Almost Game Time

Hi All,

So it's Monday night and at last it's the night before our first game. It feels like it's taken forever to arrive. We just had a team meeting and I think we're all really pumped for tomorrow. We emphasised the fact that we're going to stick together as a team regardless of what happens and not lose the heads no matter what the result. I used the Irish Mixed team as an example of a team who didn't let early defeats get them down, how character and putting negatives behind you can count for so much in this sport. The rewards which the Mixed team reaped from those kind of qualities are plain for all to see. They proved their doubters wrong and I'd love us to do same. But even if we don't, I'd love it if we continuously do the right things in games and achieve the same rate of improvement by Saturday which we have from the trials until now. I see no reason why we cant.

Today was a bit of a lazy, frustrating day. It began by Helen (my other sister) and Mary McKee arriving from Slovenia to support us in our games tomorrow before they fly home on Wednesday. Mary's arrival, as expected, sparked pandemonium. She's coached exactly half of our team all year long in Christ King Secondary School in Cork and it's no exaggeration to say that the girls simply idolise her. I'm actually thrilled she's here so she can see the fruits of her labour. She is almost single handedly responsible for half of an Irish squad. Thank you Mary McKee.

We then had an hour long walk through our zone and 2-5 and 3-4 offence. It was just to tweak things and make sure everyone was clear, nothing too strenuous. Then the girls were let loose to do what they waned for the evening (they went shopping). Caoimhe and Hogie arrived, finally fulfilling the full representation of Irish here. Unfortunately today was the day that the tournament organisation which I previously raved about began to take a serious step backwards.

We had a rather unproductive, slap job coaches meeting. This was followed by a BBQ and the opening ceremony at which the Irish team were without doubt the loudest. It was so, so loud. Some might say it'd make you proud to be Irish. Others might say it'd simply make you accept your Irishness and all the loud obnoxiousness that goes with it. Make no mistake, the rest of Europe certainly know we're here. Let's hope we can leave as much of a mark on our games that we did on the opening ceremony.

Sweden at 9am, I'm nervous but I cant wait!