Determined Gaelic Footballers Prepare for BUSA Championships
Andrew Lavery
Newly formed ICU Gaelic
Football Club day had come as we took
to the field on Sunday afternoon for
a hard fought and spirited match against
local rivals Oxford University. Without
an official home pitch for IC, and only
one training session so far the team
made the journey up the M40 fully confident
in our abilities and looking forward
to what would be a hard hitting encounter.
Despite the strong
breeze which kept scoring low throughout
the game, the pitch was in good shape
and allowed for plenty of open play.
Oxford started the game brightly, if
very arrogantly, trying their luck with
at least four pot shots at goal from
close range, all expertly kept out by
keeper Mus Botchway aided by some frenetic
defending by the full and half back
lines marshalled by Edward O’Hare.
Inspired by our defence and long kick
outs into the wind, the IC team began
to take the game to Oxford. Midfield
duo, Finian McCann and Gaelic football
debutant Danny Wilson were outstanding
in midfield, competing for possession
and feeding the forwards with some quality
ball, despite the rough and high tackles
coming in from all sides by the dirty
Oxford old boys frustrated at the lack
of time afforded them on the ball –
or maybe just the dig to the mouth Finain
gave to his marker. Half time came and
IC left the field only four points down,
by no means an insurmountable task.
After passionate words
from club captain Frank O’Neill,
we retook the field with every intention
of grabbing the next score. Several
attempts and some scoreable free kicks
later, hampered by the breeze, IC were
unlucky not to be on even terms. Oxford
made full use of the wind and pressed
their advantage by moving their target
man directly in front of the goals to
get the better of full back Andrew Lavery
by continually sending high balls in
over the top. Despite several saves
and solid defending IC made some silly
mistakes and conceded some soft goals,
the score line not reflecting the match
being played at all. The second half
played out with some neat play from
forwards Doyle, Phelan and Carville
always threatening to score but IC eventually
came off the field, defeated but still
proud of a very respectable performance.
Special mention must
be made to skilful performance of man
of the match, Pat McMullen playing like
a natural despite only learning the
rules of Gaelic watching a match down
at the Union on Saturday night and reading
Wikipedia the next morning. Dependable
performance from freshers; Gallagher,
Davis, Jakeman and Gill are all worth
mention and with further work ICUGFC
are certain to perform well in the upcoming
BUSA tournament in Birmingham –
only two weeks away!
From left to right
Back-row: Mark Carville, Adam Gill,
Toby Davis, Adrian Doyle, Daniel Wilson,
Finian McCann, Damian Phelan, Patrick
McMullen.
Front-row: Edward O Hare, Phil Jakeman,
Frank O’Neill, Mustapher Botchway,
Stephen Gallagher, Andrew Lavery
Anyone out there reading
this interested in playing drop an e-mail
to al306@ic.ac.uk or check out the Facebook
group. We will be training on Sunday
morning.
