Round 4 of the European Hurling/Camogie Championships in Den Haag was a landmark occasion for the Cologne Celtics Gaelic Sports Club as we won our first European trophy in hurling.
Den Haag has become one of our happier hunting grounds, as at the Den Haag tournament last year, our players put up a brilliant performance before losing a very close final to Eindhoven in hurling, and we put out a full camogie team for the first time in a European competition. We had targeted this tournament as a crucial aim for the season.
The players who attended from the Cologne Celtics were the following: Cillian, Frank, Fred, Jack, Ger, Niall, Jan, Liam (admittedly Düsseldorf but we are happy to adopt him!), Laura K, Svenja, Phoebe, Laura C and Niamh. Our hurlers were joined by four players from Darmstadt, and our camogie players joined up with Den Haag for the third time this year in a very successful budding partnership.
Our club youth officer and trainer, Ger Cronin, and our chairperson, Laura, compiled this tournament report.
- Hurling Report by Ger Cronin, Club Youth Officer and Trainer
- Camogie Report by Laura Kennedy, Chairperson
- Quick-Fire Questions with Svenja
Hurling Report by Ger Cronin, Club Youth Officer and Trainer
Group Stage: Belgium B
The tournament commenced with a fixture against Belgium B. Notably, we took to the field without the influential presence of Liam, who arrived a bit late for the tournament. Liam ended up having a significant impact on the tournament.
In this initial encounter, our formation featured Frank in the goalkeeping role, with Jakob, Cillian, Jan, and Fred anchoring our defensive line. The midfield positions were occupied by Jack and myself, while Nico, Niall, and a player from Darmstadt constituted our forward line.
Our performance against the Brussels team was commanding, and despite a late resurgence from Brussels in the second half, we secured a definitive victory. We dominated from the very opening of the match, and although we didn’t really look in danger of losing it, they did score an easy goal or two. We were able to settle the ship, but it was evident that tactical and formational adjustments would be required later in the tournament.
Our balance was not quite right, and we feared other teams might take advantage of that. We could see that with some of our positional play, especially up forward, and some of our decision-making and puckout strategies.
Group Stage: Eindhoven
Our second group-stage confrontation unfolded against a formidable Eindhoven contingent, and Liam rejoined our ranks in this fixture. Our defence was impressive throughout, with Jan in cornerback, Liam in full-back and Fred in the other corner. Fred continued to impress with his physicality and surging runs. Nico and Ger manned the midfield, with Jack playing around the middle.
However, our forward line struggled to find their rhythm as we didn’t really have a target man to aim for up there. On occasion, some of our players tried to take on too much and ran too much around the field, leaving them out of position. A strong Eindhoven team was able to take advantage of these issues. As the game wore on, Eindhoven’s confidence grew, and they appeared to have the edge in various facets of the match.
They exerted dominance and capitalised on our positional difficulties. Our efforts were valiant, but we succumbed to defeat. While Fred’s contributions were commendable, and Jan had his moments of brilliance, it was apparent that the team faced challenges in maintaining their shape and effectiveness, especially in the middle of the field. However, this match was a useful learning experience for our team. It underscored the imperative need for improvement in certain aspects of our play.
Group Stage: Paris
The final group-stage encounter pitted us against Paris, who had notably triumphed over Eindhoven earlier in the competition. Paris had a standout individual player who served as the primary catalyst for their success. This individual single-handedly amassed the majority of points and goals for the Paris team, ultimately leading them to a narrow victory over us. The scoreline at the end was 3.07 to 3.04.
Ger moved to the forward line to serve as a target man for the team, with Jack and Nico in midfield. Although the move bore some fruit, it was clear that the balance still wasn’t ideal in our set-up. The final result was close, but it always felt like the Paris team controlled the match.
Jan produced one of the moments of the match (if not the tournament) when he plucked the sliotar from the sky before delivering a massive clearance in the dying moments. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury in the match, so it was one of his last moments for us in it, but it certainly made an impression!
After a promising start, our tournament now had two defeats and one victory. We were into a Shield Semi-Final against familiar opponents in Hamburg.
Semi-Final: Hamburg
Hamburg has become a familiar opponent in recent years. We have faced against each other in German Cups, tournaments within Germany and European competitions. After victories in the German Cup 2021 and the Darmstadt Tournament 2022, they have had the upper hand in more recent tournaments, including their back-to-back German Cup successes of 2022 and 2023. They entered the match very confidently.
