...and a few more!

A few photos...

Day Three - Ireland 19 Denmark 18!!

Yes you read that right, the big news is that little Ireland scalped the 3rd seeds in the biggest upset of the tournament so far. Denmark entered the game having won 3 out of 3 in the Pool Stage and were looking for a nice easy win over the 'surprise' tope eight team. What they got was completely different! We came out hard on Defence but struggled with their fast cuttin and huge break throws. It seemed like they could throw almost anything. The O Line were playing well though and kept us within striking distance. We battled for every disc and started to find turns. Hag was at the centre of a lot of the O points, often skying 2 or 3 Danes to catch a score or to assist. Brian and the handlers had a near perfect game, hardly turning over all game. Derryk's long throws, Niall and stokesy's tireless cutting - it was an unstoppable machine! Soon after the tought start was a distant memory and the game became a dogfight. 5-2 to 7-7 to 9-7 Denmark and halftime. We regrouped and refocused - it was clear the game was there for the winning. Denmark came out strong in the second half and went 14-12 up, but were never able to get away. The D Line started motoring too, getting big blocks and converting them quickly. All of a sudden it was 16-15 Denmark and then the D line scored again, 16-16. Denmark replied using their aerial stength - 17-16 to the Danes.

The next point was vital. The O line came on and inevitably scored! Another D Line point and another turn and score. 18-17 to us. Soon we had posession again, thanks to a spectacular layout D from Ferg, but it wasnt to be. They scored for the game to 18-18 with the Hard Cap game to 19. The O line calmly converted to make the biggest upset a reality! Cue wild celebrations!!



It was a much tougher day for the Women who lost a close game to the Swedes at 9am. It was always winnable but the superior disc skills of the tall blondes (not stereotyping - honest!) won out - 17-14 I think. Next up were GB who had beaten every team they'd played thus far, only Germany managed to get double figures against them. 17-4 was the score, but an encouraging fight of a display.





WOMEN - Next Up - Latvia @ 9am (AGAIN!) tomorrow, then a new group.
OPEN - Next up - France at 11am, Sweden @ 5pm tomorrow.

All to play for!

The Schedule

So, a quick run down on what happens next for bothe teams.

WOMEN - due to there being 14 teams in the Womens Division there is simply a prolonged Pool Stage where 2 Pools of 7 provide each teams with 6 matches in the first 3 days. The Irish women have played three (vs. Germany, vs. Belgium and vs. Switzerland) and have three left - vs. Sweden and vs. GB today, and tomorrow, vs. Latvia. If they end up in the top four of their current group they will progress to the Quarter-Finals.

OPEN/MENS - with 16 teams there was room for 4 Pools of 4. The top two teams of each pool w'ent up' to a top eight made up of two pools of 4 with the bottom 2 teams 'going down' to form a bottom 8, also made up of 2 pols of 4. So the Irish Open team finished 2nd in their group behind GB and ahead of Itlay and the Czechs and are now i a group with France Sweden and today's opponents Denmark. After this 2nd Pool Stage the top two of each upper pool go staright to the quarters. The bottom 2 play crossover games against the top two from the bottom pools - 5-12th place playoffs for the remaining 4 quarterfinal spots.

We'll keep you informed!!

Day Two - Big scalp for the Open Team!

Day Two saw the Open Team play twice before the Women set foot on their field. First up were the Czech Republic, a team we knew little about except that they were seeded below us. They had a young team, not bereft of experience but young, and athletic-looking! We knew a strong start was vital and as such we began in a determined fashion. The first point saw the D Line get a quick turnover and convert it into a goal with little fuss. Score number one was followed quickly by an equally fast and simple second. The D Line was having no trouble shutting down the Czech Offence who struggled with our pace and quick movement of the disc. Soon it was 5-0 and the O Line went on to score a couple in quick successsion. Half-time: 9-0. If the first half was good, the second was even better. At half-time we spoke of how we were once the team losing to scratch...not this time. After 50mins (half the alloted time) the Irish team had secured their first ever international 'bagel' or win to 0. 17-0 and a great platform from which to attack the Italian game.


