GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 37 – October 31, 2015 | Page 33

TONY BASS REPORTING
Hard luck to Craobh Rua Belgium Ladies GAA who lost out
by 2-16 to 2-3 against a superb Oisín C.L.G from Manchester,
UK in the Ladies Gaelic Football All-Ireland Junior Championship last Saturday at the Sportsparkwest complex in Maastricht, Holland.
Oisin’s started brightly registering two quick points and
dominated the early exchanges before they were rocked by
a well worked Belgium goal. The British side then set about
using their greater experience of the larger pitch – 15-a-side
format – plus a younger squad to build a 4 point lead before
the continentals struck again for another goal to stay in touch.
At the break the Manchester side had built a commanding 7
point lead 1-12 to 2-2.
CHANGES
The Brussels girls made some telling changes and shored
up their defence for the second half by withdrawing Aisling
Fenton and Donna to support the masterful Grainne Ni Flahartaigh in a back line which held the UK side to just 4 points
and a lucky goal from a free that crept into the net off the
underside of the crossbar.
However moving key players into a much more effective defence reduced Belgium’s attacking potential and they found it
difficult to get the ball into their forwards despite tireless work

from Caoimhe Ni Shuillabhain and stunning solo runs from
Anay Rios. On occasions they were over anxious or lacked
precision on the final pass or their midfield was left with little option other than long balls into the dangerous Cara at full
forward especially and especially so after key link player Ciara
Farrell picked up an ankle injury. The Oisins tactic of deploying an extra sweeper also made it difficult to break down their
defense.
Despite this the Brussels based girls defended valiantly and
worked tirelessly to strip ball after ball from the menacing Manchester attack. A feature of the second period was the number
of brilliant blocks and well timed tackles and the Craobh Rua
goal was not often threatened although goalkeeper Irene Kirwan did pull off one excellent save when Oisins looked certain
to score.
Though ultimately defeated, the Belgium team represented
Europe with honour just one week after traveling to Vienna
when they retained their European 11’s title. They had key players missing and also suffered from others moving on from last
year’s successful squad. However the sheer grit and determination of their more experienced players combined with the
potential and enthusiasm of newer squad members especially
their growing non-Irish contingent will continue to see them
setting the standard for other European sides in the years to
come.

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