Team Ireland Grab Top Spot
By BRENDAN FLYNN
VANCOUVER - Team Ireland Penalty Kick World Cup squad and their supporters are top of the Group B table, following their first round penalty shoot out against Bosnia Herzegovina at Swangard Stadium.
Team Ireland players put in a great performance with Sean O’Neill’s effort in Ireland’s goal allowing both teams to share the points.
At the opposite end of Swangard Team Italy and England squared off in their encounter and both teams also finished on level terms.
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TEAM IRELAND players Christine Doyle, Ryan Terry, Melissa Terry and coach Al McCabe at a practice session. These players will be participating in the 2006 Whitecaps Penalty Kick World Cup, held at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.
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Perhaps the “Luck of the Irish” prevailed when the team in green won the extra point for the crowd cheer at the end of the Vancouver versus Toronto Lynx game.
Now Team Ireland will take an advantage into the remaining matches against Italy (June 9) and England (August 13). Ireland’s players will prepare well for both and the tri-colour will be carried with pride again.
The tournament organized by Vancouver Whitecaps has brought together 16 nations of varying ethnicity throughout the Lower Mainland to do battle at Whitecaps home games and help their specific charities in the process.
In the end, soccer fans of all nations will be treated to a double serving of their home town Vancouver Whitecaps and the PK World Cup playoffs at every game.
Whitecaps have succeeded in organizing a great community building event for the summer months and Whitecaps Manager John Rocha, Rick Ramsbottom and the Whitecaps staff are to be commended for doing a great job in the process.
Team Ireland First Round players were Ryan Terry (under 14 boy), Melissa Terry (under 16 girl), John Murnane (over 40), Erin McGinley (adult female), Brian Reilly (adult male) and Sean O’Neill (goal keeper). Well done to all players. Special thanks goes to coach Al McCabe for his constant efforts with all the players.
The following individual and organizations have ensured that Team Ireland can compete in the 2006 PK World Cup by their contributions:
Maura McCay and Catholine Butler of The Celtic Connection newspaper.
Deirdre O'Ruairc and The Irish Women’s Network.
Shamrock Renovations and Construction Ltd.
George McDonnell and the executive members of The Celtic Heritage Society of Canada.
Bernard Ward, Ritchie Cannon, Paul Stack, and the parents of the younger players.
All Team Ireland supporters are encouraged to come and support their team on June 9 and August 13 and help The Celtic Society of Canada in the process.
Finally on September 8, Whitecaps will put on a Celtic Night at Swangard to entertain the fans. That will be a night for all the Irish to come and have a great time together.
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