13.00 - on the ShowGame Pitch in the afternoon heat we came out against an Italian team smarting from a 10 pint loss against the dominant GB team. We started on an even footing with bothe teams offences finding space and trading the first 4 scores. 2 all and our D wasn'e getting the blocks it needed. The offence were under pressure and soon it was 5-2 to the Italians who were firing well. A time out calmed the nerves and broke up the Italians flow beofre the O Line got a point to break the Italians run. On with the D Line and soon after and switched to Zone Defence making good use of a slight breeze. From it came a few turns and a few solid scores. It was neck and neck 7-7, 8-8 and suddenly 9-8 to us at halftime. The game was fast and hard with no easy yards being conceded by either team. 9-9, then 10-10 and the 100min time cap was called. It was a game to 13. We'd spoken about how finishing strongly was vital to our chances and finish strongly we did. The O Line changed the Force to Front Up putting pressure on the Italian handlers who struggled to get throws off and just when we needed it JD got a huge D that turned the game. The score was got and the final two points won after huge work from all the Defence players. Pixie caught the score from cian's throw to instigate a massive pitch invasion and some memorable celebrations. Ireland Progress into the Second Pool Stage as a Top Eight Team!

At 15.00 the Women faced the Swiss, a strong outfit who'd already beaten Sweden, an old powerhouse of the Womens division. They started well taking a 3-1 lead only to be pegged back and overtaken by a determined Switzerland Offence. The game was there for the taking but a tough zone, a gusty wind and some wayward throws made it all the harder. The girls fought and fought and kept fighting until the end but it was too much. Tired and burnt the ladies went down 18-9. The scoreline didn't refelct the long points that were closely fought. The girls will play better and will have learnt a lot form a tough experience.

So, with Day Two over what next? Tomorrow sees the Women up against it, playing Sweden at 9.00 and GB at 13.00. Another long day. The afternoon brings Denmark at 15.00 for the Open team, a new challenge and perhaps the toughest yet...

Team Photos - in the bling kit!

Ireland Open:













Ireland Women:













Ireland National Teams @ EUC 2007:

Day One - History for the Ladies!

Finally, after all the training, the fitness, the warm-up tournaments and the waiting we were ready to step onto the pitch, pull on the green (or white!) and actually play.

First up at 9.00 was the Ladies game against the Germans. The German women played a fast game and used their experience and ruthless offence to punish a few uncharacteristic errors. The girls found themselves 5 points behind and facing a mountain to climb. It was a tough start. After registering a point or two the Irish Women had a much better second half, coming into their own despite the stength of the opposition. However, it was too little too late and the 5th seeds won out 17-5. It was as tough a start as any Womens Team could have faced and the girls will perform better, they know they can.


Both teams were scheduled to play at 13.00 1pm with the Men playing GB. We warmed up well but didnt start well. GB came out all guns firing and a series of simple mistakes by us resulted in them taking half without conceding a point. It was frustrating playing so poorly against players we had played against and knew well. The game continued with a fast GB Offence punishing all errors and despite us getting our game together we just couldn't find the scores. It ended 17-2. A nasty eyeopener to how good the good teams can be...Big up to the Sideline support - Al Murray, Woulfie and the Duke all roused us throughout!


Meanwhile the Ladies were creating history! In a tough game, they outplayed, out fought and despite a mini-comeback beat a strong Belgium team. And it was no fluke, it was by a big margin, 17-9 was the final score. A fast offence and determined D meant tht the girls could turn it up at the crucial times, winning the game by scoring the final 5 points! A huge moment for the Irish Womens Team and it's only the first day! All bodes well for the next battles.

In other news, France beat Finland in the Open Division and Slovakia pipped the Netherlands, two huge upsets. It's still all to play for, we will keep you updated.

For full updates, as the results come in, check out - http://www.euc2007.org/ultimeta/summarytimetable.php

Big thanks for all the emails, texts and good luck - it means a lot to all of us.

Irish Teams Arrive at EUC!

Friday saw the two teams arrive safely in Southampton to the Halls on the University Campus where we all got access to our swanky rooms - doublebeds, huge showers and a fully functional kitchen for every 6 players (the kitche nthat is, not the beds). It was late so some cheeky poker and an early night.

Saturday was Registration Day and after a carefully monitored brekkie ('Yes, you can have a Danish and toast but then you wont get toast tomorrow!!) we all went down to get our player passes for the week. We also got given excellent player gifts - a bag, a memery stick, a towel, a hat, another (man) bag, a boot bag and a water bottle. More importantly, our Kit arrived! For those not in the know, the kit was delayed, then not meant to be here on time etc etc - in short, it was a nightmare! Finally though we got it and it's slick. Unforunately the girls Green jerseys didnt all arrive but the white strip coupled with some tasty short shorts more than does the trick. The night was passed with a big feed and a little Paddy-opoly (Monopoly starring the Mens Team!!), tea and more gambling.

