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Mike Hughes asked me to post as he is having problems
accessing the CELT Notesfile ....
The above statement is a total and complete lie, and so is
just about everything else that you are about to read. :=)
GALWAY ALL-IRELAND HURLING CHAMPIONS vs. BANK OF IRELAND ALL-STARS
Roving-Reporter at the match: "THe Snake" (GAOVO7::MHUGHES)
Venue "Dilboy Stadium, Somerville Massachusetts U.S.A."
Raw, tough, uncompromising, wicked, and fiery, (are all terms
that Paddy Culbert does not know the meaning of, (but maybe with a little
luck his brother Jimmy will explain them to him) and that can be applied
here in an effort to describe the exchanges that took place in the cauldron,
that Dilboy Stadium can be on the first Sunday in May. THis reporter will
differ from many in my assessment of this struggle, for I bear witness to a
clash of stern titans that asked no quarter (It was $10 to get in) and little
was given. Some will say that the hurling was not spectacular, (Who said that)
I will say that there is a time for frills in hurling and a time for ruggedness.
Some will say that there should have been more scoring, but who cares what they
think for I will say that there are times when the score is incidental to the
swaying fortunes on the field of honour.
For yesterday, to grace the green sward of Dilboy Stadium, you had to be
a tough master of your art. The All-Stars, the older team, were determined
to take this match from their erstwhile pupils, Galway, and they were intent
on doing it in the rugged fashion that only All-Stars know how.
The die was cast in the opposing dressing rooms before this game,
and some could argue (and usually do) that this die was cast in the aftermath
of Galway's defeat of the "All-Girl" Erin Og Camogie team, in 1986.
That defeat galvanised the All-Stars, and if that defeat stung the
quick, then retribution could be visited upon the Galwaymen,
whose penchant for paupered "Female Mud Wrestling" was well remembered.
THe elements contributed to this witch's brew with a steady precipitation,
(for George Darcy ...that means RAIN) that ceased its lacrimony (you can look
that one up yourself) about 10 minutes before the beginning of the match.
The surface was slippery as a result, a nicety that was viewed with some
circumspection (It's not what you think Mike Foley) by the Galway followers.
Almost 66,000 (actually approx 4231 people turned up and most/all were either
friends or relations of Pat Manning) for this G.A.A sponsored match.
The combination of Maroon & White for Galway and the waspish Green & White for
the All-Stars, rendered the packed terraces and stands a riot of
colour.(Mike Foley wore his Cork colored Superman "Under-Roos", and Mikes mother
Phyllis hoped they were clean, incase her boy'o was involved in an accident).
The All-Stars had been allocated the "Somerville side" pre-match ticket
distribution, with Galway supporters (a.k.a. The Maroon) blanketing the
"Medford" end. (For you Non-Bostonians, Medford is pronounced "Med-fid")
From the throw-in, the ball was driven down towards the Galway
goal by Pat Fox, then cleared out by Steve Mahon over the
side-line under the Hot-Dog Stand. (I think the ball may have actually hit a
U-Haul truck that in the carpark closeby) An "off the ball" (ouch) incident
between Galway's McInerney, and The All-Stars Nick English took place.
Whether this was a "softening" up approach, after the fashion of
World War 1 artillery prior to an assault, I could not tell, but
enough police were on hand to have punished the misdemeanour
but no action was taken. THe stage was well and truly set. The
tension filled atmosphere defies description (except for the comments
that were always available from a "Kerry Supporter" seated behind us.)
He once noted that a Galway player had jumped so high for the ball,
that the Galway player almost forgot to come back down" .....
Suffice to say that to feel it, one would have to have been there,
(makes since to me) and to endure it was ordeal enough for most spectators,
except for Ann O'Neill and Una Quinlan who chose to retire to Johnnie "D's" Pub
in Davis Square and wait for the match to be televised on Wide World of Sports.
It is said by George Darcy that one can successfully combine, making sandwiches,
phoning distant relations and painting portraits,(that sounds tricky to me)
while watching a game of American football, but hurling demands more sterling
stuff of its followers as Paddy Culbert can attest to.
