The beginning of any season is full of surprises and unknowns. The up-and-coming players who is poised for a breakout season and how the other clubs survived the ebb and flow of players over the winter. Going into Paris for the first tournament of the year confidence was high coming off a dominant win in Zurich to end the previous season and having added a couple of very handy hurlers over the winter.
Paris, hosting their own tournament for the first time were a huge unknown and Den Haag, previous champions and long-time rivals could always be counted on to provide stiff competition. Despite last minute attempts at forming a joint squad of current champions Luxembourg and Zurich neither team travelled and the tournament was set to go as a three team affair.
First up were Den Haag, a team that had had Belgium GAA’s number by various degrees over the years. It was immediately clear that several players key to their success over the years were missing and while the remainder played well they were no match for the dynamic duo of Phil Roche and Eoin Sheanon in the forwards – complemented nicely by Conor Aylward and Michael Hough who took their points at every opportunity. Not to mention a relentless defence that ensured no forward, if they actually got the ball, had the room or opportunity to do anything with it. The end result was a dominant victory for Belgium GAA.
Paris followed but again they couldn’t match the Belgium depth at all positions. Despite having a couple of very handy players Belgium GAA’s depth and skill meant those players could be marked out of the match while the remainder of the team moved forward relentlessly. From keeper Davy Barrett forward to the hooking and blocking of Phil R. on the full-forward line every Belgium GAA defended and attacked relentlessly.
The end result was a lopsided Belgium win over a Paris team that consistently played French players throughout the day thereby gaining a few additional points in the championship and introducing new players to the fastest sport played on grass.
The final was a repeat of Paris / Belgium and the end result was the same – a dominant victory for Belgium and the first title of the 2009 season.
Next week sees the second round of the championship in Luxembourg where the defending champions remain an unknown quantity. Paris and Zurich will join to field what should be an impressive squad and Den Haag will return with a vengeance as their pride won’t allow another dusultory performance.
All this is well known to trainer/defender/forward/keeper/gaffer Martin Crowley whose exhortations and curses at training will ensure that the best prepared squad possible will head down to Lux looking for the second trophy of the year and third in a row including last year.
