Update on Brian Clerkin’s team in Switzerland.
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SWISS UPDATE.

REPORT.

Zurich win hard fought local derby.

Zurich 4-18, St. Gallen Bears 4-13

This first ever inter Swiss club GAA exhibition game ended with the more experienced Zurich Inneoins holding out for a five points victory in a ding dong contest in Saalsporthalle, Sihlcity, Zurich on Sunday last . The weather for the game was truly brilliant with beautiful blue skies and 27 degrees and the fare lived up to the impressive surroundings amid the backdrop of the steep Zurich hills.

Zurich won the throw in and went straight for the kill with a Tony Buckley point. It looked like a statement of intent but Saint Gallen were eager to answer back to put down a marker of their own with a fine Stephen Murphy point to draw the game level. Zurich now showed their tactical nous and began dominating possession and racked up a very quick 1-4 with 1-3 coming from star forward Tony Buckley who beat former Harps man Brian Clerkin in the St. Gallen goals. Saint Gallen struck back for a point from Carndonagh, Co. Donegal man Diarmaid Gallagher and they pulled back two further points from sharp shooting Tipperary full forward Stephen Murphy to leave four points between the sides at that stage, 1-5 to 0-4. A point by Colm Lacey reduced the deficit further but by half time Zurich had extended their lead to six points, 1-11 to Saint Gallen’s 0-8.

The second half began with Saint Gallen pulling back two fine Stephen Murphy points to narrow the gap to four but Zurich soon countered with Tony Buckley rattling off a few more points and he had plenty of help from Wexford man Paul Colfer. Zurich then got a somewhat fortuitous goal when a dipping shot beat Saint Gallen keeper Brian Clerkin. Edinburgh native Davey Thomson netted two goals for st. Gallen and but for their Swiss goalkeeper Kaspar Zurich could have conceded a couple more. .

One point, Zurich 2-15, Saint Gallen 3-10, divided the sides going into the final ten minutes but Zurich struck for goals by Franz Hoeritzauer who hit a thunderbolt past the hapless Clerkin, quickly followed by another from Barry Dooney to put them eight in front, 4-15 to 3-10. Saint Gallen to their credit re-doubled their efforts to hit 1-3 courtesy of Fallon, Lacey and Murphy while Zurich players Dooney and Buckley blasted over a few late points to leave them relatively comfortable five point winners at the final whistle..

The St. Gallen Bears starting 11 prior to Last Sunday’s game. Goalkeeper Brian Clerkin in centre back row.

Teams and Scorers: Saint Gallen Bears: Brian Clerkin ( Monaghan), Mick Daly (Cork), Ciaran Mc Cabe (Sligo), Peter Cahill (Wexford), Raffi Hirt, Saint Gallen, Switzerland, Dermot Fallon, (Westmeath), Diarmaid Gallagher,(Donegal), Colm Lacey (Dublin), David Thomson (Edinburgh), John Hynes (Waterford), Stephen Murphy (Tipperary) James Sha- Stewart,(Edinburgh).
Saint Gallen Scorers: Stephen Murphy 1-7, Dermot Fallon 1-2, David Thomson 2-0, Colm Lacey 0-2, Diarmaid Gallagher 0-2.

Zurich Inneoins: Kaspar Dallenbäch (Bern, Switzerland), Gerry McEvoy (Longford), Jerry O’Sullivan (Kerry), Billy O’ Caoimh, Liam O Caoimh (Cork), Barry Dooney (Galway), Stephen Madden (Galway), Joe Marshall (Kildare), Brian Donegan, Brian Sheehy (Meath) Andrew Tuite (Meath) Tony Buckley (Cork) Franz Horitzauer (Down/Austria), Shukri Buzhala (France), Paul Colfer (Wexford) and Arjan Janssen (Switzerland)

Zurich Scorers: Tony Buckley 1-7, Franz Hoeritzauer 1-1, Barry Dooney 1-4,Stephen Madden 1-2, Paul Colfer 0-2, Brian Sheehy 0-1, Andrew Tuite 0-1.