Carrickmacross Rovers under 16 squad, team coach Francis Matthews with coaching assistants Peter Maxwell and Gary Mc Carthy were in France for the third in a series of inter club games with Twin Town Club DC de Carhaix. The group, accompanied by Carrickmacross Town Mayor Noel Keelan, Town Twinning Committee President Michael Mc Mahon, Twinning Committee Member Maurice Gowan and parents of some of the players, had a most enjoyable weekend from Friday, October 28th to Tuesday, November 1st.
DC de Carhaix Club Officers treated us to a free bus and admission to a French National League match EA Guingamp v Angers SCO in Guingamp. The atmosphere at the game was electric with corporate hospitality at half time making it an unforgettable evening. Saturday was a rest day with a civic reception at the Town Hall, a light training session, some sight seeing and a dinner hosted by Carhaix Town Twinning Association.
The Twinning Cup inter club match Carrickmacross Rovers v DC de Carhaix took place on Sunday. The teams, despite the fact that a number of DC de Carhaix were a year older than our boys, were well matched. The quality of the contrasting styles of football was excellent with DC de Carhaix coming out on top by three goals to two.
On Monday there was a series of seven a side mini tournaments followed by bowling and swimming, saunas etc in the outstanding facilities in Carhaix. The activities concluded with a beef bourguignon meal hosted by DC de Carhaix Football Club.
After a short 1hour 20-minute flight home from Nantes to Dublin all agreed that it was another great success. French families who hosted the team and supporters were all delighted to have us in their homes and look forward to coming to Carrickmacross in 2012.
Mayor Keelan and the adults who accompanied them praised the boys highly for representing their club, families, town and country so remarkably well.
