GARDAÍ Eireannach got up and running with their first outing in a challenge match against Harlesden Harps in Hounslow on Saturday.
The team from the Irish Guards, a regiment of the British Army, were understrength with many of their players missing due to other commitments, and they duly lost 5-10 to 1-02.
The match took place inside Hounslow Cavalry Barracks, west London, where Gardaí Eireannach hold their training sessions ahead of their debut season at junior level in London GAA.
By all accounts, both sides conducted themselves in a professional manner and the match was refereed by Sligo native Michael Cawley.
Gardaí Eireannach are the first army regiment to become an affiliated club in the GAA’s history as British security forces were banned from playing Gaelic games until 2001 under Rule 21.
A proposal from London hurling club Granuaile to rescind the decision to affiliate the club was quashed by GAA headquarters last month.
Irish Guards in action against Harlseden Harps