The most controversial stories of 2009 remain untold in this blog and rightly so. It’s fair to say there were more heated exchanges and fallings out than were ever reported though. Interest waned and my own enthusiasm started to look for other stimulants. When the tide turns against you, all the energy and will you exert to beat it seems in vain.
The trauma of last year seemed to be wiped out when Pearce scrambled home his goal in the final minute of extra-time last Saturday. When referee Tony Bass blew his whistle for the final time, it was more a case of relief than euphoria that gripped me. Seventeen months is a long time to spend in the wilderness, especially when the last tournament you one was to seal the European Championship.
The day started with our derby duel with Belgium B. Our squad was seriously strengthened from the last day but the B’s have progressed as well. They need to come up with different tactics to counter the opposition and Johnny is putting a lot of effort into that. It’s definitely the way forward and once they nail their kick-out plan, it will be a big help. One improvement which Johnny lays no claim to was around the breaking ball. We had a serious height advantage but they countered it by swarming on the man when he or the ball landed. It’s a learning the A’s need to take from the game. In the end, the A team had too much firepower and took their first win of the day.
Next up were The Hague. A tempestuous affair was expected but it never really materialised and the game was more like a bout of shadow boxing. Alec’s two points early in the second half put us five points up but we failed to raise a flag thereafter. In the end we were lucky to draw but in many ways, it was not such a bad result. We hadn’t played to form and knew there was more in the tank. We had gone with myself, Eoin and David Collins in attack but we never ignited and it was a sufficient kick up the ass.
It meant the final group game against Amsterdam became a must win. They always prove stiff opposition but we were fairly determined to get at them early. We changed the team around with me moving to wing back and James to midfield. It gave us a better balance and the football improved. Still, we conceded three goals; two of them were awful. It meant that the 2-08 to 3-01 win was a lot closer than it should have been. We made some mistakes too; leaving Crusher at the edge of the square on a man with a serious height advantage was a slip up. However, we had lost Hudson to a hand injury and our backs are seriously lacking in height. Still, job done and another shot at The Hague awaited.
With Hudson out, we needed to look at the defence again. Collins was coming into the things in the Amsterdam game but we decided he would be better launching things from the half back line. The game was tight from the off as Den Hague went all out to win on their home pitch. It was a far more intense affair than the group game and tensions came to boiling point when Jim was flattened with a punch which was remarkably missed by the officials. Queue the now traditional Hague/Belgium melee. When play restarted, points from James and Alec were matched one for one until we crept ahead just before half time. Turning to face into the strong breeze, it was surely advantage Belgium.
The European Champions came again though and outscored us 1-2 to 0-1 in the opening exchanges to reclaim the lead. Now it was the Belgians who were at sea. You hear people ramble on about how the supporters drive them on and you never really believe it. I saw it first hand on Saturday. When the bodies and minds were fading, the raucous Belgian support, nearly 30 supporters from the B squad and the girls squad, really lifted us. Two points down with two minutes to go, Captain Eoin Sheanon galloped down the wing and along the end line before being hauled down for a penalty. Debutant O’Dowd looked to have won it when he rippled the net. Champions don’t die easy though and the Hague sealed a draw with the last kick of the game.
The crowd erupted again as we went out to resume battle in extra time. Olof Gill and Colin Byrne led the forward charge but still we couldn’t shake the challenge of the hosts until that forgettable scuffed shot by Pearce. Game over and a first win in Den Hague for Belgium’s men.
The rivalry is well and truly back to its optimal level. We’ve played out four uncompromising matches so far this year and split them down the middle. If you want to see fireworks, I’d tune into the Belgium tournament on May 8 because there won’t be a shortage of scores to settle.
I mentioned the support on the day and its impact. Seeing so many people travel from the club is immense and the buzz followed us back through the Antwerp traffic and into de Valera’s and even onto the Joyce in the early hours of Sunday morning. Our girls were also celebrating their challenge game win against Holland.
For the B’s they can reflect on a number of positives also. I mentioned the kick-outs and the breaking ball but more importantly they put more scores on the board. It’s an area which both teams need to focus on and we will do so in the coming weeks.
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