We changed positions again in this match, with Jan’s injury causing us to recalibrate. This injury resulted in Frank coming out from goal, forming a solid defensive unit with Liam and Fred.
We changed our midfield again by having Ger and Nico in there, and playing Jack as a withdrawn forward in a freer role really changed the game for us. Ger and Nico ran all day in the middle and, although of shorter stature than their opponents, got their hooks and blocks in and turned over a lot of possession. Such commitment ensured the formidable Hamburg midfield couldn’t get into a routine.
Jack led the forward line with Cillian and Jakub by his side. In the end, Jack was able to capitalise on the ball won around the middle, and our commitment there also led to earning some frees, which Jack was able to score. Going in at half-time ahead of Hamburg gave our players the self-confidence and belief needed. After half-time, Jack scored a decisive goal, and in the end, we saw out the game and secured a memorable victory!
Shield Final: Eindhoven
In the Shield final, we once again confronted Eindhoven, a team radiating with confidence. After a long day of matches, they suggested that we play a shortened, five-minute per-half contest. However, we ended up playing a full-length final match. The Shield Final was unusually played after the Cup Final, and therefore, it attracted a substantial audience, including members of the European GAA committee (including our friend, John Murphy).
The final was a fiercely contested affair, marked by intense back-and-forth action. We scored an early goal and went in at half-time with a lead. We had shown that we would not be easily beaten and were determined to maintain our advantage.
We found ourselves five points ahead as the match progressed, yet Eindhoven launched a spirited comeback, narrowing the deficit to two points. They had woken up to the reality that they might not get this win. It was quite intense at this stage, with tensions running high. After a long day, our players were exhausted and running on empty, but they all stood up and were there when we needed them to be.
In the dying moments, the referee awarded a free to Eindhoven, and we knew they were going for goal with it. However, Liam made an exceptional catch and got it out to Ger, who could clear the sliotar away. The referee then blew the whistle, and Cologne were Shield champions! It was a hard-fought and well-deserved win.
Celebration and Pride
Our triumph in the Shield final against Eindhoven was a source of immense joy and pride for our club. The tactical adjustments, collective effort, and unwavering resolve of each player bore fruit, resulting in a memorable victory.
Our players celebrated well, and they deserved to after their collective performance. Thank you to the Den Haag GAA Club for hosting a brilliant tournament and to all the referees, volunteers and everyone who ensured it happened.
In summation, the tournament in Den Haag provided a platform for our club to demonstrate its mettle and determination. Let us carry this momentum forward as we continue to represent the Cologne Celtics GAA Club with pride and distinction on the European stage. Hopefully, this is the first of many European successes for Cologne. Kölle abú!
Camogie Report by Laura Kennedy, Chairperson
I had been eagerly anticipating the Den Haag round of the European Hurling/Camogie Championship all year. Last year, in May, our camogie team from Cologne participated in Den Haag. Although we didn’t secure any wins that time (with Belgium A ultimately defeating Belgium B in the final), it was a memorable experience, highlighted by a fantastic night out and a spirited game of hurling on the beach the next day.
As soon as the 2023 round was announced, I wasted no time booking a hostel room for our team, this time at the Pink Flamingo in the city centre. In the lead-up to the tournament in July, we began recruiting teammates for the journey.
After a few changes and shuffling, our final hurling lineup featured Frank, Jan, Ger, Fred, Cillian, Jack, newcomer „New“ Niall C., and Liam from Düsseldorf. On the camogie front, I was joined by Niamh, Phoebe, Svenja, and „New“ Laura C.. Our camogie squad collectively had limited tournament experience, with Niamh having played in the second German Cup in 2022 and Phoebe joining us in Dresden in June. For Svenja and Laura C., this was their first taste of tournament action.
Due to various work commitments, we mainly travelled separately, with some arriving by train or bus on Friday, while others had an early start to make the trip by car on Saturday morning. Niamh and Ger even brought their families along for a camping weekend.
On Friday night, a few of us gathered at The Fiddler to discuss tactics, using condiments and pint glasses to represent players on the table.
After some last-minute team rearrangements, the lads joined forces with four friends from Darmstadt to form a complete hurling team. Meanwhile, the girls teamed up with Den Haag, a partnership we had cultivated over the course of three out of the four European rounds this year. We have grown fond of playing with them over the last few tournaments.
