Strengthening Ties: LA Cougars and SFGAA Share a Great Weekend of Football

The San Francisco GAA welcomed the Los Angeles Cougars to Páirc na nGael this past weekend. The Cougars played two competitive games on Treasure Island. They faced the Sean Tracy’s on a rainy Saturday night, then woke up the next morning to take on the Young Irelanders.

"We've always known there's a great football scene in San Francisco," said Simon McCoy, Vice Chairman of the club. "Coming up here for national tournaments, we really loved the pitch and the setup. We've always wanted to be more a part of California GAA, so this year, we put a big effort into getting involved in the St. Patrick’s Cup."

It’s a six-hour drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco, so instead of taking the 405 to the 5 to the 580 to the 80, the Cougars flew up for the weekend. "The bodies wouldn't be fit for driving after that," Simon joked.

Throughout the year, the Cougars typically match up with Southern California teams like Setanta in San Diego and the Wild Geese in Long Beach. The trip north was about taking things up a notch. "Over the last couple of years, we've wanted to challenge ourselves a bit more. The standard up in San Francisco is really strong, so that was a big reason why we made the effort."

As for the takeaways from the weekend? Simon summed it up well: "It's a big pitch! But more importantly, throughout the season, we often don't get truly competitive football until the national tournament. Having strong competition gives our members a reason to stay sharp, stay fit, and stay excited about football."

It was a great weekend of football, camaraderie, and fierce competition. We’re looking forward to welcoming the Cougars back to Páirc na nGael on May 17th and 18th when they take on Ulster and Éire Óg.

Photography by William Wayland.