THE first ever Gaelic football match was played last weekend at Truro School between St Piran’s Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and the newly formed Plymouth University GAA team.

Sponsored by Specsavers in Falmouth and Helston, the match saw a victory for St Piran’s. Luckily St Piran’s have some ex-county players such as team captain and midfielder Tomas Mulholland and Ronan Marrion one of the star forwards.

Man of the match for St Piran’s was Sean Houghton, a New Zealander who had never played before joining the club a year ago.

Store director and central defender Paul McGrane said: ‘I used to play Gaelic football in my native Ireland. Needless to say it requires excellent eye sight to keep your eye on the ball in this fast paced game. Luckily there are five optometrists on the team so that’s well covered!

"As a player myself it seemed a clear choice to sponsor the team in Cornwall and raise awareness of how much fun it is to play and watch. With any luck this match against Plymouth University will be the first of many Cornwall GAA games.’

Gaelic football is one of the western world’s oldest sports, a form of football mainly played in Ireland, by teams of 15 with the object of scoring a goal by kicking or striking the ball with the hand and getting it through the goals or over the goal bar. Players can advance the ball up the field with a combination of carrying, kicking and hand-passing to their team mates.

St Piran’s Cornwall GAA club was set up by a group of Irish Gaelic football players.

They meet every Monday at 8.30pm to practise and train at the Ben Ainslie complex, Truro School (term-time only).

To join the team or find out more, please message members of the St Piran’s GAA via their facebook page.

Or contact Kevin Kelly, club recruitment officer on 07935953210.