Dubai Player Profiles

Conchur de Barra
Or 'The Bull', or even 'The Lord Mayor' depending on the environment you find him in. He tells a dramatic story about coming to Brussels 11 or 12 years ago for the weekend. Then he stayed and over the years got a few bob together to realise his dream, sponsoring a GAA team. The man has conflicting interests coming out his arse; Michael Collins pub v de Valera's pub, Chairman/Treasurer/Sponsor of the GAA club, Treasurer/Sponsor of FC Irlande. On the field he has pace and power. Expect to be battered and bruised if you cross his path.

Emmett Devine
Captain in our first season, he famously declared after the Rennes tournament that we had one hand on the European Cup, even though we had one tournament left and alot of work to do. If ever you could provide motivation for the opposition that did the trick! Known in his younger years as Captain Milsean, Devine plays ball like a angry wasp. Dubai could be his swansong as his better half Lisa Byrne will deliver another little Devine in a few months! Hopefully not though, his driving bursts forward lift all those around him.

Colin Byrne
Under the stars and floodlights of Maastricht, with the clock ticking down and his team trailing by three points in the final against Den Hague, young Byrne found himself at the edge of the square, ball in hand. Wicklow men have rarely been so close to glory but nothing fazes this man and he cooly slotted the ball to the back of the net. It took another point to seperate the teams but it was the goal that put us in position to win. December saw him diamond shopping in Antwerp and sure enough he was engaged before the turn of the year. Not one for romance though, he popped the question in Leitrim!

Eoin Sheanon
So many chips on his shoulders they're in danger of disappearing. The Dub desperately wants to crawl out from the shadow of his younger brother who lined out in the middle of the field for Dublin recently. Dispatched to UCC in his younger years to learn some manners, you would think the arrogance would have been knocked out of him. Sadly not.
On the field, he never, ever, ever passes. It is truly unbelievable. Still, when he is on form he can certainly kick a point and the confidence aids his high conversion ratio from placed balls. Provided he has a man along side him to do his running, he has potential to be a major threat. Needs to prove it on the big stage though, needs to prove it in Dubai!

Declan Hilary
The first of the men from the West. Departed for Leipzig in the early summer of '08 but his two weeks on, two weeks off shifts allowed him continue to wear the colours of Belgium. He was fading from the local scene as the leafs started to fall in late '08. Then romance struck in the European capital and his return to Belgium is back to the regular two week shifts. We trust the fags have been kicked to touch and he is pounding roads in East Germany to keep his fitness. Good work rate and if he plays with the head up he'll have a good tournament.

Kevin Keary
Along with Dec, he too hails from Galway. Keary has the scarf, the jacket, the snigger and the billion languages required to talk bollocks down on Place Lux. If it wasn't for the GAA he would be one of those totally unbearable politicos that litter our parish. His on-field character is unrecognisable form the off field one. Possibly...definitily the dirtiest defender in Europe. Pulling, dragging, scratching and below the belt digs are just a sample of his dirty tricks. I only know this because of a few infrequent occassions in which i crossed his path in training. Rarely gets spotted by the man with the whistle and rarely gets the credit he deserves. One of the most consistent performers in '08, if he gives up on the shooting and learns to keep time than he'll have a good '09 also.

Olof Gill
The man from the island, Clare Island. Born to a Swedish mother, he was also despatched to UCC to get an education. Where it failed with Eoin, UCC succeeded in knocking the bogman out of this man. A journalist in the European something or other, he was a way with words and has been assigned the task as interviewer for our upcoming DVD production.
Gill's planning leaves alot to be desired and he failed to prioritise the GAA the way he should have last year. When he did, he made a right balls of it, most notably when he wrecked his knee galloping down a hill in Munich before the tournament had even started. Alot to prove in 2009, the big man needs to hit the sand running in the desert!

Philip Roche
'On your bike, Rochey', scream his adoring fans as he ploughs through tackles and storms up the field. A distant relative of Stephen Roche, he inherited his cycling talents, all be it the mountain variety. Landed in Belgium in June '08 with a little help from Toyota's GAA recruitment team. Rochey's a bit of an iron bar and is un-understandably good under the high ball for a man of his stature. Rambles on about Ballyboden from time to time but in truth hadn't played for a good few years before he arrived in town. He quickly found his feet again though. Versatility is the name of his game and he can be found anywhere from the full back line up to the half forward line. Will need the full repertoire this week.

Gearoid Sayers
Please reference article of Saturday, January 17th. A giant of a footballer and top man, his similiarites with Brian Dooher don't end with their looks. Covers savage ground with savage purpose. He was the man who added to Byrne's score in the South of Holland. If he is fit to play in Dubai, it will be a major boost to our hopes.

Micheal O'Flynn
A Corkman schooled in Trinity? How this has gone so long without being questionned is a mystery. He is as elusive on the Brussels social scene as he is on the pitch. The Duhallow man is regularily drawn to his I-talian lady in London so we have not seen so much of him. After arriving in late September he made a big impact in Rennes, the highlight of which was a pile driver of a goal in the semi against Luxembourg. Named player of the tournament on the same day, a similiar level of performance will be needed this week.

Davy Barrett
Another Corkman. After spending years demostrating his versatility between the #2 and #4 jersey back in Kinsale, European football gave him the release he craved. Now-a-days he can be found loitering around the half forward positions. Still, ya can't teach an old dog new tricks and he regularily drifts back between the half back and full back lines. Pops up with the occassional point but defending is clearly is preferred dish.