Amsterdam Claim Historic Double!!

Amsterdam GAC are celebrating this week, after becoming the first ever club to do the Benelux Double and win both the Benelux Championship title and Benelux Shield title at the same time!!


Coming into the fourth and final round of the Benelux League in Maastricht on Saturday July 28th, Amsterdam shared top spot of the Benelux Championship table with Luxembourg, both on 58 points.

Despite missing 8 first team regulars, Amsterdam still boasted a strong A team, and after a tough opening match against Belgium, Amsterdam launched into top gear, and dispersed of Luxembourg and Den Haag, and marched into their 3rd consecutive Championship final of the year.


With Luxembourg surpassing Belgium on scoring difference for the other spot, the final was set for Amsterdam v Luxembourg, with both the Maastricht tournament cup, and the overall Benelux Championship title on the line.

Despite strong opposition from Luxembourg, Amsterdam raced into an early lead after scoring three goals within the opening minutes led by great performances by forwards Fergal Walsh, Kenny Monaghan Simon Palmer, and Stephen Cleary.


From then on, while Luxembourg battled hard, the result was never really in question, and Amsterdam came out the winners by 10 points, and claimed the 2012 Benelux Championship title.

Earlier in the day, the Amsterdam B team faced up to opposition from Belgium, Dusseldorf, and Maastricht in in the Shield competition. Amsterdam went into the final tournament on top of the overall league, 5 points ahead of Belgium. This led to a dramatic match during the day between the two sides to decide the title.

With both teams going in at half time level on scores, the second half turned out to be a cracker, with Belgium taking a four point lead and holding onto it for most of the second half. However a resurgence through superb defence by captain Jack Gorman and Ruairi Lehmann, and excellent scoring by half-forwards Conor Burke and Aidan Hartigan meant the four point lead by Belgium was turned around by 6 consecutive points by Amsterdam, and the 'Dam went on to claim the overall Benelux Shield title.


So with the Benelux League finished for another year, both Amsterdam A and Amsterdam B can celebrate at claiming a unique double with both titles heading to the Dam.

All eyes are now on the Pan-European Tournaments this Autumn, where further success awaits!!