…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????