While county championships in Ireland have all come to a close and now provincial championships are also approaching their end, there was one more county title to be decided last weekend in the Dutch city of Maastricht. The tournament saw some 24 teams travelling from around Europe to compete in the men's championship and shield, as well and the ladies football championship, and with three teams still in contention for the men's championship all was to play for. After travelling thousands of miles across the continent throughout the season, dedication and commitment for the day would be second to none meaning for a thrilling and exciting finish to the season. Den Haag, Paris and Belgium all still stood a chance of winning the championship but with a rejuvenated Luxembourg team and the strong force of Budapest also in attendance, the tournament and championship could swing any way. Group 1 saw Paris, Luxembourg and Rennes grouped together and group 2 saw Den Haag, Belgium and Budapest grouped together to play in a round robin for a semi-final spot. In group 1 Paris came out of their group in convincing fashion winning each of their games somewhat emphatically while Luxembourg had to play a hard fought game with Rennes to reach the semi final stage. Group 2 was a much closer affair but eventually Den Haag and Budapest prevailed with Den Haag taking top spot in the group after two wins out of two. The semi finals would see Paris take on Budapest and Den Haag taking on old rivals Luxembourg, and with Belgium now out of the tournament, that left the championship in contention between only Den Haag and Paris. In the first semi final Paris looked to be on their way into the final and within touching distance of the championship, but a late rally from Budapest who scored 1-1 in the closing stages saw them edge the Parisians out by the narrowest of margins. When Den Haag came up against Luxembourg in the other semi final there was a more clean cut result with Den Haag prevailing 1-11 to 0-3 despite Luxembourg coming close to the net several times in the second half. With the final now set between Den Haag and Budapest, and Paris coming third in the tournament, a win for Den Haag would give them the championship and of course the tournament win, but anything less would mean that Paris would win the overall championship. Played under floodlights and on the first full sized GAA pitch on mainland Europe, a great spectacle of Gaelic football for Europe was to be held over the next thirty minutes. From the thrown in the game was played at a high tempo with the new large synthetic pitch helping to open the game up into a series of free flowing movements. Den Haag came out of the blocks quickest notching four points and a goal before Budapest could add their first point to the scoreboard. An overpowering performance in the middle of the field by the Den Haag duo of Colin Kilbane and James Flavin meant for fast ball into the relentless Den Haag forward line. While Kilbane came close to goal on two occasions early on, scores by all four of the Den Haag forwards set the tone for the game. Despite the apparent Den Haag dominance, the game could have went the other way with Budapest asking major answers of the Den Haag full back line through a barrage of high ball into their strong full forward line. A brave dash from the line by goalkeeper Michael Breslin denied Budapest their best opportunity of the half which meant that Den Haag went into half time without conceding a goal, and seven points up. Again, at the beginning of the second half Den Haag came out all guns blazing and began to show an extra level of fitness and desire to win. Another quick succession of scores saw them begin to pull away only conceding a lucky goal mid way through the half. Player of the tournament Danny Craven produced his fourth high scoring tally of the day notching up 1-5 in the final with 3 frees, and depth in strength was shown when Enda Mc Namara came off the bench netting the ball within minutes. When the final whistle blew the game finished 3-10 to 1-3 meaning Den Haag not only took the tournament win but prevailed as European champions. After a long hard season, thousand of travelled kilometers and much heartbreak for the Den Haag team over the previous few seasons, the championship win comes as a much deserved reward and joyous occasion for all of those involved in the Dutch club. Den Haag 1 - Michael Breslin (Na Rossa, Donegal) 2 - Declan Bonner (Na Rossa, Donegal) 3 - Colm Kelly 0-1 (Listowel Emmets, Kerry) 4 - Orson Mc Mahon (Na Fianna, Dublin) 5 - Paul Gavin (Clann na nGeal, Roscommon) 6 - James Flavin (Clounmacon, Kerry) 7 - Colin Kilbane (Achill, Mayo) 8 - Mark Gillett 1-1 (St Sylvesters, Dublin) 9 - Donie Mc Keown 0-2 (St Colmcilles, Longford) 10 - Barry Lennon 0-1 (Ballyboden, Dublin) 11 - Danny Craven 1-5 (Bosco, Down) 12 - Sean Simpson (St Galls, Antrim) Manager 13 - Enda Mc Namara 1-0 (Ballyhea, Cork) 14 - Stephen Malone (Newmarket-on-Fergus) 15 - Stephen Hough (Ballinteer, Dublin) 16 - Des Breen (St Patricks, Wexford) 17 - Matthew Morris (St Johns, Wexford) 18 - Shane O Sullivan (Inniscarra, Cork) 19 - David Koller (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) 20 - Janwillem Breider (Putten, The Netherlands) 21 - Kevin Mc Nammee (Gort na Mona, Antrim) 22 - Konrad Hofman (Den Haag, The Netherlands) Tweet

Most Read Stories