Guerande keeper clears in match versus tournament winners, Liffre.
Back in Ireland after GaelicSportsCast visit to France last week, today’s podcast brings you a full report on the 4th Round of the League Bretagne/Brittany, which was held last Saturday in the beautiful French city of Nantes.
Playing 11 a-side, three teams – Guerande, Liffré and hosts Nantes (Rennes withdrawal) battled it out in hot afternoon sun at Stade du Petit Breton on the outskirts of the city where family, friends and even local onlookers came to watch this new sport of Football Gaelique.
North of Nantes, on the same day along the Atlantic coast at St Brieuc, there was another four team tournament taking place as part of the League’s 4th Round and so with just a 5th and final round of matches left to play, last weekend’s result could prove crucial.
In pole position before Saturday was four time ‘League winners and last year’s champions, the all French side of Liffré and after a great battle with Nantes (some Irish) in their first game and an easier victory over Guerande (all French) in their second match, Liffré were crowned tournament and 2011 League Champions.
Nantes fielded five Irish students in the game versus Liffré and after a great start when opening up a 2 goals and 2 points (8) to 0-2 lead. However, they came under pressure in the middle of the field where the impressive Phillipe Cornilleau and Olivier Kowarski took control for the visitors.
Liffré pulled it back to a one point deficit at the break but a goal rush by Nantes after the restart saw the champions now behind by 11 points. However, they didn’t panic and soon began to overrun Nantes hitting the net four times to soon draw level. With minutes left in the game they added another 1-1 to take a fantastic victory where never-say die attitude was clearly on show.
This podcast includes live moments from the tournament, sounds of the day, reports on the games and interviews (English and French translations) on and off the field with club officials, and, a representative from a Nantes student sporting body.
28:20
Nantes Results:
Nantes (5-6) 21 – 25 (5-10) Liffré
Liffré (2-11) 17 – 12 (3-3) Guérande
Nantes (2-8) 14 – 2 (0-2) Guérande
Tournoi de Saint-Brieuc
Brest (2-4) 10 – 5 (1-2) StBrieuc
Vannes (0-3) 3 – 5 (0-5) StMalo
Brest (8-1) 25 – 10 (3-1) Vannes
St Brieuc (0-3) 3 – 10 (2-4) St Malo
St Malo (0-0) 0 – 11 (2-5) Brest
St Brieuc (1-2) 5 – 11 (2-3) Vannes
1. Liffré………………73 pts (+13)
2. Brest………. …….49 pts (+13)
3. Guérande…………48 pts (+8)
4. Nantes…………….45 pts (+10)
5. St-Malo…………..40 pts (+10)
6. St-Brieuc…………38 pts (+7)
7. Vannes……………37 pts (+8)
8. Rennes……………13 pts (-)