Under a day left til the big opening games! GB were first up for the men with the Ladies playing Germany then Belgium. Sleepless night ahead!!

Putting prettier faces to names

Taken after a training weekend in June.







Back Row, L-R: Emer Mernagh, Fiona McDonald, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Sandra Murphy, Sarah Jane Monaghan, Lorraine O'Donnell, Laura McGrath, Sinead O'Sheil Flemming, Layne Caulfield.


Front Row, L-R: Linda Barry, Liz Schaffalitzky, Dayne Ortved, Catherine Gainey, Sparky Booker, Dee O'Breasil, Yvonee Halpin). Spot the photoshop!

Putting faces to names

A photo of the Irish Open Team taken at the excellent Toms Tourney in Brugges (www.tomstourney.be)

Back Row (L-R) : Mark Earley (c), David Misstear, Cian O'Morain, Derryk Boyd, Chris Stokes, Tadhg Healy, Dara Hayes, Rory Kavanagh, Enda Naughton, David McAlester, David Rickard, JD Coakley

Front Row (L-R) : Fergus Weldon, Dominick Smyth, Rob Kiely, Roger Beatty, Mark Dolan, Niall Harbourne, Brian MacDevitt (c), Alan Doyle, Robert Kane, Seamus Murray

Schedule & Seedings announced

The schedule and seedings for all Divisions can now be found on the EUC 2007 website. Both Irish teams have been given favourable seedings - both 9th! - due to our attendance at both EUC 2003 (www.euc2003.org) and WUGC 2004 (www.wugc2004.org).

The Open team have been drawn in the following group:

Great Britain (4th seeds)
Italy (7)
Ireland (9)
Czech Republic (14)

The first three games for the Open team will take place as detailed below. After these 3 games the Open Division will divide into a Top Eight and a Bottom Eight each made up of 2 groups of 4 teams. The top 2 teams in each of the 2 'Top Eight' pools go straight to the quarter-finals. The bottom two teams from these 2 groups play the top two teams from each of the 'Bottom Eight' groups. Essentially a 5-12 crossoverfor the last 4 places in the quarter-finals. After this every team plays out for ranking.

Open team Schedule so far:

Game 1: Sunday 29th July : 13.00 vs. Great Britain
Game 2: Monday 30th July: 09.00 vs. Czech Republic
Game 3: Monday 30th July: 13.00 vs. Italy

The Womens team have been drawn in the following group:

Great Britain (2nd seeds)
Sweden (3)
Germany (5)
Latvia (8)
Ireland (9)
Switzerland (12)
Belgium (14)

The Womens team will play 6 pool games and then the Division will split into a Quarter-finals and a bottom 6. After this happens every team will play out for final positions.

Womens Team Schedule so far:

Game 1: Sunday 29th July: 09.00 vs. Germany
Game 2: Sunday 29th July: 13.00 vs. Belgium
Game 3: Monday 30th July: 15.00 vs. Switzerland
Game 4: Tuesday 31st July: 09.00 vs. Sweden
Game 5: Tuesday 31st July: 13.00 vs. Great Britain
Game 6: Wednesday 1st August: 0900 vs. Latvia

National Teams 2007

Earlier in the year the players selected to represent Ireland at the European Ultimate Championships (www.euc2007.org) were announced.

They are as follows:

IRELAND OPEN

Roger Beatty
Derryk Boyd
John Davis Coakley
Mark Dolan
Alan Doyle
Mark Earley (Captain)
Niall Harbourne
Dara Hayes
Tadhg Healy
Robert Kane
Rory Kavanagh
Rob Kiely
Brian MacDevitt (Captain)
David McAlester
David Misstear
Seamus Murray
Enda Naughton
Cian O'Morain (Coach)
David Rickard
Dominick Smyth
Chris Stokes
Fergus Weldon

IRELAND WOMEN

Linda Barry
Sparky Booker
Layne Caulfied
Ciara Fitzpatrick
Catherine Gainey
Yvonne Halpin
Ashling Malone (retired - injury)
Fiona McDonald (Vice- Captain)
Laura McGrath
Emer Mernagh
Sarah Jane Monaghan
Sandra Murphy
Deirdre O'Breasail
Lorraine O'Donnell
Dayne Ortved
Sinead O'Shiel Flemming
Liz Schaffalitzky (Captain)