European Champs!!

Growth isn’t inevitable, it’s earned. 

Pushing comfort zones and boundaries, and challenging your principles and beliefs are really difficult things to do, but this group of incredible Women did just that over the last 5 months and I am immensely proud.

Off the back of World Cup silver last year, we set that as our minimum standard, and all agreed that we would do everything we could to put us in the same position, a shot at Gold. But we knew that as team needing to transition new players in for various reasons, as well as improve over a very short and intense period, if we focused on the end game too much, we would struggle to get there.

We aligned and focused on performance, not results. We dedicated everything to the session in front of us and made sure we didn’t get ahead of ourselves. In the low points, and there were some low points, we reset and reminded ourselves of the long term goal, and in the high points, we made sure we stayed grounded and directed that energy in the right way.

Myself and my brilliant friend Simon Thornton, who I love working with, were able to be vulnerable with eachother when we needed to be (more “I just don’t know” moments than I’d like to admit), and always came aligned to the squad. Sometimes, and often, we have different ideas but our principles and ethos are the same, so this allowed us to have really direct, honest and meaningful conversations. We also added the young and talented Rory Treacy to the coaching team, who I can promise you won’t be far away from coaching at the Olympics!

It wasn’t easy sailing, we went to Dusseldorf for a 3 nations tournament and got, well, smashed. We didn’t pick up any wins, but it was a unique opportunity to go and test the girls, and learn about ourselves. This was then followed by the 4 nations tournament in Swansea, just 4 days later. Tired minds and bodies put in 3 big performances, picking up a Win against Scotland and fighting until the end against England and Wales. It was tough going, challenging, and, incredibly important. We picked these two outings deliberately, to test if the principles held under the absolute worst circumstances.

Role on 5 weeks, 11 trainings sessions and we find ourselves facing England in the first game of the European’s. A team we had played 3 times already this block, conceding 13 goals and picking up no wins and actually, not having ever beaten them! This was a huge moment for us to start the competition correctly, we focused on performance, losing 2-1, but, Alex Speers put a goal in on the buzzer, and it was the first time I have seem a team come off the pitch smiling without winning. You could just sense the energy, the girls were here, and here to win.

Wales followed the next day, and after such a battle the day before, we found ourselves 3-0 down 20 minutes in, the resilience and determination of the team (as well as the English on the sidelines cheering on Wales), was the motivation and drive behind us coming back and winning 4-3. We faced the Germans after a break and dispatched them 4-0 and then faced the Dutch and picked up a 1-1 draw. Not an easy group with some absolutely incredible hockey nations, but 7 points was enough and we navigated it to achieve knockout hockey.

This setup a Semi vs the Germans, who weren’t to be turned over twice in a tournament, a tight battle, 2-2 and we are sent to penalties. An incredible goalkeeping display from our always cool Pam, and a cool as a cucumber finish from the been there and done that @paula saw us setup the final against England. Here we were, in the exact same situation as a year ago. But we could smell something different in the air this time, a quiet confidence we would find that extra energy, find a way to win. 

An exact replica of the World Cup final, the same pitch, the same opposition, the same dugout, the same weather and the same support. 

We went into the team talk with a plan, but, today was about moments. Chances would be limited, battles will be had, but the team that pop’s up in those moments will come good. We came back twice, to finish the game 2-2. We had 3 chances, and we took 2 of them, a resilient team, a determined group, and an ice cold relentlessness in their work for eachother. The focus again was performance, not the end goal, not what colour the medal would be, but performance.

Those moment’s came in the 1v1’s. Incredible clarity and coolness from the takers, and our goalkeeper showing why she has been at the top level of Irish hockey for so long. 

It still hasn’t really sunk in that we got Gold, potentially that’s the sacrifice you make when you are so focused on the immediate next step and the process. It’s sad to know the journey is over for this summer, but I’ll admit I’m enjoying having the European Trophy on my mantle piece and the title of European Champions!

I’d like to thank my employer @Lincoln for the support and for giving me the time off I needed to pursue my passion, particularly having only just joined, it makes a huge difference knowing you’re supported. 

My friend’s and coaching team, @simon and @Rory. Thank’s for being the constant when time’s got tough and the drivers when energy was needed.

But mostly, I’d like to thank the 23 incredible women that make up the Ireland over 35’s squad. Thank you for believing in yourselves, thank you for committing to the process, and thank you for an absolutely incredible summer!