Weather, Early overcast and grey, brightened up soon.
In attendance. The Hague, the Hague B, Brussels, Luxembourg, Brussels Camogie team, Luxembourg Camoige team, a fair few Holland camoige players playing mercenary, the John Forde fan club.
Situation, Early, everything set up very well by those who took the responsibility, only ourselves to blame if we were not lifting two cups at the end of the day.
Derek gets his point across
The Hague Hurling tournament 2007 was the final hurling tournament of the year on continental Europe. It promised a great day of hurling, the Hague had kept up early form and were in poll position to take the title, Luxembourg had improved since Brussels making the 2 finals since however their failure to make the first final of the year put them in a difficult position, Brussels were in a position to stake a claim themselves having been the last team to beat the Hague. The ability of the Hague to field a second team for this home tournament must also be recognised especially with its collection of Dutch and Dublin hurlers, there were rumours a Kerry man was involved somewhere but photographic evidence has still to be provided.
The draw for The Hague for the day saw a fully Hague opening game, the second game was against Luxembourg and the final group game was against the relative neighbours, Brussels. The pitch was laid out and in great condition after its summer restoration, a Galway ref was in town and everything was done except the hurling.
The opening game was without apology a warm up for the Hague A. The team from goalie to full forward was the strongest that we fielded all year. There was a good bench available if necessary. The Hague B gave as good as they had showing that things are looking good for hurling in the Hague and it was a useful introduction for new comers to playing a full length game.
The second game was a renewal of hostilities against Luxembourg. We have marked all European competitions this year with a great competitive rivalry and this would be no exception. A strong team had travelled up and they would not be left go back without a game. With a water tight full back line and an attack focused from the half backs the Hague laid out their stall from the start. Short ball to the half forward line or long to the full forward never allowed the Luxembourg defence to steady and with Rory Campion in the full forward line basically just too quick things were looking well. We had the better hurlers and we had the better fitness. Luxembourg just have an irritating ability to not lie down, and we still did not have the ruthlessness that should have wrapped up this tournament in June. Still we won, but it should have been more comfortable and Derek Butler made sure we stayed focused on reality.
Three wise men
The final group game against Brussels would decide the European championship, win it, we would have the title and would be into the final, lose and we risked throwing away the year. Brussels had enough to trouble us and they could do if we didn’t concentrate. A familiar problem had occurred with injuries though and we had lost Derek Butler and John Forde was forced to move to the full forward line,hopefully to participate with a rerun of his cameo there in Zurich. Derek got us to focus on the game from the sideline and his work here can not be understated as it allowed him to see much more of the game than if playing, and react accordingly. We started as per usual however, possibly going a customary point down. From then though with Denis Reidy giving options from the puck out and being won by Stephen and Shane we were in a the ascendance. At the same time Colm, Diarmuid and co, were making life difficult for Brussels clearances. Final score, who knows, we won, supposedly the European Championship but the job was only half done.
Luxembourg had secured the other place in the final with wins over The Hague B and Brussels. The Hague seconds were playing for everything and despite the score lines were making teams play for their wins. Credit must go to the locals, Sean, Jean Paul and Janwillem are more hurlers than some Irish counties have. The Dubs put in great efforts while there was meant to be an appearance of a Kerry goalie the position appeared to be played more as a suggestion than a role. The girls also made a mark on the day, history will record that the first camoige game in Europe involved Luxembourg and Brussels, but there were plenty of Holland girls involved. From ending last year with barely a team to the humble start to the year back in the gym in February, I was amazed with the work done to put two teams (and some more) on a pitch, Derek, John, Des, Mary and co, you deserve all the credit and more.
The final would be how we would look at ourselves for the day, loose and the flavour of the European championship would be dulled. Derek started with his strongest available team. The idea was to put Luxembourg on the back foot from the start and then keep the pressure up. With Rory and John in the full forward line we had the players to punish Luxembourg from play and Stephen was more than capable of punishing any indiscretions. John O Malley, Des Breen, Shay, Podge Doyle, we had the players on the field and the bench to do as we had to. Our discipline had been great on the day and the final was no exception, the ref was fair letting us know his mind and taking no nonsense, a method we appreciated. I think we played some of our best hurling all year in the final. For myself there was never a point where I felt Luxembourg could win, even though I still don’t know the score, there was a feeling on the pitch that this year was ours. We were winning our ball or stopping Luxembourg from taking theirs or doing anything with it all over the field. The final whistle came and we were European and den Haag Champions for 2007.
Panel. John Ford, Derek Butler, Denis Reidy, Matty Morris, Colm Doyle,Des Breen, Kevin O Donnell, John O Malley, Brian O Neill, John O Malley, William Prendergast, Padraig Doyle, Diarmuid Kelly, Steve Hough, Rory Campion, Sean Cornelise, Declan Bonner, Garrick Fraser, Jean-Luke, Shea, Shane O Sullivan, Stephen Barron, Colm Hagan, John Sheridan.
