NACB rule in place that only American born players could play in this C championship in the four major cities several hundred American born players contributed to the formation of new teams in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco. It emerged into a very popular competition where these teams competed with existing teams in smaller cities that were allowed to Irish born players. To date, New England Celtics won the 2003 and 2004 championships with the Chicago Patriots capturing the 2005 title. Two non-major cities took the last two titles, Charlotte James Connolly in 2006 and San Diego Setanta last year. Setanta will be eager to retain their title but can expect a strong challenge from the patriots. Also in contention are teams from Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington DC. MEN'S JUNIOR D FOOTBALL. This championship has been very successful for the promotion of football for newly formed teams. Winning the competition in 2007 was a great boost for the recently formed club in Phoenix. They will try to retain the trophy this year but will get good competition from St. Louis, Baltimore, Charlotte and new teams from Frederick MD and Austin TX. LADIES SENIOR FOOTBALL Similar to last year only 3 cities, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco, will be represented in this competition. Current holders Chicago St. Brigid's will be favorites to retain the trophy following impressive outings in the divisional championship. In order to avoid giving a team a bye into the final Boston's two senior teams, Tir na Nog and Roscommon will enter the fray. The looser of their final Boston game will play San Francisco Fog City Harps in one semi-final with the winners playing St. Mary's in the other semi. LADIES INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL This is the first year for an intermediate championship and is being run on an experimental basis. The four team format consists of last years junior A and B winners, San Francisco Fog City Harps and Seattle Gaels along the two defeated semi-finalists of this years A championship. LADIES JUNIOR A FOOTBALL With 2007 winners San Francisco Fog City Harps playing intermediate this championship is wide open. The semi-final pairings are Philadelphia Notre Dame vs Seattle Gaels and Washington DC Gaels vs Atlanta Gaels. LADIES JUNIOR B FOOTBALL As in the men's junior ìBî football competition this ladies championship is usually a most competitive and enjoyable contest given the number of cities competing. It produced several great games in the 2007 playoffs with Seattle Gaels taking the trophy. The Gaels compete again this year and hope to retain the title. They start their bid with an opening match against Detroit St. Ann's. A strong challenge is expected from San Diego Na Fianna who the title in It's inaugural year 2004 and again in 2005. Also competing are Chicago McBrides, Washing DC Gaels, Denver Gaels, Atlanta Gaels, Charlotte James Connolly and Orange County Roisin. SENIOR CAMOGIE Only two teams, Chicago St. Mary's and Boston Eire Og. The Boston team have won four of the last six championships. St. Mary's who last year's final with a 12 point margin over Eire Og will start as favorites to retain the title JUNIOR CAMOGIE The junior championship will be more competitive than the senior grade with teams from Denver, Milwaukee and San Francisco joining the Chicago and Boston clubs. San Francisco Shamrocks won the 2007 title with a comprehensive win over St. Mary's and will be favorites to repeat their success. Eamonn Kelly PRO - NACB Tweet

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