Ireland play Biberach Biberach were host to the Irish Senior Men’s team in March. Players based in Ireland joined their European based players for a weekend of handball.
The final match was the best performance from Ireland. Biberach A had placed second in their league, qualifying them for the promotion playoffs. They were keen to prove their superiority.
Although the contingent was small, an intensive weekend of training and matches was planned. The town had only played as hosts to a visiting Irish club team the previous week.
Due to contractual commitments, some of the European based players had to return early to their clubs. This left Ireland without substitutes. Despite this both teams were neck and neck for the first half.
The first match was played against the B squad in the club. Though the match was close near the beginning, Ireland ran out as winners by a comfortable five goal margin.
Jump shot from Kevin
The next match was played against the ex-pros in the club. The pros took an early lead in this match while Ireland lost concentration. However Ireland began to put their mark on the game in the second half. The teams traded goal for goal for a time but Ireland succeeded in narrowing the gap to just one goal with less than five minutes to go. Some steady play in the final minutes with solid defence saw Ireland edge ahead and then seal with the victory in the last minutes with a flurry of goals. The match ended with a second win for Ireland.
A brief period at the start of the second half saw Ireland slip five goals behind. Strong play in the final fifteen minutes narrowed this gap to just one goal. In the dying minutes Ireland could not regain possession and narrowly lost Senad on line by two goals.
Eoin in action
IOHA Newsletter #6:March 2010