Ladies show how to tour

Last Friday afternoon the OC Ladies hit Dublin. Quite literally. Sarah Mann reports on a weekend which few will forget (actually, which even fewer are likely to remember anything about
Click here for the tour photos

Just as planned we all met at 3.30pm for a few beverages at the airport before the flight. Well... nearly all. Charli doing the classic, arriving last minute, and promptly downing two double G & T’s and a shot of baileys to catch and overtake the other girls. Poor Martin, the Irish gent who didn’t know what he had in store!

Arriving at Dublin slightly later than planned we piled in two taxis with several comments of “What is the time over here?” The accommodation was simple but perfect, especially the plastic covered duvets... "just in case"! Five in each dorm, each with a bathroom and breakfast included, and of course a blue and orange colour scheme! What more do you need?!

After a quick freshening up we headed out in our tour shirts - handcrafted by Snoops (thank you) - to Milanos, the Irish version of Pizza Express and had a lovely meal that hit the spot (and lined the stomach). Stuffed and content, off we went and found ourselves in The George - the biggest gay bar in Dublin, Lots of drink, and a major battle for the dance floor with the dancing queens! We had quite a fan club by the end of the night!

It was clear that this weekend was not going to be cheap; A Smirnoff Ice/or pint over £5 and a Vodka and orange a grand total of £9.10. Oh and be warned prices go up through the night!

On Saturday morning we nursed our hangovers and went for a wander around Dublin. At lunch we headed off to the train station all kitted out and ready to go, not doing a head count though and leaving Nikki at the hostel. Whoops! Lucy was awarded first dick of the day. With an awful hangover all ready for the big game a tactical chunder (or two) was in order followed by the comments “I feel much better”.

At Sutton train station we were met by some of the Irish girls who drove us to the pitch. We borrowed a nutty keeper called Leanne who did some fantastic saves. The game was evenly matched but sorry goalie we were not quite on form. Think we were playing in slow motion in the first half (despite a very good warm up of course!) The Irish ladies took an early lead, followed by a second shortly after from a well-drilled short corner. We definitely showed up for the second half however. A sweet short corner brought us back in the game at 1-2. We held possession well and kept our structure, using the new rules to get a quick ball through to Emma, who finished it off with a brilliant touch to score her first goal for OCs - the first of many I hope. The whistle blew at 2-2. It was a fair result.

Unsurprisingly I became the next dick of the day, and quite rightly for trying to remove one of our players heads on the hockey pitch. Sorry May! And was promptly issued with the Irish boxer shorts and Lepricorn hat.

After the match we were taken to The Bloody Scream in Howth on the sea front, of course the drinking started again as we all started topping up from the night before. The train journey back consisted of several members of the team attempting to poll-dance to the entertainment of the locals including the train security guard who was fully kitted with stab vest and baton. Where had Rosie taken us?

Tired and all needing a sleep we got back to the hostel and made ourselves beautiful. Two bottles of vodka and many games of SPOONS! later we were ready and left the hostel for some music and Irish dancing. Charli made the most of the microphone, many extra hits on the website yet Charli? How do you spell Tantric again?

From there I can’t remember where we went apart from saying it was a club of some variety - an annoying Aussie in tow - we headed off for more dancing, the Conga making an appearance with the whole club joining in, and a bit of dancing on the table after some turbo shandys of course! Unfortunately the story of the night was missed by many and with no photographic evidence ... I think what goes on tour stays on tour with that one!

I have to say well done to May, what a trooper, because even though her face was swollen and she had a cracking headache she battled on and was out into the small hours of the morning and not the first to leave!

On Sunday morning we were an absolute sight, hangovers galore and lost voices - the extra hour had been well used. We packed our bags and left our rooms. A bit of time left for a walk into town for some, who managed to be brought lunch by a very handsome American! The other half of us headed to the Guinness factory - for yes more alcohol!

Caz’s grandad’s uncle sister brother met us for a final pint at the airport, and then onto the flight we went, Charli and May catching the plane by the skin of their teeth. Snoozing for most and arriving on time, it was a great end to the weekend!
All in all a superb weekend, thank you Rosie from all of us. Munich here we come!