Huge Thanks to Cumann Warszawa who did a great job with the organization of the matches at AWF grounds and the post tournament party at Bradleys Irish Bar. Also well done in having two teams!

Somehow they even managed to stop the pouring rain just before the first Ladies game started. The game ended with a 4-10 vs. 0-0 victory of the Munich Colmcilles Ladies over the mixed team, which was followed by the match Warsaw A vs. Warsaw B. The A –Team showed their dominance and beat the B-Team 6-3 vs. 2-5.
After a short break during which the ladies got a chance to watch the men games, it was time for the two best teams of the day to meet for their first match: Warsaw A vs. Munich. It became a passionate and tight game, in the end won by Munich 3-2 vs. 3-6.

In the following game Prague/Vienna showed their best performance of the day with a little help from the munich goalie against Warsaw B. At half time it was still about even in points but Warsaw pulled themselves together and gave the defense of the mixed team no chance. The game ended 3-2 vs. 9-2.
The last two matches of the Round Robin were easy tasks for the two teams that were to meet in the final later. Munich beat Warsaw B 5-5 vs. 0-0 and Warsaw A beat the Prague/Vienna mixed team 6-4 vs. 0-4.
Instead of playing for the 3rd place the teams decided to have a shootout, deservedly won by Warsaw B.
Spectators of the final could watch the best players of Cumann Warszawa, who showed great skills, against the well-rehearsed Munich Colmcilles. Both teams fought well in an exciting and physical game, but fitness and tactic wise having the edge, Munich won clearly in the end 3-5 vs. 1-3.

The after party started with delicious finger food and a short presentation of the winners and ended with some crazy dancing to great live music.

Congratulations to the winner of the Player of the Tournament Award, Susi Schwalb (Munich) and the Munich Ladies for winning their first tournament in several years.

Angela Buechler
Ladies representative East-Central Europe

There will be a special group for those beginning the game for the first time to learn and practice the basic skills

Once again the Colmcilles GAA club is involved, with the kids hurlers and their parents as our main contingent marching in the parade. We are 15th in the parade (of 41 groups) and the meetup is at 11.30 off Münchner Freiheit on Feilitzstr near the hole in the ground where Mamas Kebab/Schwabinger 7 once was. The parade then leaves at 12 sharp, and the police will be enforcing this!

The ladies football team will be en masse enforcing law and order Pat Stakelum style as security along the parade route!

We are again running a beer stand at Odeonsplatz which will be the main club fundraiser for the year. Its an Augustiner wagon which will be selling the full variety of beers and will be the first wagon on the left as you arrive from the parade (i.e. Residenz side away from stage).

We hope to see you at some stage over the day whether during the parade or afterwards at Odeonsplatz.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig
München Colmcilles CLG

Ladies Cross Country Skiiing

Whilst weaving our way around the edge of Tegernsee’s waters, the setting for the day became increasingly majestic. The lakes surface was layered with a thin skin of ice and as the lake moved southwards it became increasingly embedded within the snow covered Bavarian Alps.

Arriving at the local cross country skiing center the sun slowly rose above the tall mountains in the background bringing the temperature up to a ‘moderate’ -8°c. It was here that the group was to be given crash courses in cross country skiing by two much experienced veterans of the sport, Alois Büchler and Albert Petermeier.

After some carefully guided advice and initial practice around the paddock, the group ventured of into the surrounding fields of pristinely prepared skiing paths. Whilst some took to the sport like a duck to water, cruising of into the distance, the same couldn’t be said for a few others who were devoting much of their time to trying to stay on two ski’s or picking themselves up from the ground.

The girls and a view

As the morning of cross country skiing wound up the group reconvened for a comforting lunch of Bavarian sausage, soup and cake, before moving around the lake for an afternoon at the ‘Monte Mare Seesauna’ for some much needed soothing from the intense morning activities.
(un)Dressed and ready the group strolled into the ‘Therme’ area, a charmingly wooden carved structure with a fully glazed side along the edge of the lake gazing across its water towards the rising Alps. With the morning activities still pulsating in the bodies of the group no time was wasted in diving straight into the bubbling Jacuzzi. Shortly after, there was a call from Angie Büchler that the next ‘Aufguss’ in the sauna was about to start and on top of that, they were giving free beer
out during the sitting. Naturally, the group rushed for a seat and while the temperature rose to a crispy 95°c (yes that is a difference of over 100°c from that morning) the beer and jokes served for a fine spoon of sugar to help the medicine go down.

With the muscles beginning to loosen as the ‘Aufguss’ ended, there was no other way to finish the process of than a good old ice bath, and no, I don’t mean in a big steal bath filled with square ice cubs, but a more natural alternative; a quick dip in the lake where the staff had kindly broke away the ice. Cleary this hearty experience got the better of a few as they made it no further than their knees while a few braves souls managed to go all in.

