Munich - Ladies Football tournament June 2007

Holland ladies runners-up at the Munich tournament

L to R: Andrea Ahern, Barbara Wynne, Sunniva Smith, Helen Mc Laughlin, Jenny Samuels (vice-capt), Liz Hilton (Player of the tournament), Maria Murtagh, Michaela Duffy (captain), Marie Sheehan, Rosie Finnegan, Barrijean Walsh & Fiona McDermott

Captain's report:

Good Morning Everyone!!!!

My god im absolutely shattered as im sure the rest of you are....what a weekend!!! For those of you who were there give yourself an absolutely massive pat on the back!! We played a fantastic tournament and everyone in the team played out of their skin to try and win that final but it just wasnt our day.

Rosie, Maria and Barbara scored classy points from all over the pitch, the number of points scored in the final was outstanding (i think 16 in the end!!) a tribute to a classy team that can win through great team work and skills :o)

Liz im sure covered every blade of grass on the pitch and scored a few herself and got player of the tournament again...she's a legend :o) Jenny did a sterling job coordinating the backs as always. Marie was a legend....just out of an operation on her mouth during the week, (which we all now know about in great detail!!) with stitches in her gum, she battled on in defence. Sunniva just back from injury was sprinting round the pitch and cleared some fantastic ball to our forwards. Fiona played her part whether she was in backs, forwards or midfield and Barri played great football for both Holland and Maastricht - both of these new players are coming on leaps and bounds with every tournament and are an asset to the team.

Then there was Helen! Making a legendary return to football after a year out!! We knew if Maria managed to sneak in her boots that we could get her kitted out and boy we needed her!!! She did a magnificant job in goals. Kick outs were clearing the mid field and going straight to the forwards for scores. She saved points and goals and got herself in front of anything coming near the net!!!!

And poor Andrea...really hope that your injury hasnt brought you back to square one...would be fantastic to have you back for Copenhagen we all have our fingers crossed.

Also thanks to (Sha)Ciara (sorry Marie!!) for her support on the sideline!! Im not sure she expected to get so into the game but its fair to say that ive never heard anyone shout so loud on the sideline....i reckon we could get her kitted out for the next tournament and she would be taking any Paris Ball out of our back line after watching that final!!!!

So having finished the football for the day we headed out to give it our all on the dance floor....we celebrated hard, sang, danced on tables and attended Sheehans aerobics class (video to be released soon)!! We partied hard because I think we knew that we had nothing to be depressed about.....they could take the cup for Munich (its never been our tournament anyway!!) but in the end we will lift the biggest cup!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so sweet to lift that European Cup 2 years ago but my god it is going to be so much sweeter this time with a fight to the end. And remember as the wise hotel man in Munich said; "its not the dog in the fight that counts its the fight in the dog" and we have fight sweating out of us at this stage!!!!!

So come on girls.....train, train hard and train harder for the next month and we will have the sweet taste of victory in a months time :o)
Come on Holland Ladies!!!!!!
Your very proud captain...

Michaela