Heartbreak, sadness. But heads held high, 2015 awaits.

The trip to Maastricht for the Ladies Football extra curricular bout with the Munster champions Murroe Boher will go down in history as a great day. A tough, sadmaking, heartbreaking sort of day, but one from which we can’t but build and ‘drive on’ from (in the parlance of Aisling, Capitana the Great). We faced off against a team that were half-centaur, half-girl. Half-coltish girl, who had all perfected the art of telepathy and mid-jump turns, and who had yet, in the majority of players, to face that cruelest of tests, the Leaving Cert. We had them on seniority, fertility, disposable income (though thats perhaps debatible) and the many things that life has in store after the age of 16, but they beat us. They played the semis this Sunday past and held the team they played against scoreless. It’s an interesting fact that they’ll be promoted to Senior next year, as a quirk of being a Limerick team – having won their division this year, they will play senior next year. And, to be fair. . . they should be playing at that level. Our lovely Wicklow based ref (though this is not the time for a rendition of the Wicklow Song) did congratulate all present for the level of football played. But still. Hearts burnt, bruised and burning for next year. We’ll see.

Here are some photos from the day itself. Taken by the lovely mamas and photographers on the sideline from Belgium GAA (I think we should give Maude some sort of stipend) and the Murroe Boher team – who would put Munich to shame with their coordination. We made it to Eurosport too – but the final score of 5-16 to 2-6 tells it all. A valliant attempt and a great success for our 3rd full game as a 15-a-side team – and to get to where we were is no great shame at all. Its just the dream. That terrible awful dream of getting futher along in the competition. Not that we have a heap of nay-sayers or begrudgers, but, I suppose in the words of Kanye, that its the beautiful twisted fantasy of continuing on – and the horrific what ifs. I couldn’t write this post till now cause I was just too heartbroken to do so. But with the efforts and enthusiasm of the girls and shoeless wonders involved, who knows what 2015 will hold.

So the wrappings up of the season have well and truely got underway. We have the annual camogiehurling Christmas quiz, and the end of year dinner (to be held in the Old Oak on Saturday 6th of December, pester Sylvia with your registrations – but places are limited so do so soon). We’ve the European GAA AGM, to be held in Irish College in Leuven, and this year the position of Secretary is up for grabs, as Tony Bass retires after a decade at the helm of European GAA. There are few who would venture to take on what Tony has taken on, and in his farewell speach he sets out his reasons for stepping back from the role after a lifetime at the helm of European GAA – read it, it’s worth the effort. . . So, if you’d like to get involved – please do – it’s your club – it’s what you make of it. Do consider getting involved next year. If you find these posts too long (not looking at you Conor Mull) – how bout taking on the PRO role next year? It’s an interseting one I promise.

So for now, til the 6th of December and the annual danceoff of wonderfullness.