Brilliant bronze as floorball team spirit shines through
It was all to play for on the floorball court today, as Team Ireland fought to be placed on the podium for medals.
The first floorball match was against Costa Rica, a side which our floorball lads had faced multiple times previously at these Games.
Play was fierce and unrelenting, and Costa Rica scored 2 goals with Ireland stalwart Gavin Bourke sustaining an injury and being taken off the court.
At half time, Costa Rica had gained a lead of 4 goals to nil. The second half saw Team Ireland fight back courageously, as Gavin Bourke supported his team-mates by coming back into play. Damien Kirwan (who was named Man of the Match) sent through a great goal, but the Costa Rican defence was impregnable under the sustained attempts of a brilliant Irish attack.
The final score was 5-1 to Costa Rica, but Team Ireland can hold their heads up high after a brave and skilled performance under difficult conditions.
Man of the Match, Damien Kirwan said: “It was a tough match, but I’m happy I got a goal today – on my bad hand - and a goal yesterday. I’m happy I got player of the match, which I wasn’t expecting. We did our best in this match, and we have another chance now against Switzerland. We’re feeling confident. I want to say thank you to all the supporters and volunteers – if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be here today.
Gavin Bourke’s girlfriend Emma said: “They all played their hardest. Gavin came off due to injury, but he knew his team needed him and he tried his best, he went back out there and gave it his all – we’re so proud. Win or lose, we’re all smiles and having a great time.”
Special Olympics Ireland Director of Sport for Special Olympics Ireland Karen Coventry said: “Passion, courage and true sportsmanship has been in abundant display this week from Team Ireland.”
Special Olympics Ireland Director of Marketing, Communications & Fundraising Graham Roe said: “The athletes and coaches of Team Ireland have led from the front all week, knowing everyone at home is backing them. It takes grassroots support across the island of Ireland to make this possible. A club to back each athlete, and a community to support each club.”
The second match against Switzerland started off in fine style. Gavin Bourke captained with aplomb after his earlier injury, launching Ireland’s first goal straight into the net.
Joseph ‘Joe-Joe’ Sheehan continued his winning ways with a second goal for Ireland, and the confidence of the floorball team was on display with well-honed attack and defence.
A third goal came in the well and truly sealed the deal for a convincing victory of 3-0 for Ireland. Man of the Match was ‘Joe-Joe’ Sheehan, who soaked up the energy and support of the assembled supporters along with the rest of the team.
The victory secured Team Ireland a well-deserved bronze medal, making the full tally across floorball and alpine skiing an impressive 10 medals.
Team Ireland floorball’s bronze medal win comes after playing 13 matches over four days, with six wins and seven losses.
Man of the Match, Joseph ‘Joe-Joe’ Sheehan said: “Man of the Match feels like the best thing I’ve ever had in my life. It’s like if someone got Man of the Match in a soccer match – the feeling’s the same. The goal I got was my second-best goal in the Winter Games. The celebrations when we get home will be massive! When we get off that plane, the supporters will go mad – and I mean mad! It’s a pleasure being on this Ireland team with my team-mates and my coaches, and everyone else on the team – thank you!”
Frank O’Dwyer spoke about his team’s success: “Absolutely brilliant! I’m so delighted, so proud. I’m so happy that I’m here for my country. Come on Ireland! The supporters are brilliant – they’ve been here for all of it. They’ve been supporting us every day since we came here, since the first day. I’m so delighted to take home a medal!”
Goalkeeper James Upton was ecstatic: “We’ve done so well in alpine skiing and now in floorball. I don’t know how I did it, but I made the saves and worked hard. When we go home, there’ll be some party!”
Team member Damien Kirwan said: “I’m delighted to bring home a medal, to show my family, my girlfriend, and all my friends around Waterford. I want to thank all the supporters and volunteers – without them, we wouldn’t be here today. We wouldn’t have got to third, we wouldn’t have got a medal, only for their support. And I wouldn’t be here without all my friends that I played with, and the coaches for all their support, training, the hours they put in – it’s an honour. I’m glad I got to do this for my country.”
Julie Dwyer, Chairperson of Mallow United Special Olympics Club which numbers four Team Ireland floorball athletes among its membership, said: ”We started floorball in Munster when nobody was doing it in Ireland, around 20 years ago. George Fitzgerald, the Assistant Floorball Coach for Team Ireland, would have been on many a team I travelled with as a player. It’s lovely to see the buildup of skill and ability being developed and coming back in. I’m very proud of them – they’ve done so well, and I’ve seen them come from beginners to the world stage – it’s fabulous.”
Mags Curtin, coach at Mallow United Special Olympics Club, said: “We’re ecstatic about the boys winning. The effort they’ve put in over the last year has been amazing – they played out of their skin, and they deserve their medal! Well done Team Ireland.”
Head Floorball Coach for Team Ireland, Peter Merrins, said: “The victory was a real lift, they were incredible. They were really up for it. They wanted to do it for all the families and supporters. They’ve been so brave and so strong – they had a few rough days, but so much heart.
Willie Conlon, Assistant Head of Delegation for Team Ireland, said: “We’re so proud of the team. We came together nine months ago as a group of strangers, nobody had met each other. You see them today, and they’re a team all pulling together for each other – it’s just fantastic. For these guys, it means the absolute world.”
“I was asked to volunteer at the Ireland Games in 2018, got involved and really enjoyed it. When you see how much the athletes enjoy it and what it means to them, it makes you want to come back and do it again and again! The opportunity to come to these Games in my role and to see the team be so happy and coming back with medals, is brilliant.”
Joseph Sheehan’s sister Chantelle Sheehan said: “It was ecstatic out there, they all played their hearts out, we can’t wait to celebrate with them.”
Special Olympics Ireland Director of Sport Karen Coventry said: “I’m unbelievably proud of the team, such determination and grit. Every ball mattered, they pushed right to the end – they truly deserve the success.”
Match 1: 10:50am GMT – Ireland 1 - 5 Costa Rica
Match 2: 3:00pm GMT – Ireland 3 - 0 Switzerland
