Chicks with sticks triumphant

First mention goes to the Camogiers of Belgium this week as they retained the European Camogie Championship in Zurich last weekend, with one tournament still to go. It is surely a more satisfying win this year as the standard of Camogie in Europe has increased significantly.

Our ladies have been bolstered with the arrival of Tipp duo Elaine (player ot the tournament in Zurich) and Catherina as well as super Dub Irene. However, victory this year has largely been achieved without last year's captain Sylvia and also Ciara, who is one of the dandiest camogie players floating around!

The victory made it 3/3 and with the final tournament on home soil they will be looking for a clean sweep.

It was a case of same again for the lads; another day of being so close, yet so far. We were slow out of the blocks against Zurich by all accounts and could have no complaints about the result. The Hague took up where Zurich left off and raced into an early lead on our second game. However as the minutes wound down, their lead was being eaten up.

The Belgian rush came too late though and the one point loss cost us a place in the final. Defeating Zurich B was the only victory of another disappointing day. From what I heard, Darragh Cotter performed well after a ropey start, Crusher and Aonghus did well, Ciaran in his new defensive position showed promise whilst Shane said he was excellent in the middle of the field!!

Zurich threw the Championship back open with an apparently convincing final victory. It means it is all to play for in the final tournament in Belgium at the end of the month. If our lads train then it is well within our capability to throw a spanner in the works. Of course, there is little to suggest that we will do that but you'd never know. Potentially, myself, Crusher (fully fit), Colm, Pearce, Hough and Darragh Cott could come back into the fray and that would strengthen our hand. Whether we have one last push in us will only be revealed in the coming weeks.