Good craic at friendly Gaelic footy

GAELIC football club the Ballarat Clovers hosted a women’s friendly challenge game against Young Melbourne at Russell Square last weekend.

The match was broken down to four 10-minute periods, with the final result of 6-10 to Ballarat Clovers and 3-9 to Young Melbourne.

“We affiliated with the Gaelic Games Victoria this year, so it was the first opportunity to play in a friendly game, and Young Melbourne were fantastic,” said club president, Louise Callaghan.

“They’re such great sportspeople; they’ve been great to deal with all along, and have been a really good support with us getting started. They’re quite a new club as well so they know the ins and outs of what we’re going through.

“Their ladies team also don’t participate in the main competition of Gaelic Games Victoria due to numbers as it’s 15 a side, so they’re in a similar position to us. Having the chance to play again in the year was great for us.

“A lot of our players are not Irish and have played footy, basketball, netball, or have been runners, so…they’ve learnt a lot off them.

“Young Melbourne also joined us for lunch afterwards and to get to bond with another team and club in a similar position was great.”

The Clovers’ home base is Russell Square where they train on Thursdays at 6pm.

New purpose-built Gaelic football goals have been installed recently, funded by a City of Ballarat grant, and last weekend marked the first time they’ve been used in competition.

“Ballarat Clovers is a young club and the only Gaelic football team in Ballarat,” Ms Callaghan said.

“These milestones are so important as we bring new sporting opportunities to the city.

“Having the goals in Ballarat means we can not only train with the proper equipment, but invite other clubs to Ballarat for matches.

“We’re now able to take our training to the next level, practising goals and points, game structure and tactics, which previously wasn’t possible for us.”

The Ballarat Clovers are regularly part of one-day Victorian and interstate tournaments, and were established in 2022.

Their goal is to compete at the Koroit Irish Festival again this year.