GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 31 – August 8, 2015 | Page 30

to pop over the equalizer for the Gaels. The next puckout was smothered up by the brilliant Declan Graham for
the Gaels and he laid it off to Eoin Sheedy (top scorer in
the 2015 hurling championship) to point the winner for
the Gaels. A truly mighty affair and echoed by the watching crowd as the players were applauded off the field. The
Viking Gaels emerged victorious on a scoreline of 3-4 to
2-6.
FINAL
And so here it was, the decider everyone in attendance
wanted between Viking Gaels and Belgium A. This game
was not a game for the faint-hearted. Knocks flew in,
shoulders flew out, sliotars sprayed left right and center
but not a bad blow or stray hurley was given or taken by
either team.
A one-v-one penalty scored in the Vikings favour and
another break-away goal helped them stay in touch with
Belgium. The Brussels men then took a steady lead but
the Vikings fought back well with the score of the day
from Philip O’Toole, a brilliant one-handed point from
30 yards had them in the ascendancy in the second half.
This was followed up by a cracking goal from Paul Curley
which meant there was just 2 points in it. However, when
time ran out and the final whistle blew, Belgium GAA
were crowned champions of Europe for the 3rd year in a
row. Final score Viking Gaels 3-6 Belgium A 3-8. Luxemburg’s Sean Hickey was named Player of the Tournament
on the day.
CAMOGIE
And onwards we went to the Camogie finals with 3
teams - Belgium A, Belgium B and Holland Ladies. Belgium met Holland for the third time this year and after
enjoyable and sporting games, Belgium emerged victors
again, taking the overall championship too. Congratulations to Belgium’s Grainne Ni Chomhraidh on her Player of the Tournament and a special mention to Holland

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Ex GAA President and MEP Sean Kelly (standing) at the finals. Photo:
Eoin Sheedy.

Ladies dual star Eimear Foley on her super performances
throughout the championship.
Huge thanks to Belgium GAA for hosting a wonderful
tournament and to referees Ronan Carroll and Ray Coleman for officiating diligently and professionally on the day.
A special thanks to each and every lad and lassie that travelled to the games all year from the entire Euro hurling and
camogie clubs. Money from their own pockets all the time,
injuries to look after, time given up, no questions asked and
all for the love and dedication to the game.
It was a fantastic season with the emergence of new clubs
in Germany a huge plus and with the onset of Iberian clubs
possibly joining in 2016, the championship is already highly
anticipated.