Cork Open 2011
Two Days in Cork: The Willingness of One Team to Succeed
or:
The Report on Trinity 1 at Cork Open 2011, Being a Tale Told in 3 Parts by Committee Member Brian Boyle
Cast (In Alphabetical Order):
Florian Auferoth
Brian Boyle
Keith Coleman
David Ferguson
Hugo Fitzpatrick
Finnian Flood
Conor Hickey
Rob 'The 4th Dimension' Holland
Enda O'Ceilleachair
Cian Quinn
Stephen Tubbert
Act One:
It was a cold October day in Cork, the type of day that most men would like to stay in bed, but for the men of Trinity Ultimate it was business time. Cork Open. 2011. The largest annual tournament in Irish ultimate. Armed with their new sexy kit and under the supervision and protection of their new, even sexier captain Dave 'The Impossible' Ferguson, the men of Trinity 1 were ready to hit the stage. They new it wouldn't be easy with only eleven players. Sam Smith and Sam Mehigan were at Edinburgh. Killian Rogan and Sean Mulhern, two of the hardest hitting players in the league, were unable to come, and Daniel Purdy was out with a broken skeleton. It was up to the remaining eleven players to step up and play with fiery intensity. There was a long day ahead of them, with three group matches and a cross over. The key would be to stay positive and aggressive, like a drunk proton, and that's just what the boys did. First up was Pick Up 1, a team with a lot of players with individual talent, but nothing could stop Trinity, and after a fabulous match, Trinity were victorious winning 13-5. Up next was an equally important match against DIT, but Trinity were unstoppable, winning the game 13-2.
OH NO! UCC X! The hardest team in the group. Trinity would need all the positivity and aggression they had to win this game. After a spectacular and hard fought first half, Trinity were up 7-6, but UCC X were not going to go down without a fight, they came back and took a 9-7 lead. Things were looking bleak for our heroes. But then something incredible happened, Trinity scored two points in a row to tie the game at 9-9. Cap called. Game to 10. Universe point. Spice. Trinity would need a D and a score to win, and that's what they got. An amazing come back to win the match and the group. Trinity were ecstatic. High-fives were flying left and right like pies at a clown convention. Trinity were one win away from the quarter finals. Their crossover was against DCU, a team who had defeated Trinity twice at intervarsities last year. It was time for pay back. After a hard fought and well spirited game, Trinity came up on top 13-8. A long and hard day, Trinity had won all their matches and would have a difficult quarter final the next morning against Rebel Ultimate, the top seed.
Then there was a long night of partying in which nothing of importance happened.
Act Two:
Sunday morning. Quarter finals. Rebel Ultimate. Business time. Conditions are perfect.
Trinity were in the top eight teams and ready to succeed, but they would need to beat Rebel, reigning Ireland club champions. An intense battle ensued in which Trinity were defeated 15-6, but they were not disheartened. They had two more matches to play and the possibility of coming 5th carried them on. Their next match was against visiting Italian team Milano, and Trinity didn't know what to expect, but they were excited. And they just couldn't hide it. A memorable and fun game for the most part, but Trinity were clearly tired at the end. A well spirited game, Trinity won 12-3. MVPs as chosen by Milano were Conor Hickey, Cian Quinn and Hugo Fitzpatrick, who indulged themselves with some wonderfully decadent sambuka. Trinity were now set to play for fifth place against UCC Y. Down to just nine players, (Keith Coleman and Florian Auferoth were out after crumbling from the pressure of having a team on their backs), Trinity were tired and would need to somehow keep going?
Tired? Winners don't get tired. Trinity absolutely smashed it and won 15-7. Fifth place. The second highest college team in the standings next to UCD, who came second and won spirit. MVPs for Trinity 1 were Keith Coleman, Dave Ferguson and Cian Quinn. Most spirited player went to Conor Hickey. The Rob Holland memorial award for A-Game went to Stephen Tubbert. A highly successful weekend for the relatively young Trinity team who will only get better in future tournaments.
Final Act:
Our heroes ride back to Dublin on their noble banter bus. Where will we see them again? Wherever ultimate is played.
FIN
*Disclaimer: Scores may not be exact.
