The 11-a-side teams, who are competing for glory in the Gaelic Athletic Association league, took to the field to play the sport – described as a cross between rugby and football.

They included Gloucester-based team St Patrick's, who lost both their matches against St Jude's Bournemouth and Plymouth Parnells.

Appeals are now being made for more young sportsmen to get involved in Gaelic Football and give the sport some fresh faces.

The GAA is now offering a free programme to teach primary and secondary school pupils how to play the sport.

Steve O'Connor, spokesman for the GAA, said: "The Sunday matches went very well, we were delighted to have such a good turnout and hope to have further gatherings at the Old Cryptians in the near future.

"We would like more and more people to get involved. To have more opportunities available to try different types of sports helps everybody."

Each team now has two more matches to play this season and their next gathering will take place in Bristol next month.

People are also invited to watch the St Patrick's senior team train at the Gloucester Old Boys rugby ground in Horton Road on Wednesdays at 7.30pm and their junior teams on Thursdays at 6.30pm.

Kevin McDonagh, county chairman for the GAA, said: "All of our clubs are looking out for more members and St Patrick's in Gloucester is no exception to that. The youth training is very important and so we are looking for more youths to attend our training sessions."

Rules of Gaelic football

Games usually last 60 minutes and are played on a larger rugby pitch.
One point is scored if the ball goes over the crossbar, three if the ball goes below the cross bar for a goal.
It is a contact sport, with tackling that is less robust than in rugby.
Teams typically consist of 15 players – a goalkeeper, three backs, three half- backs, two midfielders, three half-forwards and three forwards – plus substitutes.