Paddy Culbert became highly confused when he was told by Willie O'Farrell that
the score was 1-0 to 0-2 and that 1-0 was winning !!! THis tension, fuelled by
the intensity of the rivalry, and aided and abetted by the
slippery surface, led to some exchanges that can be generously
described as, The Clash of the Ashe. Both sides were guilty of some bone-
crushing tackles, and I was hoping keVin Burns would be called in as
substitute player, (He even wore his " Clare Hurling Jersey, which he had
purchased last year in Ennis), however, it was obvious that The All-Stars
were hell bent on ensuring that no latitude would be afforded the fleet
footed Galway forwards.
Galway's defence was in top form, and the much talked about reports of weak
positions of fullback (C.Hayes) and right-fullback (S.Linnane)
were proved completely wrong. However the ascendancy of the
The All-Stars defence was placing the Galway rearguard in a state of
siege. The All-Stars were struck by the blight that was more
reminiscent of Galway on those occasions and this reporter
counted five missed opportunities, that should normally have been
good scores. Brendan Lynskey was the main culprit and though he was
to score six points from frees, his wayward hurley in the first
half was leaving many dumbfounded. But dumfoundit and returned it.
It was Galway that took first blood with a well struck long free from
Peter Finnerty, after almost four minutes had elapsed. Eanna Ryan had
another good game in Mid-field as had his partner Pat Malone, and though
they had the measure of Richie Power and Ger Fennelly, it was the All-Stars
that had the better of the exchanges in the first half. They failed
to capitalise on their chances and instead of being four points
to the good in a low-scoring tussle, they went in to half-time
with a one point deficit Galway 0-5, The All-Stars 0-4.
During half-time, the mood was as overcast as the threatening
cloud-base so I had to borrow an umbrella for wimpy Paddy Culbert.
There was much to ponder and reflect upon. Questions like Where's the "BEER" ,
and "Has Anyone Seen Kevin Farrington" could be heard ringing throughout
the staduim. THe first-half had been hard, and at times savage.
The protagonists went about their business impervious to the whims of spectators
and scribes. THey had set themselves to their task like men
possessed, and they were was nobody going to pay deference to
ceremony. THe All-Stars had got their ingredients right, they were
taking the game to Galway in a fashion that was the demise of
many Galway teams before them. Yet they had not drawn the
dividends of their labours. Galway were more of a puzzle, they
had weathered a lot of The All-Stars pressure and though they had not
sparked into life in their customary manner, they were in front,
due almost entirely to uncompromising defence. My own feelings
were that could the All-Stars maintain their tight control on the
game, and get their forwards on target that Galway were for the
long lonely road home. THe Galway forwards apart from Joe
Cooney, and Brendan Lynskey, were unable to match the fire of
their opponents, and it must be said that Conor O'Donovan, and Brendan
Keeshan of The All_Stars, had reduced Cunningham, and Eanna Ryan of
Galway to the role of boys, sent on men's errands.
FRom the throw-in the second half opened with a nice point from
Ger Fennelly, that augured well for a more open second half.
Galway replied a minute later with a typical Galway point from
Cunningham. Two Minutes later Martin Naughton got away from his
marker for the first time in this game to score a terrific point
out on the wing. Steve Mahon contributed another point from 50
yards out that restored the Galway lead of one point. The All-Stars
levelled the scores again with a point from the 22 yard line and
a minute later went in front when Ger Fennelly punished a Conor
Hayes misdemeanour. THe game was on a knife-edge, the pendulum
of fickle fate was swinging wildly. WEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
A goal, one felt at this stage would break the deadlock. Who would crack first
was the burning question that was wasting the fingernails on the sidelines,
and the knuckles on the field. Joe Cooney, first restored the equity of
matters, and then sent Galway back into the lead from two frees.
Galway replaced Naughton, with Noel Lane, who went in at full forward for
Joe Cooney, who had previously switched with Lynskey; Cooney moving to the 40
yard line to take Naughton's position. We had no idea "who was who" anymore.
Finnerty scored a fine point again from play after Lane and Cooney had drawn
the defence. Galway were starting to get a grip on matters, and had moved into
a two point lead.
