A London GAA team have turned Ireland's economic gloom into a recession success story as they harness the football skills of newly-arrived immigrants.

London, nicknamed the Exiles, are on the rise having recorded their first championship win in Ireland since 1977 last month - but it is a bittersweet victory for many players who say they were forced to leave Ireland to find work.

Despite their loss to Waterford at the weekend, the team have earned the respect of clubs across Ireland with their recent performances.

As thousands of young people leave each month in the hope of finding a job, thriving Irish communities are springing up again across London. Any night of the week you can find young GAA enthusiasts playing at a number of grounds across the city.

We met with the London team, whose recent victory against Fermanagh buoyed the spirits of the burgeoning London-Irish community.

Shane Doolin (pictured) is one of the most recent additions to the team, having moved over just three months ago, along with his team-mate Mike Moloney, from Dr Crokes club in Killarney.

Shane (25) says he was fed up with the lack of opportunities in Ireland but would have preferred to have stayed.

"I came over just after Crokes were knocked out of the Munster final," he explains.

"I had no work at home, I did a few days here and there but nothing steady so I decided I had to get out of there."

Upon arriving in London, Shane was immediately sought after by local GAA clubs and promised work by helpful ex-pats.

"Things have gone very well, the clubs were on to us right away when we got over. We went with the Kerry club, Kerry Kingdom Gaels, and they took care of us work-wise and put us up for a while."

Shane says he is happy to have been accepted into the Irish community so quickly but misses his family and old club.

"I want to be at home but with work and the way things are that's not likely. If things picked up in the next while I'd like to move back," he admitted.

The team's manager Paul Coggins has been involved in GAA in London since 1988, when he was forced to leave his home in Roscommon to find work.

He is overjoyed with the team's recent success and says that people are finally showing them the respect they deserve.

"For years we didn't get any attention and were kind of put down," he explained. "It's hard to get respect but if you put in the work we put in and get results it's great.

"We want people to be proud of what they do over here, we're not just kicking a ball around a green field saying we're keeping the game going. We want to make strides."

He explained that it is sad to see young people forced to leave Ireland again over 20 years after he had to emigrate to find work.

"Its not all about having to emigrate, I think I had to do it and didn't mean to be here as long as I am," he said.

"Some of the lads would have moved over for work and there are lads who have been here for many years too.

"They're here because they enjoy London and it's easy to get home and get good wages."

London's GAA community are now hoping to capitalise on their raised profile and create a real infrastructure for players.

The only dedicated GAA pitch is 40 minutes outside Central London in Ruislip, with other grounds rented from local councils.

Players have to make the long trip to the nearby train station or pool together to get lifts from across the city.

The grounds currently have an electronic scoreboard and dugouts with a fully furnished clubhouse selling 'the best pint of Guinness in London' where punters can watch live GAA matches.

However, lack of floodlights and all-weather facilities mean that most matches have to take place during the evening and training sessions are at the mercy of the elements.

Mr Coggins says that thanks to the attention the club is now getting, they hope to make some serious improvements.

"We have a great pitch but we need to make improvements, we got great support from the county board but we want a floodlit pitch and an all-weather pitch for the hurlers and the footballers," he said.

"We're in the right city to do it, we've never had this much attention before and we've worked hard for it for many years."

The team's longest playing member, Evan Byrne, has already lived in London for six having initially left Tipperary for New York.

He says that any Irish people hoping to move over can find friendship and community by getting involved with the GAA.

"They set me up with a job, fair dues to them," he explains. "The way to meet people over here is to join the clubs and you get to meet new friends.

"I've seen many a change over the years but in last year we got some great new boys in who are a massive influence on the team."

Team captain Sean McVeigh, 26, a teacher from Antrim, says their success this year was no surprise to him.

"Compared to last year things are very professional," he says.

"It's very positive, we have a great backroom team analysing games.

"For London GAA it's a positive thing - (but) maybe it's not so good for the clubs back home because they're losing players."

Eurosport