Maastricht Ladies European Round Report

After the Munich round, the European Championship moved to the Netherlands. Maastricht Gaels hosted on the 13th August the 4th round of the ladies Championship. Besides the Maastricht team (helped by some players from the Paris and the Luxembourg teams), Belgium GAA, with two teams (Belgium A and Belgium B), Munich and Holland ladies, were the teams who attended to the round.

 

Belgium B and Munich Colmcilles players in action.

All the teams were 100% motivated to obtain good results, besides Belgium A, who’s consistency has not been put in danger this season, there was one team specially spurred in the Maastricht round: Holland Ladies. From its first game, Holland ladies presented their candidature to dispute the final by winning their games with a great level of football.

 

Holland ladies in their match with Belgium B.

Munich Colmcilles, Maastricht ladies and Belgium B played at good level, giving all of their best in all the games they played, sometimes under the rain.

 

Maastricht and Munich Colmcilles in action.

Due to the fantastic performance in all of their games, Holland ladies substituted Munich Colmcilles, finalist in the two previous rounds, in the Maastricht ladies final. The other team in the final was, as througout whole season, Belgium A. The final was vibrant and both teams showed why there were the strongest teams of the round by offering tons of excellent football.

 

Holland ladies and Belgium A played the final in Maastricht.

 

Belgium A goalie watching the action in the final match.

Holland ladies fought until the end, but at the moment the Belgium team had loads of resources to solve the decisive games and with a brilliant game of football, they conquered their fourth round of the 2011 European Ladies Championship, which allows them to retain the title of European Champions won in 2008, 2009 and 2010, as the points difference with the second team in the ladies’ standings makes impossible for the second to reach them. Comhghairdeas to Belgium GAA !!!

 

Shaking hands after a great final.

The Player of the Tournament went to Belgium player, Sinead Fitzsimons, who played at excellent level all the games.

The referee for the day was Matthew Morris.

Who will be the European team who dares to challenge Belgium GAA in a final? We will see what happens in the next round of the ladies Championship to be held in Leuven, Belgium, on the 10th September.

As usual, on the Sunday after the European championship round, there was the training of the European squad preparing their attendance to the All-Ireland 7- a side Championship. All the players are looking forward to travel to Dublin and play in the tournament.

Mònica Duran

European Ladies Officer 2011

ladiesfootballofficer.europe@gaa.ie