And what a day. It’s hard to find the words to do justice to what our Shield team achieved on Saturday evening, under the fog and the lights in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.
The journey to Saturday was longer and tougher than you could imagine. The team had its first outing in the corresponding tournament in Maastricht in 2008. From there they travelled Europe time and again, taking blow after blow against first teams from some of the best teams on the continent. Every time, no matter how hard they were hit, they got back to their feet and faced up to the next challenge.
There were glimmers of hope. A third place in a Benelux in Luxembourg last year. There was a semi in Budapest. On other occasions the team would leave clinging to little bits of hope; a good first half or a strong finish.
From the outset, every effort was made to take this team seriously. The club bought a new set of jerseys. The likes of Conan, Johnny P and Ruairi invested every drop of energy in it. As we said on Saturday, the players came and went but there was a constant spirit which followed the group on the long journey from Maastricht ’08 to Limerick ‘11.
What a day they chose to land their greatest blows. Back home in Ireland with family and friends looking on in disbelief at the drama which unfolded in front of them.
Amsterdam stood in waiting, already having claimed the overall Shield for 2011. Worthy winners as they swept all before. Our lads were controlled but a bit manic before the game. The tone was set.
0-4 to 0-4 at half-time. Leading 0-8 to 0-5 when the referee indicated to Brendan that time was up. The kick-out was sent to the stand but there was no whistle. The ball was returned into the square, hopping and skidding and bouncing off players. Then it was in the net and everything was square again, heading for extra time.
We took the lead but again Amsterdam bounced back. Then another mortal blow landed. Ricky weaved his way through the defence before shipping two hefty challenges, slightly out of sync. He’d jarred his neck and lay motionless.
The game was delayed as the excellent medical team attended to him. Fortunately the x-rays that evening were clear and Ricky was up and about again on Sunday morning. The aftermath showed that despite the competitive nature of games, the community spirit is strong. Many people from other clubs enquired about his well being and I was asked to pass on best wishes from Stockholm, The Hague and Munich. All very much appreciated.
Once the game restarted, the lads came again. Fitting that it was Mike Lucey, close friend of Ricky, who kicked the equaliser. Level at the end of extra time. On to the unprecedented ‘sudden death’ extra time. The next score would seal the victory. The Belgian crowd in the stand made an awful racket as they roared on the lads. The Gaelic Grounds could never have dreamed such a day.
Sheanon was fouled out on the left wing. It wasn’t unimaginable that he could kick it. The strike was clean but it was dropping short. Amsterdam tried to clear their lines but the ball only travelled as far as Pearce on the 21. He’d been telling Cillian a week before, how he’d love to be one of those players who struck the last gasp score and have the crowd storm the pitch. One swing of the boot and a volley over the bar realised that dream.
It was pure ecstasy. I couldn’t get onto the pitch fast enough. Johnny was crying. Conan’s dad was crying. There was a ridiculously dangers pile on of Belgian lads and ladies. A feeling ran through me that I have rarely felt. I don’t think I could have been any happier had I played in the game. I must have hugged everyone twice. That’s twice nearly being squeezed to death by Johnny Phelan.
The Amsterdam lads were incredibly gracious. They are deserving champions and carried themselves like so. We have a competitive but healthy relationship with them. I hope they didn’t take offence to our celebrations but part of it was because it was such an achievement to beat such a strong team.
One of the most pleasing aspects of the victory was how everybody shared in it. The lads on the Championship panel couldn’t be contained. The faces in the pictures which have gone around since tell the story.
I get a disproportionate amount of credit when we have success and it was no different Saturday. However, the real drivers of Saturday’s success were Conan, Johnny P and Ruairi. Eoin’s decision to split the panels in Luxembourg at the start of the year contributed. The fact we (unfortunately) only had one team in Guernsey contributed. Going together to The Oak for food after training contributed. Guys sharing houses, living on the same street and generally looking out for each other contributed. All those things have helped created a ‘one team’ spirit, bereft of division.
Facebook has been jammed with messages of congrats from Belgium’s current and former players. They logged in everywhere from Brussels to Haiti to Holland to Poland to Oz. The lads deserve every bit of it.
As I said at the beginning, players may have come and gone through the team but the spirit never left. On Saturday, the dog had its day.
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