Rennes Tournament Report - April 2005  

Back Row (L to R): Patrick, Mick, Andrew, Cameron, Bernard, Willie, Graham, Matt and Orson

Front Row (L to R): Des, Darren, Eddie, Colm, Sascha and Derek

The first tournament of the new season in Rennes offered Den Haag Men's Gaelic Football team a chance to make up for last year's disappointments and launch an early assault on the European League. The local lads were bolstered by the return of Den Haag stalwarts Colm Doyle, Bernard Geraghty and Darren Brophy and travelled in a confident mood.

For one Den Haag player it was a particularly poignant trip. Sascha Knaus was returning to the town where Petty Officer Alois Knaus (Opa Knaus) was held as a prisoner of war in the 1940s. Sascha was clearly moved by the whole occasion, he drove up bus lanes and down one-way streets the wrong way as if he was beside his grandfather in a Panzer. He said he longed for the glory days of the past when men with pencil moustaches with a passion for smart uniforms and tight leather shorts ruled the town whereas today they can only be found in the dark corners of the Escape Night Club.

The 5th Annual Tournoi Europeen de Football Gaelique was particularly well supported by teams from Brittany. Gaelic Football is growing in popularity amongst the Celtic Bretons and there were five men's teams with a majority of Breton players competing in the tournament.

Resplendent in new gear generously sponsored by PJ Kehoe, Den Haag started the day well with comfortable wins over Bains-Sur-Oust and Merdrignac. Both Breton teams are playing in the Brittany league and showed a lot of promise but the greater experience of Den Haag  lads proved crucial. In attack Eddie Moulds was showing that Mattie Forde isn't the only forward in Wexford and combined well with fellow Yellow Bellies Des Breen and Colm Doyle. In the past Des and Colm have been very productive so much was expected of the pair.

A third win in a row followed against Rennes B. Tournament debutants Aussie Andy Napper and Pat Mc Gloin quickly found their feet and Cameron Blandy and Darren Brophy were proving to be a formidable midfield partnership.
The first big test of the day came against Luxembourg. Den Haag's defence of Willie Hempenstall, Graham Merriman, Mattie Morris, Mick Lawlor and captain, Derek Butler was proving hard to break down and Bernard Geraghty was an imposing presence in goal. Success in the latter stages would rely on getting good quick ball to target man Orson McMahon who assured us if we got him the ball he would do the rest.

The tactic appeared to work as Den Haag got off to a flying start however a late goal gave Luxembourg a two point win leaving Den Haag second in the group and facing favourites Paris in the semis.

Den Haag played their best football of the day against Paris. An early goal by Orson gave Den Haag a lead that they held for most of the game. However in the final few minutes, as Den Haag pressed for the clinching score, Paris broke to steal a late goal to give them a one point win.

The disappointment felt by all the lads was palpable. There was a massive sense of what might have been. We had trained hard and played well. We had prepared well and travelled with a strong committed squad but on the day we didn't get the breaks. Willie's hair cut isn't the only thing that has been around since the Seventies, aging bones were starting to ache by mid afternoon and in the semi-final against Paris a few players were obviously struggling with injuries.

Nonetheless there is plenty to be optimistic about. There are record numbers at training and Willie's expert coaching and shrewd tactical awareness are bearing obvious fruits. If everyone can give an extra 10% then there are surely better days to come.

The final was an all French affair, with hosts Rennes facing Paris. Rennes have been making great strides in the last few years as demonstrated by a deserved win over Luxembourg in the semis. Indeed they were the better side for much of the final and can consider themselves to have been very unlucky to lose a high quality final by two points.

The seamless organisation during the day was maintained in the evening with a hugely enjoyable tournament dinner. Once they fixed the only beer tap in the restaurant the craic flowed and slagging was savage. A local band played traditional Breton music and Mary and Matt danced the night away. "Matt made me feel like a woman again" said Mary. "Jaysus, I'm delighted," quipped the bold Mattie "I normally make women feel like lesbians".

The night ended sometime on Sunday morning in the Escape Night Club where Eddie had a narrow escape from two topless male dancers who trapped him in a cage and Eva entertained us all with a display of pole dancing.

There was also a Ladies Tournament where the Netherlands came a very creditable third but I'm sure that someone else will write about it. All I'll say is that Mieke scored two goals and a point on her debut, Liz played a stormer despite being injured, Marie scored (on the field) for the first time in years and Grainne managed to survive her first weekend on tour without provoking scandal.

A good time was had by all but we were a weary sunburned lot that limped back home on Sunday morning. Special thanks to Rennes, for their organisation, to Andrew, Sascha, Mick, Mary, Orson and Des for driving and to Mary, Willie, Orson and Des for doing what they do best.

By Graham Merriman