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The IAFA International squad met for their tenth and final training camp of the year in Limerick this weekend just weeks away from making their debut appearance at the Amputee Football World Cup. The squad are edging ever closer to the end of their road to the World Cup, a journey they started over 10 months ago. The players completed fitness testing on Friday evening. Numbers don't lie. The results of this latest fitness test prove that this squad and each individual in it have worked tirelessly over the past year to improve both physically and technically. The squad then took to the training pitches on Saturday and Sunday focusing on the tactical side of their game in preparation for the beginning of the World Cup later this month. Each and every member of the squad, players and coaches, are eagerly anticipating the upcoming tournament and are fully focused on the challenge that awaits them in Mexico. The squad hope to find out who they will meet in the group stages of the competition when the draw is made later this week. The team will meet on several occasions over the coming weeks to finalise their preparations before setting out for Mexico at the end of the month. Stay tuned to www.irishamputeefootballassociation.com our Facebook page and Twitter feed for updates as Ireland's Amputee World Cup dream unfolds.
The IAFA would like to thank the Maldron Hotel, Limerick, and all its staff for hosting the IAFA International squad each time they trained in Limerick over the past year. The players and staff were extremely well looked after each time they visited the hotel. The IAFA would also like to thank the University of Limerick and its staff for providing state of the art training facilities for the team. At each training camp the squad have trained at the UL Sport Arena, UL's National 50m Swimming Pool and at the Sport's Campus' 3G All-Weather Pitches.  The IAFA International squad met for their penultimate training camp in Limerick at the weekend. With less than 7 weeks to go until the squad fly to Culican, Mexico to compete in the Amputee Football World Cup the team were once again put through their paces at the state of the art facilities at the University of Limerick. Preparations for the upcoming tournament were finalised as the players and coaching staff made sure that every possible eventuality was considered and catered for. The squad trained on Saturday morning before taking on Moyross United FC in a training game that afternoon. The IAFA started well grabbing a goal in the first ten minutes. Alan Wall curl the ball into the top corner from a free kick leaving the men from Moyross stunned. The Limerick side struck back, however, and took the lead before half-time. The amputees were awarded a penalty after a goal-line infringement resulted from a well-worked corner. Kevan O'Rourke was denied from the spot, however, as the keeper saved and Moyross left the pitch at half-time with their lead intact. The IAFA continued to work hard in the second half, chasing, harrying and running hard both on and off the ball. Moyross scored a third and James Boyle was unlucky not to score a second for the amputees as he was denied by the crossbar. The match finished 3-1 but the IAFA squad will be very pleased with the shift they put in. The hard work continues, the IAFA squad will play several more training games against able-bodied teams in the coming weeks as they continued to prepare for Mexico. Excitement is building yet the graft of training continues for the squad members. The squad will meet for one final training camp in Limerick next month before flying to the Amputee Football World Cup. 7 weeks and counting. Come on you Amps in Green!!
The IAFA International squad descended upon Moate, Co. Westmeath, over the weekend of September 12th-14th, for their 8th training camp of the year in the lead up to the Amputee World Cup. The squad were most hospitably welcomed by the community in Moate across the entire weekend where they continued their training and participated in a charity football match to help raise funds for local amputee Conor Dufficy. Five year old Conor had his leg amputated just recently following a tragic accident but the local community in Moate have admirably rallied around Conor and his family, launching a fundraising campaign in his aid.
Following fitness testing at Moate Community School on Friday evening and training sessions at Moate All Whites GAA Complex on Saturday, the IAFA squad took to the field to play a Moate legends team, captained by Conor's Dad, on Sunday. An exciting, enthralling and competitive game ensued. The Irish amputees started the better with Kevan O'Rourke and James Boyle linking up well in the early stages. James Boyle opened the scoring, finishing coolly, having gotten on the end of a Garry Hoey through ball. Moate responded well, however, scoring twice before half-time, having realised that although their opposition were amputees that they were more than capable of playing football. The amputees started the second half brightly. Kevan O'Rourke equalised from the penalty spot and James Boyle added a third goal with a powerful finish into the bottom corner. The Moate legends added a third of their own and for the final tens minutes both teams pushed for a winner. The game finished 3-3, a fair result in a match that neither side deserved to lose. A huge crowd turned out to support Conor and both teams and the event was a resounding success. Conor caught his first glimpse of amputee football over the weekend and we at the IAFA very much hope that Conor will be sporting the Green of Ireland on the International stage in the years to come. The IAFA would like to sincerely thank the entire community of Moate for the welcome we received over the weekend. We would like to thank Conor, his family, and the fundraising committee 'Friends of Conor D' for inviting us to be part of a fantastic weekend. The IAFA would also like to thank the management and staff of The Well, The Grand Hotel, Frank's Café and Don's Bar for looking after the squad over the weekend. The International squad will continue to work hard as they prepare for the Amputee World Cup which draws ever closer but there is no doubt that our training camp in Moate will stick long in the memories of all the players and staff. Lining out in the Green of Ireland in Mexico later this year Conor, and all of Ireland's young amputees, will be in our minds and in our hearts as we seek to do our country, our families and our friends proud at the biggest competition of them all. COME ON YOU AMPS IN GREEN!! |
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