2005 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP DUBLIN 26-30 SEPTEMBER

The final score was Australasia 3-12 to London 1-03.

The Centre Half Back Ronni Browning I believe was top scorer with 1-4.

The team at this minute are getting ready to head off to play in the All Ireland 7-a-side tournament but don't expect to do as well as they hoped as they are suffering in general from a bit of liquid poisioning!!

Sunday they are off to the All Ireland Women's finals and that night there is a combined banquet in the City West hotel for the All Ireland and International teams. Those who are returning to Brisbane expect to be poured on to the plane on Monday. Nicole Graves the manager has informed me that some including Kate Watt from Adelaide and herself are now going to go to Brisbane instead of reurning to their home States.

Preparations are almost complete for the Australasian Women’s Gaelic Football Team in the countdown to their departure for Dublin on 16 September to defend the World Cup they won in 2002. If they win this year it will be a hat trick as they won the inaugural competition held in 2000.

Sean Tilbrook from Perth who guided the 2002 team to an unbeaten run of 7 games in the World Cup as well as two friendly matches will coach the team again in 2005. Nicole Graves from Melbourne who has outstanding administrative skills as well as a thorough knowledge of women’s football has been appointed as manager. Sean O’Casey the Australasian Vice President from Perth is the Central Council representative on the tour and will also fill a role as a selector along with Sean Tilbrook and Nicole.

Twenty-five players from Brisbane (10), Perth (7), Melbourne (5) and Adelaide (3) make up the team.

The team has a number of girls who played in 2002 such as Renae Campbell, Angie Doyle, Leah Sellars and Anna Haynes. They will be complemented with many of the superbly fit and talented victorious Australasian championships team from Queensland in the squad. Pia Kilburn from Perth finally made the Australasian team and is rewarded with her place in the squad. An exciting prospect is Caroline Gardner from Adelaide who in only her second season of Gaelic football took out the State best player award in 2005.

Previous experience has been that managing injuries and the fitness of the team plays a big part in winning the competition. As a result Steve Ridley from Adelaide who is the State Gaelic Football trainer in Adelaide will be responsible for keeping the girls in the best condition. Eddie Farran a stalwart of the association in Perth who has been on the 2000 and 2002 tours will also assist Steve. A masseuse will also be available who will help to ensure the best team possible takes the field.

Whilst the International Tournament does not commence until Monday 26 September, a full itinerary has been planned for the team from the day they arrive. Accommodation will be at Marino Institute of Education which was the home away from home for the 2000 & 2002 teams. Training each day will be at St. Vincent’s ground which is walking distance from Marino.

On Tuesday 20 September at 6 30pm the girls play a trial game against Naomh Mearnog at their ground at Portmarnock. This is an ideal preparation as Naomh Mearnog is the venue for the International competition and will give the majority of the team that have not played there before a chance to get used to the ground.

Thursday 22 September at 6 30pm sees Australasia play Ballyboden St. Enda’s at Ballyboden. This will be an opportunity for all the players to impress management, as Ballyboden are the current Dublin county champions in senior women’s football.

Sunday 25th will see everyone in the team in the Hogan Stand at Croke Park watching the All Ireland Football final along with 85 000 other spectators.

On Monday 26th all in the squad will join the players from the other seven competing teams at the launch of the tournament in Croke Park over lunch. The tournament starts that afternoon at Naomh Mearnog and the full fixture list is:

This is the first time New York has participated as previously they played in the All Ireland competition. They, North America and London are expected to be our stiffest competition.

On the morning of Wednesday 28th four players from each of the participating teams will visit Aras an Uachtaran, the Irish President’s Official residence, in Phoenix Park Dublin where they will meet with Mary McAleese, President of Ireland and her husband, Dr. Martin McAleese.

With the tournament finishing on Friday, the Australasian association has accepted an invitation from the Ladies GAA in Ireland to participate in the All Ireland Women’s Football 7-a-side tournament which will be held at Naomh Mearnog on Saturday 1 October. If, or should I say when Australasia win the World Cup the previous day then the girls will probably carry some headaches into the 7-a-side tournament!

Saturday night will be party time for the squad as they hit the lights of Dublin to celebrate what is hoped to be a very successful tour.

The last official part of the tour takes place on Sunday 2 October when they are guests of the Ladies GAA at the All Ireland ladies Football finals in Croke Park. In the evening all the participating teams from the International Tournament along with the all Ireland teams will attend a Presentation Banquet in the Citywest Hotel.

Monday 3 October sees the team go their separate ways. Quite a number of the girls are heading straight back to take part in the Australasian Championships which begin in Brisbane on 4 October. Others are staying to holiday in Ireland or Europe.

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