What happens in Munich stays in Munich

…it’s better left behind

Well it really was a weekend that promised so much and delivered so little-a bit like Paul Cafferey’s reign as Dublin manager. Most of the team got the Lufthansa flights while some of us were testing out Cluxton’s driving ability on our way to Cologne and by the way he is not a nervous driver. Davy Barrett’s motivational speech at training on the previous Thursday had us all wound up-especially Keary who was not impressed with its Cork sub plot.

We were of course without our Captain who didn’t turn up because of some minor event, and the nearly fit again Pat Ahern was also marked absent, despite undergoing a course of intensive physiotherapy in an effort to make the travelling panel.

The Night Before

Once we arrived, it was an early night all round as Captain Fantastic, the Clare Island Express Olof Gill had us all warned that he would be on the prowl waiting to catch anyone out. Fancy-Dan Phil Roche did not heed Olof’s advice and attempted to order a simple “Weiss-Bier” until he voluntarily cancelled after he received a quiet friendly word in the ear.

Meanwhile Mikey Keane found a quiet corner in which to skull a pint or two. Of course this indulgence did not affect in any way his performance on the field the next day.

The morning of the tournament started well. Everyone was on time, thanks to Ger McMahon for leaving his breakfast. We arrived early, all singing all dancing. The Three Weshtern Tenors were in flying form, with lead singer Olof doing his best attempt to completely ape Ronan Tynan in more ways than one, giving himself a bad dose of gangrene by tumbling down an incline, mid chorus of the Wesht’s Awake. Latest reports suggest his legs haven’t fallen off yet, but there a horrid whiff of rotting flesh off them.

Round 1:

Up against the Lux boys! We got our blood boiling early with some heavy duty tussles with our beloved rivals. However the day was also a scorcher so there were a lot of hot heads all around! A few skirmishes culminated in the Bucko getting very friendly with the Blondey Mayoman for Lux, before being laid out with a haymaker from No 14, whose day was ended with a straight read. Keary somehow managed to escape sanction, after throwing in a few retaliatory slaps to the same No 14.

We again came mighty close after conceding an early goal but despite some solid performances we fell short by the narrowest of margins. There really is nothing between these two teams, with the head to head for the season so running 3-2 to Lux, so Belgium were bitterly disappointed to lose this game.

The two man combo of Big Ger and Phil the Crusher Cushen really shun through in this match. The only thing tangible we could take from the game was that Stephens was in with a shout for an Oscar after his performance in getting the Lux forward red carded.

Round 2:

The Paris boys finished off our final dreams despite a great speech by Davy to get us going. Fancy Dan Phil Roche really came into his own in this game and the Clare Island Colossus scored a sensational point after Alec had poached a goal.

Belgium however were in a collective day dream as our defence was torn asunder for the first time since the Amsterdam tournament all the way back in April. We conceded two goals, which was unprecedented for such a miserly defence.

Stephens and Gill worked hard at midfield, Davy Barrett played intelligently and Wolfey made a good debut contribution, but our second half rally was not enough to haul us back into the game. Injury to Kevin Keary more or less brought his tournament to an end, leaving us with only 11 fit men (and Keary in agony on the sideline getting treatment from our physio).

To sum this game up, the one armed bandit stole the show and kept Belgium GAA’s sexiest man, Mikey Keane scoreless.

Round 3:

We finally showed what we could do. We upped our performance here when we smelled blood-we really wanted to hit Den Haag when they were down after their poaching antics in Lux.

Immense dynamism was displayed from Rochey and Gilly, who sliced through the Hague defence on numerous occasions like a knife through butte.

Phil Roche, Davey and Olof all kicked some lovely scores ably assisted by Bucko at midfield. The score of the game was without doubt by Belgium’s latest hop-along, our new corner forward sensation and cunning linguist Kevin Keary, who swung his left boot around the ball and poxed a point, ably set up by the Bucko. This was a point forged in the heartlands of East Galway. The final score was 3-7 to 3-1 with the Dutch boys making a late rally with a couple of majors.

Round 4:

This game summed up our day-so close but yet so far. We were without 2 points at half time and had them rattled but an early goal settled their nerves early in the second half. Davey popped up with a nice few scores and Cluxton kept us in contention with some fine saves.

