Forget Real Madrid v Barcelona, Madrid Harps v Barcelona Gaels is the real ‘El Clasico’.
The sporting rivalry between Spain’s two biggest cities isn’t limited to soccer and it’s the capital who have been reigning supreme on the GAA front, with the Madrid Harps senior men’s team having captured their third Iberian Championship on the trot this year.
Last year was the first time any team had won two Iberian Championships in succession, so for the Harps to do it three times in a row is quite an achievement.
They’ve been on the go since 2003 and can count approximately 70 people amongst their membership this year; manager of the men’s team, Conor Coyle, reckons there are few counties in Ireland not represented at the club.
As well as regular training sessions and trips throughout Spain and the continent, there’s also a thriving social scene, as the regular 3am texts to the WhatsApp group asking ‘is anyone out for pints?’ would suggest.
We asked Conor to give us the lowdown on the characters within the dressing room and he was more than happy to oblige.
Focus on Madrid Harps
Club: Madrid Harps
Year established: 2003
Number of members: Around 70 this year
Biggest rivals: I suppose traditionally the club would have always had a great rivalry with Barcelona Gaels. ‘El Clasico’ and all that.
There were plenty of fierce battles over the years which went one way or the other depending on the year. More recently, we’ve been getting to know some of the teams from the north in Galicia a bit better too!
We’ve played the last two Iberian finals against Irmandinhos A Estrada and it has gotten a bit feisty. The girls have had a bit of a rivalry with Valencia San Vicente this year as well which has threatened to boil over a few times.
Biggest representation from a club/county in Ireland: We’d be a bit of a melting pot with lads coming from all over the place; I’d say there aren’t too many counties not represented within the club’s membership. We’ve had an influx of guys from Ulster this year; Down and Monaghan mostly.
The ladies have had a strong Donegal connection in the past as far as I know, but I think Katie Flood is the last veteran keeping that show on the road.
Most memorable moment in the club’s history: Perhaps I may be a bit biased on this one, but the men’s team winning three Iberian championships in a row this year must be fairly high.
Until last year the championship was never won on two consecutive years so we consider it a huge achievement to have done what we did this year, especially considering the massive increase in the standard of play in general.
Similarly, the ladies winning two years in a row last year was a massive achievement for the club.
Most eye-catching scoreline in the club’s history: My sources inform me that there was an infamous ladies game between the Madrid O’Donnell’s (second team) and Valencia B which finished up with the huge scoreline of 0-2 to 0-1.
Rumour has it that the atmosphere in the ground was electric as two quality teams battled it out score-for-score for the entire game. In the end, the O’Donnell’s emerged victorious after an end to end game which will go down in history in Iberian GAA.
Player who makes the longest commute to training: I think you’ll find that there aren’t many of us who take less than an hour twice a week to get down to the back arse of nowhere where we train, otherwise known as Vicálvaro.
But I’d say by the time Tony Forde stops for a “platter” on the way down, maybe that adds on an extra bit of time to his journey.
Most dedicated club person: We all appreciate the great work that Jesús San Blas does for the club, the man never stops and he can never put his hand up quick enough to volunteer for things.
However, I think in a tight call I’d have to go for Javier Vicente, Mr. Harps himself. In my opinion, along with the help of a few other soldiers, Javi has almost single-handedly kept the club alive over the last few years and often for little reward for himself.
And after the amount of times he has asked, people have still never bought him that beer that he keeps going on about.
Player who could have made it big if love/career/drink didn’t get in the way: I’d say for the lads it would definitely have to be Gooch O’Neill; he didn’t just get that nickname for his ginger head.
As one club member has put it, “the man makes love to pints”. Our big midfielder Joe Shanahan definitely could have given it a crack as well I’d say.
Itziar Alberdi on the girls’ team probably could have been an All-Star full forward as well if it wasn’t for her close affiliation with the beer.
Biggest character: The aforementioned Itzi is definitely in the running for this one. Big Finbar Neville, although he’s as slow as a one-legged dog on tranquilizers, is known for coming out with a lot of golden one-liners and just generally being on bad behaviour.
In a previous tournament, after going off injured in the first game after about five minutes, he went on the beer and ended up stopping a game as he was giving the referee so much grief.
Loudest in the dressing room: Generally the ladies dressing room is not a place I frequent very much but from the way Katie Flood shouts on the pitch I imagine she’s fairly loud in there too.
Although Stephen Keeney is a small enough guy he makes sure everyone hears what he says too; he was shouting that loud in his last game for the club that I think I nearly saw a tear coming out. Is it a coincidence that they’re both from Donegal?
Number of romances that started in the GAA club (feel free to name names): Although there has been plenty of flings – too many to name, in fact – there have been a few success stories such as Paula and Sergio and chairman Javi and PRO Katie (the power couple).
Apparently Rob and Barry have had a great bromance, according to an unknown source. And, of course, we couldn’t forget the inseparable two Stephens. Some say it was love at first sight.
Duck to water award – Best new player who had never played GAA before: As far as the lads go this is probably the easiest decision to make. Emilio Macias started last September having never picked up a football in his life and he has not put a foot wrong all year at half-back. He’s a natural, and a gent at that.
Kieran Daly as well; he’s apparently training for the Olympic steeplechase in Rio in August. Club stalwart Nuria picked up the game very quickly and plays almost as if she was Irish. In the last couple of years, Cristina has also fitted in seamlessly to the ladies’ team.
Most annoying person in the club WhatsApp group: Where to start? A few subcategories needed here.
In terms of most messages sent over the last year, even though he’s only been here since January, it has to go to Luke Naughton. Every night at about 3am (even during the week) there’s liable to be a message sent asking if anyone is out having pints.
ECB (European County Board) member JJ Keaney has to get a mention here as well; he generally only contributes if he’s giving out about rules or to let everyone know about the change to the square ball regulations for the 2020 season.
Apparently Isa in the girls group has an affinity for asking for everything ‘in Spanish please?’ Anne-Marie’s contributions are also supposed to be less than helpful!
Best story involving a club member that’s fit for print: There are a few contenders here for sure, although the ‘fit for print’ requirement rules a fair few out.
I enjoy one from last year after we had won the first tournament of the year in Madrid. I walked outside the pub that night to find Kerry man, a Dublin man and a Donegal woman (you can put two and two together here if you wish) arguing with the doorman as to why they weren’t allowed back in.
The Dublin man’s response after he was pulled away from the doorman was that they saw an open storage room door and decided to head in and treat themselves to a few six-packs. Each.
“Sure what was wrong with that?” he protested.
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