Corrib players feature on the Irish water polo team
CORRIB Water Polo Club were well represented last weekend at the EU Eight Nations Junior Men’s Tournament in the Czech Republic with six players on the Irish squad.
They were Bill Jennings, Evan Naughton, Johnny Regan, Thomas O’Connor, Ross McDonogh and Joe Tummon while Corrib Senior Coach, Joe Smyth, was the team coach. Ireland took part in the competition with Malta, Austria, Czech Republic, Scotland, Wales, Denmark and Poland.
Ireland opened their account with a close run match with the home team Czech Republic and goals were in short supply with Ireland running out as eventual winners by 4-3. In the second group match, Ireland dominated a weak Welsh team and with impressive performances all round, including Ross McDonagh in goals, the Irish won by 20-2.
The third group match was a check back to reality on the Saturday morning when they came up against a strong Austrian team. The game was close in the first half but a bigger and more technically proficient Austrian outfit won out the match with a 12-7 scoreline.
In the semi finals on the Saturday evening, the running order of matches conspired against the Irish and in a tight first half against Malta the team performed well and were in close contention with a 6-5 scoreline in favour of Malta at the half way mark. However the Maltese eventually proved too strong, both physically and fitness wise, and they won out 15-5.
Sunday morning brought new hope to the Irish team and they were against Poland in the bronze medal match. Ireland did it all so very well for the first three quarters, leading 6-3 with one quarter to go. Experience at this level, fitness and concentration lapses let the Polish side back into the match and the game ended as a draw at 7-7.
Onto the dreaded penalty shoot out and the Poles took the bronze medal by scoring three to Ireland's one goal. Overall a great performance and Coach Joe Smyth is looking forward to the competition next year which will be hosted in Malta in an outdoor venue.
On the National League front, Corrib's Galway Bay team were officially crowned National League Division 3 champions last week and the Corrib Senior team are in training still to participate in the Irish Senior Cup in Bangor on May 1 to 3.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.