All in all, it was not a success but what did we learn from it….concentration is what we need to improve on but one thing we have is a passion and a will to win that will burn even stronger in Budapest.

Above all, Munich overcame us due to their bigger squad. The same could be said for the Paris and even the Lux games, when fresh legs were introduced at crucial times. Meanwhile, we were left with 11-12 men who could kick ball. The lesson learnt here is that continental GAA, whilst technically 11-a-side, is really in fact a 15-18 man game.

We won it in Maastricht with 16 fit men and Pat Ahern, and we lost it in Munich with only 12. So a message to all lads who put the hard work into training – the craic is savage on tour, so book yer tickets for Budapest and Rennes and we’ll go with a big strong panel to take the top prize.

Congrats to the girls on their win and thanks to big Máirtín and John for running the line and being general bainisteoirí throughout the day.

The Aftermath

That evening, we repaired to a Banqueting Hall for refreshments, and then on to the Shamrock Bar and Torture Dungeon, where unmentionable sins against decency, decorum and civilisation in general were committed. Really and truly, this correspondent can never repeat what he saw going on there as football careers and lives would lie in ruin. So what happens in Munich, stays in Munich.

On a completely unrelated point, Davy Barret said he wanted to be able to tell his grandchildren about Munich well Davy, you can tell them what happened after the Shamrock!!!

On a final note, how can a certain Blondey Mayoman keep getting player of the tournament when he is constantly kept scoreless by a certain player????

Belgium Takes the Prize in Maastricht

21.06.08 – BENELUX Regional – Maastricht

Belgium Gaelic Footballers won their first tournament in Maastricht on 21st June last. In what was a hard-fought victory played under a blazing mid-Summer sun, the Belgian boys announced their arrival on the Benelux and European scene, and now sit pretty atop the Benelux league as they face into the first round of the European County Championship in Munich on July 26th next.

On the day, a panel of 17 fit and healthy men, plus Pat Ahern, travelled to Maastricht in the usual convoy of Saabs and Jettas. However, there were some notable absentees to the previous tournament’s panel. Diminutive talisman, trainer and general inspiration Davy Barrett was marked absent due to important business in Spain, token Swede, wild Mayoman, Olof “besht in the Wesht” Gill’s fine fetching hands were fetching something else, Keith “the Bucko” Shtephens was partaking in violent assault elsewhere and our beloved Bainisteoir and general all-round salt of the earth Dub Conan MacOscair was also unfortunately absent.

Nevertheless, the lads who travelled were determined to do their utmost to win for the lads who couldn’t make it, and also to slag them off of course.

A Depressingly Familiar Start

After a frustratingly habitual late show from Luxembourg, who ended up having to forfeit their game against The Hague, the Craobh Rua lads took the field against the unheralded Amsterdam. There was a sense of trepidation in the camp, as the same team had taken our scalp in the opening tussle of the Amsterdam tournament. Unfortunately, this was to be repeated.

The game started fitfully with both teams clearly short of match practice. The Dam’s Aussie giant forced an excellent save from debutant goalkeeper Stephen Kearney, who laid down an early marker to all and sundry that they were to have to work hard to beat him. Tom Lane opened the scoring for Belgium, picking off a fine score off his trusty left boot. Two points followed from the Dam, which left the score at Belgium 0-1 – 0-2 Amsterdam at half time.

Cross words were exchanged at the break as all men were unhappy with how things were going. Sloppy passing out of defence, lack of support play around the middle and rash shooting upfront needed to be addressed, and fast.

The harsh words seemed to have their effect as Alec Elliot, dynamic captain Emmet Devine and Tom linked up slickly to add to Belgium’s tally. However, the Dam came back with two points, with Enda Rice replying with a booming 45. It was not enough as the Dam took victory with the slimmest of margins 0-4 to 0-3.

The anger and disgust at a depressingly familiar start would have to be channelled positively into the next game, against old rivals The Hague.

An Improved Performance

Belgium took the field against The Hague knowing they had to win or else it was fighting for crumbs in the 3rd place playoff.

The first half was tight, with both defences on top. Phil “The Dog” Cushen was beginning to exert is immense force of will on proceedings, and Emmet was running around like a man possessed. Kevin Keary was his usual cynical self.

Half time it was no score, but Belgium were confident as they ran out for the second half.

