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Another Side of
Another side of …
Daryl Byrne, RSL Ireland
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As we went to press Daryl Byrne, Stores Operator at RSL Ireland, was preparing to swap his work overalls for an Ireland football shirt as he prepared to fly out to Belgium to play in the Men’s Group D qualifiers for the EDSO Futsal Championship 2022.
The group comprises Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Ireland with Switzerland the top seed. “Obviously, I’m very proud to represent my country and am really looking forward to the play-offs” says Daryl. “With two teams to qualify we’re quite confident we can progress and, maybe with a bit of luck, we could even finish top of the group.
“For those who don’t know, Futsal was established in 2006 and is one of the fastest-growing sports for deaf and hard of hearing players. It is a variation of mini-football and is played on a hard court, smaller than a football pitch, and mainly indoors. It has many similarities to five-a-side football and indoor soccer, but with very small nets. Teams consist of five players, one of whom is goalkeeper. It is incredibly fast and skilful, and also quite demanding, energy wise.
“As we’re all amateurs with various other commitments, getting fit and training is challenging. Still, it is my passion, and so I follow a rigid programme that takes in everything from exercise and ball work to my diet. Thankfully, it has resulted in my selection for the national team. I guess hopping on and off the forklift, processing customers’ orders and preparing items for dispatch, especially now that we’re so busy, also helps.”
The final stages of the tournament will be held in Montesilvano, Italy, beginning 13 October this year with the final scheduled for 22 October.
