The 5 coaches then met at 11am to run through our tactics for the games later and some logistics for the party that night. We met as a team at 12 and set our stall out for the day – food, water, food, water and then 90 mins before game time focus o’clock. We met an hour before the games were due to start and spoke of the pride of the jersey and reminded the players how ending on a win is a special feeling. With that in mind the two teams took to the pitches to warm up, side-by-side – one vs. GB2, the other vs. Poland. Two good games ahead!
Ireland A
Final (for 13th place): GB2
Arguably the best match we were involved in during the week – two teams of similar ability fighting hard for every point. We didn’t start too well but fought back to get even at 4s. From there it was nip and tuck all the way with both Ds happy to use zone and fronting to pressurise the handlers. The trading continued until half with game on a knife edge. Our ling game wasn’t as prominent as it had been but the handlers were finding holes in the GB zone and using the disc well. Half: 7-6 GB2. After half the British team came out firing, they upped their D and got turns early in the half.One converted turn became two and after trading for two points they went ona three point run that wont them the match. We threw the kitchen sink at the, and fought right to the bitter end but it wasn’t to be. A team decimated by injuries had put it up to the GB outfit but fallen just short. A fine performance – one to be proud of.
Score: 10-14
MVP: Robbie Brennan
Ireland B
Final (for 15th place): Poland
Realistically, this game was ours to lose. We knew Poland’s weaknesses and what threat they posed to us on offence. A lot of their play relied on the obvious ability of a tall handler (no.26!) who was strong in the air and the best thrower on their side. We made sure to mark him hard and switched different players on to him every other point. Zone got us turns early on and despite nervy offence we soon took a commanding lead. A switch to a front up force put further pressure on the young Poles and were grew in confidence as the game developed. Our structure was vastly improved and dominated them in most areas. It was an excellent team display with every player contributing in spades. Lots of big grabs, fine throws and hard Ds secured a first win for Ireland Junior B!
Score: 17-6
MVP: David Ferris
After the final two games the teams warmed down and met in a tent near the two pitches we’d played on. We sat down in two separate circles and discussed MVP, MSP and A-Game votes. Each player had a word about who they felt should be voted for and then the two team voted. It was a nice way to tell each other what we thought and many of the votes (on both teams) were tied and we had to have a re-vote. In the end the results were:
Ireland A:
MVP: Yasin Mammeri
MSP: Richie Eyres (Steve)
A-Game: David Moriarty
Ireland B:
MVP: Cathal Tuffy
MSP: Mike Ryan
A-Game: Eoin Barry (Sticky)
The team presented the 5 coaches with a gift (deadly long-sleeved GAIA shirts) and thanked us for everything. Truth is, they did the work, they made the squad and they deserve the praise. It’s been the first year of an Irish Junior set up and the squad had been committed, honest and hard-working from day one. They’ve grown from a group of inexperienced players to a tightly knit bunch of athletes who really are the future of Irish Ultimate. Every one of them sis Ireland proud and a lot fo them will do so again in the future, at many levels.
After our small ceremony we ran home, showered etc and came back fro dinner and the last 40mins of the France Finland final. We arrived at 9-7 to the Finns. Soon it was 13-10 before France scored 3 in a row to bring it to 13s. At 14s game to 17 was called and the fast offences kept scoring. It was Finland who held their nerve though and, despite an amazing performance by the young French, won 17-15.
After a half hour of music and messing on the pitches the final ceremony began. There was recognition for the staff, a gift gift for each team, huge cheers for the two Irish teams and some cool trophies for the top 3 (one team managed to drop and break theirs on the podium, with the artist who made them within 10 feet!) of each division. It was a really nice finish to the week.
Final Results & Spirit:
U-17 Womens: GB, Spirit: Sweden
U-17 Open: GB, Spirit: Belgium
Junior Womens: Sweden, Spirit: Belgium
Junior Open: Finland, Spirit: Finland
From there we went to the Moulin Rouge in the city centre which was effectively like an underage disco - sweaty, a mix of brilliant and rubbish music and way more boys than girsl! Still, we had good craic, even had a bit of mosh and Tom & Robbie got to flaunt their moves :) After it was late night pizza, a bit of on street singing with the merry Germans and then the night bus home. Roughly 150 people, all frisbee players, squeezed onto the tiny bus with nobody paying and everyone sweating! Immediately the sing song began - Ireland's Call, Ole Ole Ole, Molly Malone and many more not to be mentioned! The Germans rivalled every tune with one of their own and with jumping and banging the roof. The atmosphere was brilliant! We were soon there and hopped of the bus for more singing before hitting the hay. A great end to a fun day.
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