Enda and Emmet really took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half, with the former scoring a cracker of a goal from all of 30 yards, and the latter picking off a brace of points, one of which was after excellent work from Alan Rowan, who held up the ball near the endline before providing a well-timed pass for the Devine Inspiration to finish it off.

However, The Hague came back into it with a late goal. It was to be the only time the miserly defence was to be breached all day. With the final tense minutes, giants of men like Gerard McMahon were showing tremendous hunger on the field. Meanwhile, off the field a similar hunger was shown as Pat Ahern frantically enquired to all present “Is it lunch now?”.

The game finished off with Belgium victorious on the scoreline of 1-3 to 1-0. A major improvement.

Pat got what he wanted and lunchtime came. The Hang Sangwiches were classic GAA fare. It was like we were all sitting out in Clonliffe College carpark. All that was missin’ was the flashk of tay and the boot of the car to eat them out of. Conchur de Barra manfully offered up the boot of his brand spanking new silver VW Jetta, however there was no room inside to plant your arse as there was a massive John Deere engine wedged within it.

Next up, Luxembourg

With everyone well fed and watered, we squared up against what are becoming our old foes, the boys of Luxembourg. Declan Hillary laid down an early marker of our determination with a searing run from deep before shooting narrowly wide. Enda, who was proving to be finest dead ball expert on the day, shot a 45 over the bar to open the scoring. A couple of defensive errors resulted in a point for Lux, leaving the teams all square at one apiece at half time.

The second half opened with a bang. Emmet caught the ball in midfield, tore down the middle like a like a Staffordshire Terrier after a postman, before laying off to Phil Roche, who cooly finished to the back of the net.

Emmet followed this up with a couple of points, which had Belgium running out winners on a scoreline of 1-3 to 0-2. This was a depleted Luxembourg side however, so the victors were not getting carried away with their accomplishment. Top dogs for Belgium were the tigerish Toyota men, Phils Roche and Cushen. Emmet was his usual manic self and there were fine contributions from Barry O’Sullivan, Declan Hillary and Alec Elliott, the latter two providing much-needed attacking impetus from the back. Darragh Cotter meanwhile was putting in a mature and measured performance at midfield.

Blowing hot and cold against Maastricht

The old flaws which were evident against the Dam reared their ugly heads against Maastricht, as Belgium struggled to beat the hosts on a scoreline of 0-4 to 0-2, after surviving a number of goal scares near the end.

Among the highlights were well-taken points from Rochey and Darragh, with the highlight being a point from Enda after an amazing 80 yard run from Phil Cushen, who bursted through the entire Maastricht rearguard with the effortless ease and grace with which his beloved home county Kilkenny saunter through Leinster on an annual basis.

In the end, as Belgium stuttered over the line, heads were angrily shaking and worried looks were cast at the Dam v The Hague to see who our rivals in the final would be.

The Final – A Mammoth Struggle

Belgium had a chance to gain revenge on the only team who defeated us on the day up until then, and we went out with all guns blazing. Adopting a man marking approach, with Darragh Cotter assigned the daunting task of marking the giant Aussie, whilst Kevin Keary was sent to do his usual hatchet job on the fast English fella, we took a couple of minutes to settle as unfamiliar positions were taken.

Phil Roche yet again proved to be the man to get us off the mark, with a point after excellent interplay between Alan Rowan and Tom Lane. At the back, a good interception and pass by Kevin, who delivered it into Tom’s breadbasket, the Mallow man being fouled before his fellow Corkman, the usually deadly accurate Mikey Keane, made a complete balls of the free. Mikey was obviously not his usual self and was clearly suffering from the absence of his tormentor, comforter and general soul mate, Mr Barrett.

Alec fisted a fine point and Captain Fantastic Emmet added a couple of his own to bring us in 0-4 to 0-1. One moment stood out as arguably the play of the tournament. The big Aussie fella fielded the ball in midfield, bursted through two tackles and was bearing down on goal with Kevin struggling to make up the yards on him. Next thing, just as 6′5″ Aussie was about to pull the trigger, 5′6″ Phil Cushen arrived and took man, ball, game, tournament and whatever your having yourself with him. It was such a magnificent move that a smitten Kevin declared his undying love to the Crusher there and then. Unbelievable stuff.

