The Gaelic Gear Euro League Round 7 was held in Copenhagen on August 13th 2005

Congratulations to the Netherlands Ladies team who won Round 7 of the European league in Copenhagen  and now lead with the most points:

Copenhagen Report

The Danish capital of Copenhagen provided a novel setting for the latest round of the Gaelic Gear European Football League. Following their victory in Munich, Paris were the pace-setters but usual suspects of Den Haag, Munich and Luxembourg brought strong sides while Rennes, Amsterdam and the hosts completed the line-up.
After choosing not to travel to the tournaments in Munich and Vienna, Den Haag had lost some ground on Paris but a strong showing in Luxembourg and lads flying in training suggested that the Den Haag men had a chance to close some ground at the top of the league table.
A hotel in the centre of Copenhagen's picturesque Red Light District was mission control but not even the obvious attractions of that part of the city could distract the boys from their objective. Former Limerick county player Dennis Reidy was a useful addition to the squad and Aussie, Matt Bell, who had only started playing a few months before had been making a big impression in training. However as always there were the injuries to contend with. Orson McMahon's ankle was still giving him trouble while Mick Lawlor was struggling with an injured "right hoof".
The opening game against arch rivals Munich was always going to be crucial. Den Haag were missing a few experienced players so it was vital to get off to a good start. Playing with a strong wind in the first half Den Haag should have been further ahead than 2 points to 1. In the second half the experienced Munich team made the most of their chances to win comfortably by 6 points to 2. With Orson in goal and Mick reduced to the role of waterboy there was a lack of bite in the Den Haag side. In addition indiscipline cost Den Haag a number of frees and did little to endear the refs to the lads.
The game against Copenhagen offered a chance to bounce back and they duly did with a hard fought win over the hosts. After the Munich debacle the team had been reshaped with Rory Litton joining Declan Reilly in the half forwards and Matt Morris moving into the full-back line with Graham Merriman. The extra solidity offered by Orson in the half-backs was a springboard for success so things were looking better for the "do or die" match against Luxembourg. The defeat against Munich meant that another loss would make qualification for the final very difficult.
After electing to play against the wind in the first half the scoreline of 4 points to 2 offered reason for optimism. Dennis Reidy and Padraig McCloskey were a hand-full for the Luxembourg full-back line and Willie Hempenstall was driving the team forward from midfield. However the promise of the first half was not built upon in the second and the two point gap was never closed virtually ensuring that Den Haag wouldn't be in the final.
Rennes were the next opponents and as ever the Bretons proved to be a difficult side to beat. Scores from amongst others Eddie Moulds and Pat McGloin helped Dan Haag to a second win of the day. Captain Derek Butler was back to his assured best in defence while Matt Bell was starting to thrive in his midfield role. Mick Lawlor was limping around in goal but managed to keep clean sheets in his first three games. A victory against Paris in the fifth game of the day could be enough to secure second place in the pool if other results went our way.
The game against Paris offered a chance for redemption and Den Haag finally started to play to their potential. The forwards were flying and at half time Den Haag were well worth their 2-2 to 1 point lead. The second half facing the wind was always going to be more difficult. Paris established dominance in midfield and gradually chipped away at the lead with some excellent points. With one minute remaining Den Haag led by 3 points but were under relentless pressure as Paris used the wind to full advantage.
What happened in the final minute of the game beggars belief. It would be hard to find greater injustice in the tortured annals of our eight hundred years of oppression. As surely as some dodgy Russian linesman handed England the World Cup in 1966, and at the same time condemned us all to a life time of inopportune references to "1966 and all that…", Jimmy Hill smugness and hopeless inflated English optimism followed unmitigated failure, that ref handed the game to Paris. In a display of referring incompetence not seen since that eejit who blew up the All-Ireland semi-final with three minutes to play or that gobshite from Antrim who sent-off four players in the first twenty minutes of the 1983 final, the ref gave Paris two penalties in the last minute of the game. The same ref had stood with his hands on his hips and his whistle up his arse as various Hague players were forced to run the gauntlet of flaying French fists and boots and hadn't given a free the whole game, saw two penalties in 60 seconds. The first may have been a penalty but was no worse that much of what had gone before while the second was no more a penalty than I am Lola, who sings at the Copacabana. The tackle won the ball cleanly and even the Paris lads were embarrassed at the ludicrous decision by a ref who is to Gaelic Football what Fr. Jack Hackett was to the Second Vatican Council.
The two penalties yielded four points giving Paris a one point win which confirmed Den Haag's exit but still wasn't enough to get Paris into the final. In the end Luxembourg prevailed over Munich in the decider, a result that leaves the European League wide open with four clubs still in with a chance of ultimate victory.
The final minute drama of the Paris game was yet another chapter in the Den Haag Book of Hard Luck Stories but can't disguise that many of our wounds were self-inflicted. All three games that were lost were winnable, a lack of decisiveness in front of goal and poor discipline in defence resulted in wasted opportunities and crucial concessions of scores. Hard graft and effort couldn't make up for a lack of "cuteness" and experience, again Den Haag seemed to be less than the sum of the parts. Strong first halves against Luxembourg and Paris were followed by hesitant and passionless second halves. All in all from a football point of view it was a very disappointing weekend.
Fortunately the Netherlands girls showed none of the failings of their male counterparts. They swept all before them winning a thrilling final against their old rivals from Luxembourg. Maria Murtagh was "Player of the Tournament" and the girls put themselves in a strong position to win their league outright.
As ever the Saturday evening offered opportunities for devilment which few passed up on. The pain of the ridiculously expensive pints was more than offset by the convivial atmosphere and the accommodating locals which should guarantee that there will be no shortage of people making the return trip next year.

Finally special mention to Copenhagen on a very well run debut tournament and as ever to Mary, Willie and Dennis for all their hard work and Orson for proving that you don't have to be 50 Cent to wear a white shiny tracksuit

by Graham Merriman

Back Row: Lenora Reville, Marie Sheehan, Ayesha Desousa, Barbara Wynne, Sylvie Eggertswyler, Liz Hilton (Vice Capt.) & Andrea O'Brien

Front Row: Maaike Boerkamp, Seppy McArdle, Michaela Duffy, Maria Murtagh (Capt. & Player of the Tournament), Sunniva Smith & Andrea Ahern Seated: Denis Reidy (Coach)