Keegan plays key role in Ireland's Aussie Rules success

Tubberclair man Stephen Keegan played a key role as Ireland's Aussie Rules National Team became European champions in Australian Rules football after a hard fought victory over Denmark in the grand final last week held in Malmo, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Keegan made a huge contribution to the winning side playing a solid role in the half backline throughout the tournament and winning 4 more caps playing for Ireland. The Irish Warriors ultimately won by 17 points but it was a very tough competition and the win was well earned. While the Irish were the clear favourites throughout the tournament, the Danish Vikings came out firing in the first quarter and completely outplayed their highly fancied opponents by kicking five goals and went into the quarter time break with a 19-point lead. However, Ireland regrouped in the second quarter and reduced the lead to five points by half-time. In the third quarter, the Irish Warriors really showed their true class and ability, kicking four goals to Denmark's one, and could boast a two-goal lead going into the final quarter. By the final siren, Ireland had extended their lead to 17 points, and can now justifiably claim the mantle as best team in Europe. The Warriors' win was the crowning achievement after a successful competition which saw them demolish Germany (118 points to 0), Croatia (141 points to 7) and trounce Sweden (99 points to 16) in their preliminary rounds. Stephen, son of Padraig & Mary Keegan, said: "I made the Irish Aussie rules team in 2008 and travelled to Australia to play in the Aussie rules world cup in Melbourne where Ireland were victorious over Finland, Sweden & Canada and were narrowly defeated by New Zealand in the semi-finals and lost to South Africa in the play-offs finishing a very creditable 4th place. We defeated Great Britain in Dublin last year and I went to trials at the end of 2009 for selection for the European team. The standard of players was very high and six GAA county players from Antrim, Mayo, Sligo, Cavan, Cork and Kerry and a Leeds & Munster rugby player lined out on this year's team." "Aussie Rules is a very fast paced and physically tough and hard hitting game, but a lot of the game is won by what the team player contributes to the game off the ball as in shepherding, directing set plays to other players and constantly supporting runs. ," continued Stephen. Stephen concluded by saying: "Personally, Aussie rules has been the game of opportunities for me so far as I've travelled to numerous countries to play the sport, won caps for playing for my country, have met and been coached by the most highly respected managers in AFL in Australia, Trained in Collingwood ARFC & Richmond ARFC facilities and met many pro Aussie Rules players plus now to cap it all off, earning the titles of 4th in the world and 1st in Europe for Aussie Rules" Stephen now hopes to be up for selection for the Aussie Rules world cup to be held in Sydney and Melbourne in 2011. If anyone is interested in playing Aussie rules football, the local club is The Midland Tigers ARFC and the season is set to start early next year. Log onto the Aussie rules football league of Ireland website www.ARFLI.com for more information.