London GAA Looking to Turn the Tide in the Tailteann Cup
London’s track record in the Tailteann Cup hasn’t exactly been impressive, but there’s real belief within the team that things are changing—and that those changes off the field might soon show up in their results. The Exiles kicked off this year’s campaign with a tough eight-point defeat against Limerick. That match marked their ninth appearance since the competition began, and their only win remains last year’s memorable victory over Offaly, which was also their first championship win in over a decade. They’ve had close calls too—like when they drew with Laois two years ago and were only undone by late goals from Antrim in last year’s preliminary quarter-final.
Tough Challenge Ahead with Westmeath Visit
This weekend won’t be any easier as they prepare to face a confident Westmeath side at Ruislip. Westmeath are coming in hot, looking to secure their second win in the group. London boss Michael Maher and his team will have their hands full trying to contain Luke O’Loughlin, who put on an incredible show with 1-17 against Antrim. London will be relying heavily on the sharp shooting of Shay Rafter and Ciarán Diver, who together scored half the team’s total against Limerick. For an upset to happen in Group 3, those two need to be firing again.
Off-Field Improvements Bringing Hope
London’s challenges go beyond the pitch—things like player turnover, travel demands, and lack of proper facilities have always been issues. But they’ve made real progress on that front. In December, London GAA opened its first floodlit pitch at The Hazelwood Centre. That’s a huge leap forward for the team, giving them the chance to train in realistic match conditions under lights, something they’ve never had before.
Midfielder Tighe Barry explained to RTÉ Sport how big a deal this is. “Last year we were at Grasshoppers on a rugby pitch—no gym, no proper setup. Now we’ve got a gym, S&C coaches, and an actual Gaelic pitch with lights. It’s a game-changer,” he said. “Now we can do real drills—especially for kick-outs. A rugby field just doesn’t cut it.”
Young Blood, Big Dreams
Barry is in his second year with the senior team after coming through the all-native junior squad. He’s one of a handful of homegrown talents making that step up, which he says is encouraging for younger players in the pipeline. Born and raised in London but with strong Kerry roots—his family comes from Valentia Island—Barry has football in his blood. After last year’s loss to Antrim, he visited Kerry and dropped by to see legendary footballer Mick O’Connell, who lives nearby.
With a cousin like former Dublin player Paul Casey, Barry has had plenty of inspiration growing up. He’s been to Croke Park as a fan, but the dream is to one day play there wearing the London jersey. A loss this weekend would be a setback to that ambition, but Barry’s not discouraged. “People always write us off,” he says, “but with more young players coming through and stronger development squads, we’ll keep getting better.”
A Dream Worth Chasing
So what would it mean to step out at Croke Park as a London player? Barry doesn’t hesitate. “It would be a dream come true, to be honest.”
