Report by Jan Stolle.
The first European hurling tournament of the season took place in nearby Maastricht — just a short drive from Cologne. With our first match scheduled for 12:30, we had the rare luxury of a relaxed morning. Most of the team met at the venue, Sportpark West, between 10:30 and 11:00, well-rested and ready for action.
After getting changed, assigning jerseys, and sorting team sheets, we learned that the group stage would feel like déjà vu — drawn once again against Hamburg and Darmstadt, just as we were in the German Cup.
Group Stage – A Tough Opening Battle Against Hamburg
Before our first game, we umpired Hamburg vs. Darmstadt at 11:00. Despite missing key players like Feargal, Hamburg looked sharp and came away with a comfortable win. Darmstadt had drafted in reinforcements from Munich — including our friend Cathal, playing in the backline.
Unfortunately, Munich also suffered a setback early in the day, losing a player to a serious, non-contact knee injury. We hope it’s not as bad as it looked.
- Starting Line-up:
- Goalkeeper: Finbar
- Backs: Jason, Tobi, Jan
- Midfield: Alex and Johnny (guest from Setanta Berlin)
- Forwards: Malte, Anto, Fabian
With several players new to European tournaments — including Clemens, Stefan, Jason, Jasper, and Alex — and others like Anto and Finbar returning after a break, it took us some time to find our rhythm. We conceded two early goals but then we settled down.
Despite early struggles in midfield and defence, the team found its feet. Anto opened our scoring, and Stefan scored his first-ever tournament goal — a big moment that lifted morale. Alex was tireless in midfield, and our backs began winning more ball.
However, Hamburg’s star player Andrew was unstoppable in the second half, picking off points from all over. A strong showing from them saw us lose our opener, but the signs of improvement were already showing.
Game 2 – A Rain-Soaked Clash with Darmstadt/Munich
The weather turned before our second game — and rain stayed with us for the rest of the day. We fielded nearly the same lineup as before, now also joined by Paul from Setanta. Lasse made his European debut and put in a strong midfield performance. Malte and Anto each scored a goal, but Darmstadt responded with two of their own.
Darmstadt’s superior fitness and tactical spacing saw them edge ahead in the second half, ultimately winning by five points. Despite the loss, we continued to improve as a team, and it felt likely we’d meet Darmstadt again before the day was done.
Plate Semifinal – Battling Brussels in the Rain
After the group stage, we entered the Plate competition and faced Brussels B. The lunch break was welcome, though shelter from the rain was hard to find. Still, spirits were high going into the knockout phase.
- Backs: Jan, Tobi, Jason (later Clemens), Anto (subbed in)
- Midfield: Alex and Paul
- Forwards: Fabian, Stefan (later Malte), André
We went toe-to-toe with Brussels in difficult, slippery conditions. Fouls cost us a few points, but we trailed by just two at halftime and felt confident.
Then came the turning point: a high puck-out dropped behind our backs, and their forward capitalized for a goal. Despite several chances, including close-range efforts from Anto, we couldn’t find the net. Brussels held on for the win and progressed to the Plate final.
3rd/4th Playoff – Rematch Against Darmstadt
With Brussels advancing, we faced Darmstadt again in the Plate 3rd/4th place playoff — and with it, a second crack at Cathal and co.
We made a key tactical switch, moving Anto into the backs alongside Jason and Tobi. This gave us more options for short puck-outs and much-needed stability.
We started well and scored early points but Cathal kept Darmstadt in it with long-range scores, and the match remained tight throughout.
At the start of the second half, we made another switch in our lineup that proved to be a game-changer: Tobi moved to full forward and scored a spectacular goal—tipping the sliotar high above his head with the hurl straight into the net. That early second-half goal gave us both the lead and the confidence we needed to push through and win the game.
We also managed to win most of the one-on-one duels in midfield and in defence, limiting Darmstadt’s scoring chances compared to our first encounter. In the end, we secured a hard-fought win by two points. That victory meant we didn’t finish last—we came third in the tournament.
The Afters
And with that, it was time to celebrate.
Back at the clubhouse, we had more than just a win to toast—it was also Clemen’s birthday! Tobi had baked a cake, complete with candles, and of course, there was beer for everyone. The clubhouse gave us a great opportunity to mingle with other teams. We caught up with the lads from Leuven, Munich, and Darmstadt. Sadly, the Amsterdam team left quickly, so we didn’t get a chance to meet Eoin, who was such an important part of our team last season and helped us win the German Cup.
We finally had time to chat with the camógs as well, who had teamed up with The Hague for the day. Although we didn’t get to watch many of their matches—something we regret—we had the chance to hear all about them during the celebrations. We learned that Svenja scored her first-ever goal in a tournament, Kat found the net again, and while Phoebe didn’t score, we were told she was a strong presence on the pitch and an integral part of the team.
Big thanks to Toni from Maastricht and everyone involved in organising such a great tournament. Congratulations also go to Amsterdam for winning the Cup, the Vikings for taking the Shield, and Brussels B for winning the Plate. And from a German perspective, well done to Hamburg for reaching the Shield final.
A Few Words About Our Squad
As always, I want to say a few words about each of our players—especially since we had so many new faces in the squad:
- Finbar played in goals, still recovering from a marathon the week before. He was calm, reliable, and made some great saves and puck-outs.
- Tobi, usually known for being a solid and dependable player, proved his versatility by playing full forward and scoring a brilliant goal.
- Jason is developing really well as a fullback or halfback. He has great speed, never gives up, and fights for every ball.
- Clemens, in his first hurling tournament, played as a back and showed the same energy and commitment he brings to training. Great debut!
- Alex, our engine in midfield, never seemed to tire. He had brilliant solos and a standout catch-and-run in the semifinal.
- Lasse also played mostly in midfield and made a strong European tournament debut. He combines physicality with speed and was a great asset.
- Fabian, as a forward, had a tough day in terms of scoring but did a huge amount of work – chasing down puck-outs, creating space, and drawing fouls that we converted into points.
- Malte, well, Malte was being Malte – causing chaos in front of goal. He was unlucky not to score more, but he gave defenders a hard time.
- Jasper didn’t get much game time, unfortunately, but made the most of every minute – covering ground, pressuring backs, and supporting teammates.
- Stefan, in his first European tournament, scored a goal straight away. His physicality and hockey skills make him a real threat to any backline.
- And finally, Anto, doing what Anto does best: leading by example, taking most of the frees, scoring consistently, and never showing signs of fatigue. He was exactly the kind of experienced presence the team needed.
Final Thoughts
All in all, it was a great day of hurling for the Celtics. Considering how many players were competing in only their first or second European tournament, it was a strong showing. Every one of them added something valuable to the team, and I’m confident we’re building something special here.
With the continued support and experience of players like Anto, Finbar, Pa, Frank, Ger, Conal, and Cormac, we’ll only get stronger. And as I always say: the most important thing is to win the last match of the tournament. Whether it’s a Cup, Plate, or Shield—or, in our case, just not finishing last—it always ends the day on a high.
Cologne Celtics 