The GAA championships in Boston and New England are reaching the critical stages with playoff places up for grabs. Last weekend saw some very exciting games in men's and ladies football, at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton Mass, as well as a junior hurling contest that went down to the wire between newly formed Offaly hurling club, and Wexford. With the addition of Providence to the ranks of junior C hurling, for the first time hurling clubs in the Boston Northeast division outnumber football 10 to 9 in men's competition.

In senior football there is plenty of pedigree and star power in the ranks. Paddy Bradley (Derry), Ger Brennan (Dublin), Thomas O'Connor (Kildare), Michael Daly (Galway), Danny Neville (Limerick) and Fionn Ferguson (Meath) are some of the players filling the rosters of clubs. It is Galway and Wolfe Tones setting the pace at the top to get the bye into the semi-finals. Galway have put in some great performances this year and the Tones are bidding for a first ever senior title. At the other end the Shannon Blues are on their last chance to try and get a win against the Connemara Gaels to have a chance of avoiding being the ones left out of the quarter finals the second weekend in August. If Sunday's sizzling encounter between the Gaels and Donegal is anything to go by, there is a lot to look forward to as the championship moves into the knockout stages.

The senior hurling championship is as tight as ever with very little between the 4 teams. Galway and Fr. Tom Burke's are setting the pace after the first round of games. With three games left for each team, and only one team getting eliminated at the end of the league stage, it is still very much an open book to see who will be there come playoff time. Games have been very close, and Wexford and Tipperary are still very much in with a chance of topping the table and making that automatic final berth.

In Ladies senior football the Boston Shamrocks are setting the pace with two wins from two games, and looking for their first title in six years. Connacht Ladies are hot on their heels following their one goal victory over Tir na nOg Sunday last. As for Tir na nOg, like the Shannon Blues on the men's side, they are on their last chance to remain in contention with their final game against the Shamrocks.

New club, Offaly, are making waves in an expanded junior A hurling championship. With 7 teams participating in the competition, the faithful county are in the running for the semi-finals having won three out of 4 games, while Fr. Tom Burke's are also joint table toppers. On the subject of new clubs, Providence Rhode Island have entered the junior C hurling championship as that competition has also expanded. Worcester and Barley House Wolves are on top, with Portland and Hartford in third and fourth place.

Junior A football is headed by Donegal and the Connemara Gaels, with Cork making a playoff run for the coveted title. While in junior B it is also the Gaels and Donegal setting the pace ahead of Hartford and Cork. The championships are heating up with the temperatures, and there is a lot to look forward to for the local GAA fans in the Boston area and the New England region.

For tables, schedules, and results visit www.bostongaa.com.   

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