Pics by Bert Trowlen
This Thursday, January 15th, the “Mighty Halfpacers” of Belfast are trading the winter coats for sunglasses as they jet off to the Sunshine State for the Tampa Bay GAA Suncoast 7s Hurling Blitz.
Established in 2018, the Halfpacers are a recreational hurling collective for the “more experienced” player. Comprising older lads who still have the hunger for the game—some veterans of the sport, others who have picked up the hurl later in life—they play for the love of it, prioritizing camaraderie and the social scene over intense competition.
This trip marks a significant milestone for the group. having already graced the hallowed turf of Croke Park, the Halfpacers are taking things to the “Next Level” with their first major international tour.
The Squad A travelling party of 26 players will make the trip, representing a mix of roughly 12 different clubs across Belfast and beyond, alongside several “free agents” unaffiliated with any specific club. They will compete against teams from across the USA in what promises to be a festival of hurling.
The Itinerary The tour kicks off in style on Friday night with a “meet and greet” puck-around on the white sands of Madeira Beach. The lads will join the other competing teams for a few beers to watch the sun go down over the bay—a far cry from a wet Tuesday night training session in Belfast!
Saturday sees the serious business (or as serious as Halfpace hurling gets) with the 7s Blitz itself. Following the action, the team will head to downtown St. Petersburg for the official afterparty hosted at Mary Margaret’s Irish Bar. The rest of the trip will be spent chilling out, enjoying the Florida weather, and making connections within the growing US social hurling scene.
The “Chicago Express” The squad includes a very special guest appearance. Micky Brady, a Rossa legend with two Senior Football Championship medals and a clean sweep of underage hurling titles to his name, is flying down from Chicago. Micky has been living in the Windy City for 31 years and will link up with the boys for a reunion to remember.
The Travelling Party: Brendy, Joe O’Neill, Ryan O’Neill, Ally, Gerard, Aódh, Colm, Ramey, Colm McKenna, Desi, Seamus, Tony, Canice, Ryan Jackson, Paddy, Neil, Kevin, Mark, Joe McG, Antóin, Daniel, Gearoid, Paul, Ozzy, and Micky Brady.
It promises to be an epic trip for the Mighty Halfpacers!
