What a great game, fast action, hard hitting and a just a little bit of confusion...........

The first in a planned annual challenge match of "International Rules Football"

In a joint effort between Gothenburg GAA & Copenhagen GAA teams know on the day as "Copenburg....Gothenhagen....Something or just the "Irish" the two teams traveled and met up in Malmo for the game against "Port Malmo FC".

Now for those of you who may be asking What is "International Rules Football". This is a combination of Irish Gaelic Football and Australian Football.There are a few same changes in the rules and in the scoring area.

Yesterdays game consist of 4 quarters of 20 Mins each and we played on the normal Aussie Football pitch which is round and has 3 scoring chances.. 6 points for a goal, 3 points for over the bar and 1 point for "behind" which is an extra up-right post on either side of the main goal ( This is where the bit of confusion starts )

The Irish started into the game with some great ball control and Hand passing which the Aussie's were not use to but they had us beaten on the tackles, because we are use to fighting to hang onto the ball but in their rules as soon as they have a hold on you then you have to release the ball.Any way , by the end of the first quarter they had the lead in the game.

After some quick team talk and re-thinking we came into the 2nd Q with a new game plan, but unfortunately so did they...they had pick up on our ball control and started to mark us Man to Man and this gave them the upper hand so that at half time they were up on us by 16 points..

Time to re-think again going into the 3rd Q and this time it was working for us...We pined them down in there end of the pitch and again with some great ball control and passing we had dragged it back to being 1 point behind at the end of the 3rd Q.

Now the pressure was on....could the Irish boys keep the momentum going ??? Unfortunately not...Tired legs, painful limbs and the knowledge that one of our guys was at the hospital with a broken finger, the Aussies got the better of us and started to pull away with the lead and finished the game with a greatly played last second goal .

All in all everybody had a great game and we rounded it all up in traditional Aussie style with a bit of a Barbeque and a few cold one's................

Our thanks to the Port Malmo FC for their great hospitality and revenge will be ours next time.......

Check out the Photo page for some pic's from yesterdays game.