Gaels’ late late show seals Senior title

THE showpiece final of the Scotland GAA season saw the country’s big two of Dunedin Connollys and Glasgow Gaels face off in the Scottish Senior Men’s Championship in Clydebank.

Anyone who has watched the two sides play one another in the past few years will know that there has been precious little between them, with games often ending in a draw or heading to extra-time to determine a winner. However, it has been Connollys who have ultimately come out on top and they were hoping to make it three championship titles in a row in 2026, while Gaels were hoping to break that hoodoo and win their first Senior Championship since 2023.

As the wind swirled around the Gaelic pitch at Clydebank Community Sports Hub—with GAA President Jarlath Burns watching from the sidelines—it was the Glasgow side who opted to use the conditions to their benefit in the first-half and use them they did, driving forward at every opportunity and looking like men possessed as they racked up the points.

A fine performance from Gaels forward James Lynch saw him contribute to that breathtaking start with not only points, but a goal too, as his team looked to give themselves some breathing space going into half-time.

However, the Edinburgh side—who have won the Scottish Senior Championship 18 times—showed why they’ve been so successful by creating a number of dangerous attacks of their own, despite playing into the wind. A notable two-point free from Chris Donnelly, kept Connollys within touching distance going into the break.

Gaels led by a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-5 at half-time, but the new rules mean that a seven-point lead is precarious and the Glasgow side knew they’d have to dig deep in the second-half and prepare for a wave of attacks from their opponents.

That duly arrived, but a combination of missed opportunities and a dogged Gaels backline defending like their lives depended on it—with Liam Ryan literally putting his body on the line at one stage—meant that Gaels still held the lead going into the final part of the match.

As has happened so often in games between these two Gaelic football behemoths though, Connollys did eventually level the scores, thanks to a well-taken goal from Donnelly and a another massive two-pointer from him as well.

Dunedin looked to have the bit between their teeth now and with much of the play going through the impressive Chris Curley, to those in attendance it felt like a movie we’d seen before where Connollys would get over the line—as they have done in the past—by the narrowest of margins.

But cometh the hour, cometh the man and for Gaels that man was forward Tom White who cooly drilled home a last gasp goal to seal a 2-12 to 1-12 win and the title for the Glasgow men, sending their bench and their supporters into rapture (above).

The football on show from both sides was truly a joy to behold and it showcased just how strong our two Senior Men’s teams are, but Gaels were worthy winners on the day, showing, as captain Jack Brennan said, the ability to ‘dig deep’ to secure the win. “You have to have that mentality and fitness to get through in the end,” he added.

His thoughts were echoed by winning coach Colly Clerkin, who praised his team for the work that they have put in throughout the year and in the weeks leading up to the final.

“It was unbelievable,” he said. “The boys have worked so hard. That game was always going to go that way and to see us come out the right side of it for once was incredible. For the last six or seven weeks we have put ourselves in the firing line. I mentioned to the lads about training in the fire and when that fire came, we were able to deal with it.”

Buoyed by the championship win, Gaels will now head into an All-Britain semi-final, with their opponents still be determined.

Glasgow Gaels Scorers

James Lynch 1-3, Dom Laverty 0-4, Tom White 1-0, Jack O’Connor 0-2, Cian Finnan 0-1, John Gately 0-1, Simon Holland 0-1

Dunedin Connollys Scorers

Chris Donnelly 1-6, Ian Doyle 0-2, Andy Lyons 0-1, Barry O'Connell 0-1, Olan Dorgan 0-1, Liam Sammon 0-1 PIC: EVA GOUGH