Half time it was 0-4 to 0-1 and looking good for Belgium.

Nevertheless, the boys from the Dam are never easily beaten, and they came out for the second half with a determination which Belgium struggled to cope with. Launching attack after attack, they brought the score to within a point. Some relief came for Belgium with Emmet carrying the ball into the dangerzone before drawing a foul. Mikey stepped up and shot a soul-destroying wide from 20 yards. Amsterdam raced up the field to level the game. The momentum was with the Dutch side and Belgian heads should have dropped.

But they didn’t.

Englishman Matt was clean through on goal before a last-ditch interception foiled him. Meanwhile, Darragh was beginning to dominate the otherwise irrepressible Aussie. The team was fortified with the introduction of dynamic Deccie Hillary. The Phils kept fighting in their Phil-like ways and the Big Tyrone Man got in some crucial tackles. But it fell to Enda Rice, the Carlow man with the golden boot and the nerves of steel, to step and kick the winning point, a difficult free from 30 yards out.

Victory for Belgium!

The final whistle blew and we celebrated like mad men, exhausted yet delighted with our day’s work. The mental fortitude, the hard fighting, the support play, the never say die attitude, the simple teamwork that brought us through was celebrated with gusto as we necked back watery Dutch beer.

To the presentation, captain Emmet stepped to receive the cup with a fine victory speech. Then the Ref was called upon to name the Player of the Tournament. All eyes were on the usual suspects: would it be Phil Dog Cushen, for his immense displays in defence? Would it be Enda Rice for his steady nerves and his high scoring? Would it be Emmet? The ref called on Damien to come up, and everyone shook their heads in disgust. Who the feck is Damien? As it turned out, is was a case of mistaken identity as the Damo in question turned out to be none other than Mr Devine himself.

And deservedly so after he ran the opposition ragged, fielded crucial possession at midfield and above all, never ever gave up. It’s this spirit that all Belgium men will bring with them to Munich, as the great man himself is caught up tying the knot on that weekend.

It was a great day and a great victory, but there is always room for improvement. There were times when men didn’t support their team mate on the ball, when rash hospital passes were kicked out of defence giving no chance to the forwards to win ball, and above when the head was lost in front of goal when the ball was shot straight at the goalie, when a simple fisted point would have sufficed. Lessons to take with us to Munich.

Nevertheless, the meanness of the defence, well marshalled by Stephen “Cluxton” Kearney, which only conceded one goal all day, the hard work of midfielders and the snappiness of newcomers like Phil Roche proved a great boon to the upward curve that is Belgium Gaelic Football.

Let’s take this progress with us to Munich and onwards lads!

Belgium Gaelic Footballers first final !

31.05.08 – BENELUX Regional – Luxembourg

Well done to everyone involved, it was a great achievement to get to our first final, in only our second tournament. There were a number of highlights, the great comeback to beat Lux A in our first group game, having been 0-7 to 0-1 down at half-time. The game against Liberities turned into a score fest and we must remember they were poor.

Den Haag gave us plenty of motivation in the semi final (not that we needed it!) by poaching one of the best midfielders at the tournament from Liberties and playing him against us. We drove them into the ground and the fact that some of their more prominent players had to come off in the second half was a result of our relentless harrassing and running.

Unfortunately we fell just short in the final. 0-2 to 0-2 at h/t but they hit us with that killer goal in the first minute of the second half. We didn’t lose believe though and the last kick of the game saw us loft a free into their square which could have as easily ended up in the back of the net and we would be celebrating today.

Our football has improved, our aggression was good and our fitness is getting there. Not one Brussels player went down with cramp but many of our opponents did. Had Olof and Keith not got injured (both had to go to hospital yesterday…Keith will be out for a few wks but Olof should be ok) we may have had enough to get over the finishing line.

We improved massively from the Amsterdam tournament and hopefully will continue the trend going into the Maastricht tournament on June 21. We have plenty more to do in the coming weeks so hopefully numbers will continue to be good at training.

Martin, our Hurling trainer, summed it up best when he congratulated us on breaking the Lux & Den Hague bogeys but emphasised the need to drive on from here in the coming weeks, in both hurling and football.

Well done to our Bainisteoir Conan, John O’Donnell and Mairtin. Its great to have lads there to support & help out and it shows there is good spirit in the camp.