What a weekend!They say a week's a long time in politics. Well, it's a long time on the rollercoaster that is Beijing GAA. This time last week we had 7 ladies and 7 lads confirmed for travelling and we were in high level negotiations in the transfer market to get the best talent to join our campaign.

We were up to about 11 in each team when the gremlin that is the visa office decided to get amongst the works and that decimated things again. Right up to Thursday we had join ups and pull outs due to the heavy work commitments of our valiant warriors. Jenn and I were ready for drink! (any excuse I hear you say)

Well, anyway, the lads from Dalian and the ladies from Japan decided to join us and we had teams to take to the field on Saturday

The weekend started on Friday with the Asia Pacific Irish Business Forum and a few of us listened to and met some of the leading lights among Irish politics, business and diplomacy. A very enjoyable morning and more to come in the afternoon. Our very own Catherine Toolan was honoured in the afternoon with the International Business Person of the Year Award for 2010. On behalf of all involved with Beijing GAA, a hearty congratulations Catherine. A measure of the girl is that she chose to play with the ladies in Hong Kong over the weekend and was also able to oversee a 12,000 body dress rehearsal in Guangzhou. Remarkable!

Saturday morning came and the lads took to the field. Robert, togging out for his first tournament since his school boy days in Belfast, the two Alans (one passing through China and the other just moved to Hong Kong) and the two lads from Dalian rounded out the panel. We started off in our customary fashion by being beaten well in our opening game. The ladies decided to show the lads how to do it and opened their account in style with great performances all over the field. Catherine and Breige minding shop at the back and Allie and Mel launching attack after attack. Jenn dominating the midfield and raiding forward with Rochelle and Amy and Gaby all contributing vital scores. Great contributions as well from So and Mami in their Gaelic Games! At the end of the day both teams progressed to their respective knock out competitions. The decision on whether to have a quiet night was debated and we scattered over the city from a quiet bistro in Kowloon to the madness that is Wanchai. How would that bear on things the next morning? The jury was out.

The lads took to the field first again and duly dispatched their opponents with fine performances all over the field. The introduction of the legend that is Pete Goff proved to be invaluable. The ladies did likewise. The next game saw both teams fielding at the same time with good wishes being exchanged as we went to face our opponents. The lads again progressed in their semi final with the addition of Mark Mullan who finally got out from behind his work desk and took to the field. The ladies narrowly were defeated by spirited opposition from Malaysia. Over the two days they showed great skill and determination and above all came away from every game with smiles on their faces.

Next up was the men's final against a very young and athletic Suzhou team. The heat was beginning to tell on the Beijing boys who were carrying a few injuries and many more miles on the clock than their young rivals. Suzhou took and early lead that they fought hard to hold on to. Colm and Alan raiding their defence and pulling back points kept us in the game as Ben kept the attackers at bay. In the second half, Darren O'Shea broke on the left wing and unleashed a mighty shot which sailed into the roof of the net from 25 yards. We were back in the hunt. Next up, Mark Dolan put a goal away from the penalty spot and things were tied. Extra time in the searing Hong Kong heat. Four long minutes to decide who would lift the trophy. John Glynn decided to take matters into his own hand as he had a plane to catch and set off on a 40 yard run, brushing tackles aside before sending the winning point over the bar with a minute to spare. The ref called for the ball and John called for a taxi and disappeared like the mist on a sunny Clare morning. The celebrations began now in earnest with Christy Coonan, our esteemed GAA President presenting medals to the winning Beijing team.

The weekend was not over. As usual the Beijing contingent was ready for a party and the room was hopping with 600 players and supporters in fine spirit. Micheal took to the stage and began to speak. You would have heard a pin drop as all present listened in awe to this living legend regale us with tales and stories of the weekend and of games long ago. A truly memorable occasion. Then came the awards after some short speeches and the Beijing crowd went wild as Padraig McGrath read out the name of our own Jenn Pratt for an Allstar. Well done, Jenn. You're a great leader both on and off the park. The next up was an Allstar for the lads team too, a reflection on the whole team who had eleven Allstars over the weekend! Well done Beijing GAA. Many thanks to the sponsors who support us: Irish Network China and Paddy O'Shea's (FECK!).