Irish team puts in respectable showing at medical football championships

The Beechfield Irish Medical Masters football team competed in the European Medical Masters Championships in Barcelona from 21-23 May. The tournament was open to doctors over the age of 45 and is a seven-a-side competition. The Irish squad was made up of 21 doctors from a wide variety of specialities including, paediatrics, surgery, respiratory medicine, general practice, emergency medicine, obstetrics, medicine for the elderly, ophthalmology, anaesthesiology, microbiology, and radiology. 

Ireland had excellent wins against Great Britain, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. A 1-1 draw with Lithuania and narrow defeats to Hungary and the eventual champions Spain made up the other results. 

Galway GP Eamonn O’Shea was the top scorer for Ireland with seven goals before succumbing to a hamstring injury. A number of doctors made their Irish Masters debut including Wexford Microbiologist Brian Carey and Surgeon Mark Grannell, who both marked their debuts with goals. There were strong debuts too for Tallaght Geriatrician Sean Kennelly; Temple Street Surgeon Alan Mortell; Beaumont Geriatrician Alan Martin; Ophthalmologist Eddie Dervan; and Steve Karagiannis of Skin Check Ireland. Santry Clinic Radiologist Joe Coyle also started his Masters career in impressive style. Respiratory Physicians Brian Casserly (Limerick) and Liam Doherty (Cork) were also to the fore. 

The new players were ably assisted by some veterans of the European and World Masters football. 

Cork-based Anaesthesiologist Attila Bondar weighed in with an impressive four-goal haul, whilst his colleague John Browne also got amongst the goals from midfield. Dublin Obstetrician Tom Walsh scored twice while Alan Mulgrew (Respiratory Medicine, Bons, Tralee) added his energy to midfield. Greystones GP Tom Finnegan scored two great goals including a diving header to help see off the mighty Germans. Experienced defenders and veterans of previous tournaments, Frank O’Brien (Urology, Cork), Jimmy Lyons (Anaesthesiology, Waterford), also had great tournaments. Goalkeepers Tomas Breslin (Emergency Medicine, Dublin) and Mark Rogan (Respiratory Medicine, Waterford) also played key roles. 

The entire Masters squad are hugely indebted to James Gargan and his team at Beechfield Healthcare and Beechfield Sleep for their very generous sponsorship for this tournament. Both the Masters and the Junior Irish medical football teams will shortly begin preparations for next year’s World Medical Football Championships with 40 doctors teams from around the globe expected to compete. 

Any doctor who is keen to play should get in touch. Anyone wishing to sponsor Irish medical football can also contact us at: irishmedicalfootball@gmail.com or speak to any member of the squad.