Cedar Cliff Colts at Wednesday practice in Dublin, Ireland.
Photos courtesy of Michael Preston/Global Football
by Jeff Fisher
It was practice NOT as usual Wednesday for the Cedar Cliff Colts and Penn Manor Comets. The two Pennsylvania schools are in Dublin, Ireland where they will open their 2014 against each other Friday night before a crowd that may be better versed in the other type of football…errr…futbol.
Both teams hit the practice field at University College Dublin with both squads slightly weary and jet-lagged following their respective trips across the Atlantic,
Penn Manor head football coach Todd Mealy talks with U.S. media covering the team in Ireland.
“We’ll go to sleep early,” said Penn Manor coach Todd Mealy after practice. “If you watched us at lunch time it would have looked like we’d have a really bad practice. These kids were tired and some of them slept at the lunch table and the coaches were tired. But they did a nice job changing gears. They were focused today and their attitude was near perfect.”
Both teams practiced on perfect grass fields at the UCD facility on an overcast and windy afternoon that doused light showers on the players at the end of each session.
“It’s fun,” said Cedar Cliff coach Colin Gillen, as his team headed to dinner, team meetings and a relaxing evening in the hotel. “It’s a great experience for the kids. I’ve been extremely pleased with the way they’ve handled things in terms of keeping a balance between experiencing a culture and knowing that we’re also here to do a job and focus on a football game.”
“They got a little bit of sleep on the plane and a number of them fell asleep on the bus when we were touring, which was understandable. Then we came out here and practiced, so I’m sure most of them are gassed, as we are as coaches. We’re just pushing through because we’ve got to get through regardless.”
Friday’s game is a repeat of a 2013 PIAA playoff clash that saw Penn Manor win 35-34 having recovered from a 21-point deficit.
Cedar Cliff head coach Colin Gillen looks on as Colts practice in Ireland.
“The Cedar Cliff game is something special,” said Comets coach Mealy. “This is the first time we’re playing in the regular season. We’ve played two years in a row in the playoffs. It is two well-coached teams and we usually play each other at the end of the year and now we’re playing each other in the first game of the season. It is going to be a really good game.”
You can watch the game streamed live on Aertv Sportslive for $10.
Cedar Cliff Colts work-out in Dublin Wednesday.
Penn Manor Comets practice in Dublin.
