A TEAM of Junior Polocrosse players has returned from an amazing eight-day Tour to the USA. The Under 16 Team of six girls and one boy are all members of the Irish Polocrosse Association. Sophie Quirke (Team Captain) and Diane Moore, are both from Limerick Polocrosse Club. Max Lewis and Abbey Wallace, are from the North of Ireland and play for Tyrella Polocrosse Club. The rest of the team, Leah Peare, Maria Migasiewice and Eva Murrell, are all from Wexford’s Horetown Polocrosse Club. They were accompanied by coach, Debbie Harris, umpire Dara Mangan and manager Angela Fynn.

The group flew to Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, April 20th and spent two days White Water Rafting on the Chattahoochee River and visiting the Cowboy Shop, as well as some on-foot polocrosse training. The team was in high spirits and rarely stopped singing.

On Wednesday, they met the USA team over a late breakfast at the venue, the very green and beautiful McIntosh Reserve, where the Tournament was hosted by Sandie Creek Polocrosse Club.

After a pool draw for horses, they had the chance to get to know their mounts. Some training was followed by Extreme Ziplining with the USA Team!

Challenge

The first of three Test Matches got underway in serious heat at 3.30pm on Friday. Irish players were ready for the challenge, but also nervous as the USA had home advantage and were riding their own horses.

After a shaky start, the team finished on 21 goals to the USA’s 28.

By Saturday, they were getting familiar with horses and how their very talented opponents played. With great direction from their coach and total commitment, the final score was closer, 18 to USA’s 20.

The 15 Irish parents and supporters helped with walking horses, keeping kids and animals hydrated and cheering them on louder than the whole USA crowd.

On Saturday evening, there was a formal dinner; teams exchanged gifts and thanked the American Polocrosse Association and all the hosts. It finished with music from the multi-talented Irish singers, with Maria playing the harmonica.

Tactical

The Irish were looking forward to the final test match on Sunday, knowing their team had grown in confidence over the previous two days. Still, Team USA now knew the Irish way of playing and played tactically to make things more difficult. Team talks and coach Debbie’s positivity paid dividends and players gave their all.

In three chukkas out of eight, the Irish defended so well that the American team didn’t score a single goal. Coming into the last chukka, both teams were pumped; USA saved their best players and horses for a final push to win all three matches, and Ireland did everything they could to stop them.

Time ticked away and, to supporters, the six-minute Chukka felt like an hour, as USA scored four goals and pushed towards a draw, but Ireland fought back, scoring three goals to close with a final score of Ireland 21 and USA 18.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the very emotional Ireland camp, who will never forget the skill, passion and pride displayed by this amazing Junior Team.

Awards

Sophie Quirke was presented with both the Best Player and Horsemanship Awards. Maria Migasiewice won the Paul Johnston award for Best Playing Statistics in the Test Series. Eva Murrell won the Sportsmanship Award. Leah’s dad, Noel Peare, who was a very enthusiastic Goal Judge in all three test matches, was very deservedly presented with a prize for Best Supporter.

USA won the Test, but Ireland definitely finished on top, showing true grit and rewarding all who had supported them from the start of this exciting journey.

The Team extends many thanks for sponsorship and support from the IPA, Horse Sport Ireland, DPL Group, Crecora Mills, TRI and all who contributed to and got involved in the Fundraising Ballot and Auction at the Polocrosse Ball and the Fun Jumping Event in the North.

All these young polocrosse players have a big future ahead of them and will be well worth watching this coming season and in the years to come.