ARABIAN Celts GAA senior men’s captain Martin Scannell helped the Middle East retain the World Cup at the second annual GAA World Games in dramatic circumstances in Dublin earlier this month.
Alongside teammate John Mollen from Qatar GAA, Scannell became one of only two men to earn a second winners medal despite sitting out the cup final victory over Abu Dhabi Na Fianna with a torn hamstring suffered in the second round group stage.
Voted MVP at last year’s inaugural GAA World Games in Abu Dhabi, Scannell was in fine form on the opening day of the tournament at the University College Dublin (UCD) sports grounds as the Middle East made it through the first group stage, despite slipping to defeat against Australasia.
Once again, the strength of the Sperrin Metal Middle East League was reflected in three teams – Middle East I, Middle East II and Abu Dhabi Na Fianna – represented among five in the ultra-competitive second round of the senior men’s competition.
Injury
Unfortunately, it was at that stage that Scannell’s tournament was ended in injury in defeat of the much-fancied New York side and the Middle East I greatly missed his potency in front of goal as they lost to Abu Dhabi, defeated London’s Tir Chonail Gaels and just scraped passed their colleagues of Middle East II to secure a place in the final at the iconic home of Gaelic Games, Dublin’s Croke Park.
It appeared for most of the decider that we would have another shock result on our hands – following Middle East II’s defeated of Middle East I in last year’s final – as Abu Dhabi led almost all the way through, until their own club-mate Colm Coyle forced extra-time with a late goal for the representative team.
That extra period proved a bridge too far for Dhabi as they wilted in the huge space and Middle East I secured the title with the final score of the game.