DAY 2
Up at 7.00 for breakfast and on the bus for 8.00 with our first game at 9.40am. The weather has improved. Foggy to start but then brightened up. All ready for the football now.
ADSL 4 : FC Himmerland (Denmark) 0
A great start for the ADSL. We opened the scoring in the 2nd minute. Warren put in a great cross from the left for Conor to head to the net for 1-0. Two minutes later it was 2-0 for the ADSL when Mark O C headed to the net at the near post from a corner. Just before half time it was 3-0 when the Danish keeper lost Darras cross in the sun only for it to sail over his head.
The ADSL went 4 up in the second half when Sam fired low to the keepers right. It was a great start. Outstanding for the ADSL were Andrew,Warren and the skipper,Seamus.
ADSL 0 : VG Ostende (Belgium) 0
Next up were the Belgians who had won their first game 7-0!
Just quite how this game finished scoreless is a mystery. The ADSL almost totally dominated the game,created a multitude of chances but some wayward shooting,some stout defending and inspired goalkeeping together with some simple bad luck all conspired to keep the ADSL out. That said the lads played well and could not be faulted for effort or commitment.
But it finished scoreless and the lads wanted to top the group and knew that only a goal avalanche would secure that. Aaron picked up an injury but Seamus will sort that out but he will miss the next game.
ADSL 10 : Drommingborg B (Denmark) 0
YES the scoreline is correct. It is not a misprint. The ADSL went to town in a bid to secure top spot in the Group.
It was 5-0 at half time. Goals from Conor,a penalty from Seamus,another Sam goal and two great strikes from Andrew all in the first half ended the game as a contest with the ADSL five to the good.
Into the second half Darren got his reward for good work all day with his first to be followed by a third goal from Andrew to complete his hat-trick. There were also goals from Eoin O,from Ruaidhri,and another goal from Sam,his third of the tournament to complete the rout. It could not be more emphatic but it was not enough to take top spot as Ostend were also big winners and it was the Belgians who topped the group by a single goal on goal difference. A very dodgy offside decision in this game might have made all the difference!
It is however largely academic. We qualify from the group together with the top two from the other group to contest a round robin three game tournament to decide the winner of the Arnhem Cup.
In the afternoon the management went to look at the other teams in the other group while the lads had to make do watching the girls handball matches also on in the complex. Wonder who got the better deal and who was paying the greater attention!
We decided to forego the swimming in favour of an early return to the hotel. The pool table and darts board will be busy.
Just when you thought that the ADSL mood could not get any better word came through that the St..Josephs Under-11s had won their SFAI Cup tie in Galway beating Corofin 5-0 to advance to the quarter finals. Well done to St.Josephs.
So it is a very happy ADSL camp in Holland. The lads have been brilliant and a credit to their clubs and families. Everyone is happy and well and looking forward to tomorrow. This is Charlie Bird, RTE News, Arnhem.