Our first game pitted us against Munich, the reigning German Camogie Champions, and they were not to be underestimated. It was a closely fought contest that ended with Den Haag/Cologne securing a narrow 1-2 to 0-4 victory. This marked Laura C.’s debut in the backs and Svenja’s in midfield, with Phoebe and Niamh also making us proud.
Next up was Hamburg, a mixed team featuring players from various clubs. Den Haag/Cologne performed well, securing a comfortable win despite Hamburg fielding most of their strong players who had represented Germany at the World Games.
Our third opponent was Stockholm, a relatively inexperienced team participating in one of their first tournaments. They brought the Nordic spirit with them and displayed remarkable team camaraderie. They reminded us that the primary goal was to have fun, win or lose, and their enthusiasm was infectious. We managed to secure another victory against them, and I eagerly looked forward to seeing the Stockholm team at future games.
With three wins under our belt, we found ourselves in the final against Belgium. Belgium took an early lead by four points, and though we fought valiantly and Lorena from Den Haag scored a brilliant goal, we couldn’t quite catch up. As the game progressed, the point difference narrowed, but the final whistle came too soon, leaving us with a respectable second-place finish.
The first hurling match I watched was of our lads facing Eindhoven in the Shield Final. Having suffered a loss to them earlier in the day, nobody underestimated their prowess. After an intense battle, Cologne/Darmstadt emerged victorious by a narrow two-point margin, earning us the Shield trophy for the round.
Following some pitchside celebrations, Jack and Jacob from Darmstadt proudly accepted the silverware, with Jack appointing himself as the guardian of the trophy.
It was truly heartening to see our new players getting substantial time on the pitch, and this experience will undoubtedly strengthen our team for future tournaments, including the upcoming tournament in Maastricht.
Quick-Fire Questions with Svenja
- What was your highlight on-the-pitch of the Den Haag Tournament?
Being able to play in a full camogie team. It is a completely different experience playing with a full camogie team than with mixed teams, as we do in training. The team support and team spirit on the pitch were amazing.
We teamed up with the Den Haag camogie team – we came as two separate teams, but as soon as we went on the pitch for the very first game, we were one team. Not because we were wearing the same jerseys but because we shared the same goal, and the Den Haag camógs were really supportive, open-minded and warm-hearted – I never expected this.
- What was your highlight off-the-pitch of the Den Haag Tournament?
The connection and team solidarity among us Celtics that we built up during the weekend. I mostly enjoyed celebrating after the tournament when everybody was released from their tension and excitement because we grew very close among our Celtics team then.
- How fun or difficult was it to play against experienced camogie players on the European stage?
It was both fun and difficult. It was loads of fun because everyone was ambitious and ready to fight for victory. A lot of times, it was hard to keep up with the experienced players, but this made me even more ambitious and passionate to get better – to support the team and to contribute as well as I could to our games.
Personally, I observed a lot to learn and to improve, and having loads of experienced players around me to watch play was a wonderful opportunity to absorb skills and tricks.
- What was the most important thing you learned about playing camogie during the tournament?
It is not about scoring, it is not about winning (although this feels absolutely wonderful 😉 ), but it is about having as much fun as one can and contributing as much and as much as possible to the team. Just go for the sliotar, keep to your opponent of the other team, and you are good! Do not be afraid of making mistakes! They can happen to everyone.
- What advice would you give to new players going to their first camogie tournament?
Enjoy yourself! Have fun! Do not stress yourself about scoring, passing successfully, or keeping the sliotar in the team – as long as you have fun playing, the rest will happen automatically. Everyone had their first game at some time, and everyone started as an inexperienced camogie player – take your time, do your best, and everything is going to be fine.
- Would you recommend going to tournaments for new and less experienced players?
Definitely!! It is such a different experience to play in a full (camogie) team, emotionally and physically: Growing together as a team (among the players you are playing with but also among us Celtics), experiencing team support on a completely different level, but also watching other players, absorbing their skills trying to copy them in your next matches. Winning or losing everything helps learning and improving.
Thank you Ger, Laura and Svenja. Here we had the story of the tournament from the perspective of a highly experienced hurler, a new camóg star, and our chairperson (who did most of the organising). Our next hurling tournament is in Maastricht at the end of this month, and we have several football tournaments coming up – including one in October in Cologne!
Svenja’s experience shows that tournaments can be demanding but also hugely beneficial for newer players. It is clear that she learned a lot from her experience. At the Celtics, we are always on the lookout for the next hurling/camogie and Gaelic football stars. Please, do not hesitate to contact us directly if you would like to join our team.
Cologne Celtics 