Amsterdam team with Chris Ryan fifth from right in back row. PHOTO: COILIN DUFFY

Nenagh's Ryan creates GAA history with Amsterdam

By Cóilín Duffy

 

Nenagh's Chris Ryan helped create a bit of history on Saturday, as Amsterdam became the first European side (outside the UK) to play an AIB Provincial Club Championship game on Irish soil.

However, it ended on a disappointing note, as Dublin champions St. Finian's claimed an 0-8 to 0-6 win in this Leinster Junior Football Championship tie at the GAA's National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown.

Players from across Ireland, including Ryan's fellow Tipperary colleague Eoin Flynn (Fr. Sheehy's) were in the squad, while Lancashire born Eoin Watts was also an integral player.

Chris Ryan came on at half-time for the pretty experienced Amsterdam line-up, with the club representing Europe for the third time in the Leinster Championship, with victory once again eluding them, after two previous defeats.

Amsterdam looked good in the opening half and built up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 25 minutes, but Finian's, who were only crowned Dublin winners the previous Tuesday dug in, and held Amsterdam scoreless in the second half.

For Chris, it's his first season with the Amsterdam club, and he is working in the city as an Electrical Engineer for Mercury Engineering.

We were really looking forward to coming over to Ireland and showing our friends and families what we could do, ”he told the Nenagh Guardian after the game.

 

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