With the muscles redeemed and the body enlivened with ancient old methods (and a quick beer), the group relaxed on the terrace in the warm interior, especially reserved for the Munich Colmcilles. As the sun set behind the mountains, the suns reflection rippled across the lake towards us, and as the tranquil atmosphere took hold the group slipped off into a well-deserved snooze.

A well deserved meal!

Relaxed and replenished, the last stop of the day was a trip to the infamous brewery and restaurant the ‘Bräustüberl Tegernsee’. On arrival, the lively Bavarian atmosphere warmed the vaulted interior from the sub-zero temperatures outside. Famous for its own home brewed larger and servings of pork, no time was wasted in ordering a round of ‘Helles’ and large plates of ‘Schweinshax’n’ to satisfy the well justified thirst and hunger.

After a few Bavarian deserts, a few more ‘Helles’, and a few customary ‘digestives’ (strong schnapps to be precise), the group finally headed for the local train station for the trip back through the mountains and the surrounding countryside back to Munich.

A big thanks to Angie Büchler for organising the day and making sure everything went smoothly, and well done to all those who braved the elements and in the icy water.

Sean Simpson
An adopted Gael.

So gab es ein Wiedersehen der angereisten Münchnerinnen und der drei mittlerweile wieder in Irland studierenden Irinnen am Freitag in Limerick, das gleich zum allgemeinen Fingernägellackieren in den Teamfarben genutzt wurde.

Ladies getting ready for the finals in Limerick 2011

Am Samstag wurden die Spieler/innen von einem Bus zu den Plätzen gebracht. Dort fanden die Colmcilles nach einigem Suchen auch die Gastspielerin aus Zürich. Somit konnte die Mannschaft mit 10 Spielerinnen ins erste Gruppenspiel starten, angefeuert und unterstützt vom Knie-und Dullenclub;).
Die Münchnerinnen dominierten das erste Spiel gegen Kopenhagen / Götheburg und ließen sich im zweiten Spiel gegen Belgien B auch nur kurzzeitig durch eine Umstellung des anderen Teams verunsichern. Im dritten und letzten Gruppenspiel ging es gegen Holland um den Gruppensieg und damit um das leichtere Halbfinale. Leider zeigten unsere Spielerinnen einige Schwächen, dazu kam Pech und eine sehr gute gegnerische Mittelfeldspielerin.
Somit musste München im Halbfinale gegen die in diesem Jahr ungeschlagenen Belgierinnen spielen. Im Juli in München hatte es fast schon einmal für einen Sieg gereicht, aber in Limerick war Belgien klar überlegen. Das zweite Halbfinale zwischen Holland und Paris wurde zu einem knappen kräftezehrenden Kampf, den Paris nach Verlängerung und 30-Meter-Punkte schießen gewann.

Das bedeutete für die Colmcilles die Chance zur Revanche im Spiel um den 3.Platz. Mit der besten Leistung des Tages aller Spielerinnen und einer großen kämpferischen Leistung gewannen die Munich Ladies dieses Spiel. Damit sicherten sie sich auch die Vizemeisterschaft, die beste Gesamtplatzierung seit der Gründung der Frauenmannschaft.

Verletzungstechnisch gibt es zum Glück nicht viel zu berichten, außer einem verstauchten Finger, einer Blase am Fuß und einer eingezwickten Zunge.
Mit stundenlanger Verspätung starteten die Finals auf den Gaelic Grounds. Bei den Frauen gewann Belgien überlegen gegen Paris. Das Shield Finale der Herren war ein knappes und spannendes Spiel mit Verlängerung. Den Sieg errang Belgien B durch einen „Golden Point“. Das Championship Finale war eine recht klare Sache für Guernsey, das beeindruckenden Gaelic Football zeigte.

Durch die Verspätung fanden auch das Dinner und der offizielle Teil mit Reden (der ein oder andere würde auch sagen zu viele und zu lange Reden) reichlich spät statt. So flog schon mal ein Papierflieger durch den Saal und manchem fielen die Augen auch zu, bis die Zuhörer um halb 2 nachts endlich erlöst waren und zum lockeren Teil übergehen konnten.

Die Nacht war für einige kurz, trotzdem trafen die 8 Münchnerinnen rechtzeitig in Dublin am Flughafen ein. Auch das gemietete Auto wurde man los, obwohl ein gewisser Verleih plötzlich Pleite gemacht hatte. Den Mitreisenden im Flugzeug wurde noch eine kleine Show geboten, dann ging es Richtung Heimat. Eine Spielerin wurde am Münchner Flughafen gezwungenermaßen zurückgelassen, aber mit Verlusten muss man rechnen;)

Die Damenmannschaft freut sich auf das nächste Jahr. Klares Ziel ist einige neue Spielerinnen zu gewinnen, um die Lücke, die die irischen Heimkehrer gelassen haben, wieder füllen zu können und dann natürlich die Siegesserie des belgischen Teams zu unterbrechen!