Then the All-Stars threw in two tremendous surges at the Galway goal
in an effort to break the deadlock with a goal. John Commins in
the Galway goal silenced many of his critics by effecting two
reflex saves that should normally have been morale-breaking
goals. THere were twenty minutes left and the All-Stars were throwing
down the gauntlet, and as we all know, gauntlets are pretty hard to find in
this part of the United States. Substitute James Shanahan from Clare scored a
nice point from play to put the All-Stars back within one point of their
opponents. In the sixtieth minute, Lynskey was brought down in
front of the the All-Stars goal and he broke his hurley, which was quickly
retrieved by Frankie Culbert,and Galway's two point lead was
restored. Galway had shown signs of getting a grip on this
contest but there was nobody willing to predict the outcome, except the
"Kerry Supporter" who quite often displayed a unique form of E.S.P.
Ie: "Its a Goal" or "Over the Bar" even BEFORE the shot was taken.
Molloy was substituted for Cunningham with 17 minutes of play
remaining. Then for the first time in the game Eanna Ryan got
possession on his own sixty yard line, and haring downfield, he
covered sixty yards unchallenged, before losing control. THis is also
a typical example of how George Darcy Drives his car !!!.
Joe Cooney latched onto the loose ball, and drew three All-Star
defenders. Cooney, thrusting through, cross-field, on the 21
yard line fired a hand-pass to Noel Lane who was lurking on the
edge of the box. From 12 yards, Lane fired a hard shot low into
the corner that was blocked by Kevin Fennelly, but the block was
only enough to take the sting out of the shot, and the ball
trickled over the All-Star goal-line. The Galway outburst was
unrestrained. THe breakthrough had come at a vital time, with 8
minutes left of play. Galway were five points in front. Although
the All-Stars strove bravely to regain the initiative, and they
mounted many storming attacks, they were thwarted time and time
again by a virtuoso display from Gerry McInerney, and a towering
display from Finnerty and Keady in the Galway half-back line.
Tony Keady struck an enormous blow on the sliothar when in the
63rd minute he scored a point from well over ninety yards. This
was to be the final score in as tense and tough a match as one is
likely to ever see in Dilboy Stadium, with the final score being :
Galway 1-12 Irish All-Stars 0-9
There are those who would have preferred more spectacular fare,
(and Porter) but they may not understand the stark reality
of the task in hand. One Paddy Downey (Irish Times) had this to
say "Thirty amateur players, striving with might and main for an
all out victory - their sole objective - are not obliged to
concern themselves about the entertainment of spectators." A
sentiment to which this reporter concurs (I think). In spite of the
ferocity of battle witnessed in Dilboy Stadium, there were no
injuries, apart from the usual bruises and abrasions that go hand
in hand with this game. The worst aspect was the potential for
serious injury that was in evidence, but hurling is not a game
that would grace the rarefied atmospheres of a Wimbledon, or
Lords, neither is it a game that shares the same stage as lawn
darts or croquet. No this game is for men of steel like
construction, a special kind of courage, skill that borders on
art, and stamina and speed that are rarely seen.
We saw those yesterday, and it must be said that both sides
played to their ultimate in every department that this game asked
for. Two fit, and battle-worn teams did battle for the victory.
One won, deservedly, the other was beaten but not without
displaying their customary heart and fire. The All-Stars were
disappointed in defeat while Galway were ecstatic in victory.
Gerry McInerney was singled out for his spectacular catches and
relieving clearances as man-of-the-match. It was a game that was
dominated by both defences, with the younger legs of the
Galwaymen triumphing in the end.
For many years many doubted the ability of Galway to take their
just harvest of hurling matches, though none doubted their
consummate skills. Galway folks themselves often speculated about
whether they had the mettle to wrest a match from the traditional
strongholds of the game, South Boston, Tipperary or Clare. Galway
people wanted to win one match (For the Gipper) from any of those greats,
to lay the ghost of an inconsistent past.
P.S If you believe that Mike Hughes was here in Boston for the match,
please contact me as I have a bridge in New York that I would like to
sell to you at a very fair price. :=)
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