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!