Conference tallis::celt

    
    farewell keVin...  will you be off to Galway for r&r before the next
    assignemnt?
    
    Gary  (who's leaving the 17th)

    
    Sad day....very sad day.
    
    Some of the best and wildest sessions were had..Clare,galway..achill
    Boston and some other unmentionable ones!!!!!!..
    
    Get a modem so we can keep in touch..amd roll on October in dublin
    
    slainte
    
    Mick

    
    Ah Rose ...
    
    Roll on the Holy Hour !!!
    
    
    I'll be over in October to run the Dublin Marathon, or sooner if
    Clare meet Galway in the All Ireland ..   :-)
    
    
    keVin
    
    

  
It is sad to hear that you are goin, Kevin. Your witty and calming notes on 
sometimes volatile exchanges will be missed.

When next in Galway give me a call. I can be contacted here at the plant as I;m 
not sure where next I'll be pitching my tent.

Ride on... See you,

Des. 

    keVin
    
    Why not be a devil and come over for the Munster Final;-)
    
    Go ndeireadh an b�thar leat!
    
    Dermot

    
    Good luck, I'm sure we'll meet in the NNE area before the Dublin
    marathon.
    
    take care

    See you Banner Man.  All the best...
    
    Give it shtick!
    
    /g   

    ...wheres the going-away party?

    
    KeVin,
    
    You'll be sadly missed in this file and in the company.  So often
    throwing a dose of reality on the blind passions often expressed here.
    But more than that, I'll miss having you around as a friend.  You've
    been like a big brother with all your help with street directions
    and trip planning, etc!
    
    Take good care of yourself and the family.   I'm sure we won't be
    strangers.....I'd never let you off that easy! :)
    
    /jen
    

    keVin,
    
    very sorry to hear about this, you've been a great source of calm in
    this conference and I've enjoyed your many contributions.
    
    All the best in your future endeavours.
    
    Joe.

       It's a sad moment for this conference, but a liberating one for
       Burns.  You'll be missed here by the doomed who remain, and you'll
       be valued wherever you wind up.
       
       --Mr Topaz

    OK, who's up for lunch tomorrow?  Let's get together somewhere between
    MKO and ZKO.  keVin's up for anything but Tobin's.
    

    Damn!!  And I didn't read his note until today!  I hope Mick Keyes is
    in touch with keVin, as I would like to be part of their gathering in
    Montr�al in July.
    
    Certainly a pity.
    
    Pat

    keVin can be reached on the net.  The following node strings worked for
    me.
    
    VBORMC::"[email protected]
    
    DECWRL::"[email protected]
    
    As far as I know VBORMC is located in Europe and DECWRL in the U.S.
    
    Sl�n
    
    Dermot
    
    P.S. Up Limerick!

    RE: .14  by SIOG::OSULLIVAN_D 
    
    >keVin can be reached on the net.  The following node strings worked for
    >me.
    
    >VBORMC::"[email protected]
    
    >DECWRL::"[email protected]
    
    Well, Dermot, if they worked for you, it's a miracle because you left
    off the " on the end.  ;-)
    
    If you're in the U.S. put US1RMC (for MA) or US2RMC (for NH) in front
    of the ::
    

    I can't believe it.  I've just joined DEC as a permie and I discover
    that keVin is gone.
    
    Who do I heap my abuse on now??
    
    I've tried contacting Seoirse, but no response.  Anyone else out
    there who I'd still know ??
    
    Bernard 

    I'm here Lad! Glad that you're back. We have a different cast 
    of characters today. Gone are Drotter, Burns, Snake, Ahern,
    Sullivan, Cockburn, et al.
    
    BTW, Did anyone see Drotter on page two of the (Boston) Herald
    the other day? Check your back issues. ;v)               
    
    
    Bernard what are you working on now?

    I'm in Video Interactive Information services.  Fun stuff with
    IMPOSSIBLE deadlines.
    
    I can't believe the list of those who have gone.  So who's left??
    At least you're still here, George.  We'll have to try one of
    those Waltham ceilis some time over the winter.
    
    Bernard

    
    Hey Bernard!
    
    Wow...it's been ages.  I'm still here too.
    
    Welcome back.  I hope you and Jackie are well!
    
    /jen
    

  re. .17

  Joe did a good job with the Peace Prize
  sign.  ITN had him on T.V. that night also.  

                Mark

I've just been mailed bombed by a guy called keVin.  He's alive and well, 
certainly judging by the amount of mail I've received from him today 
already, he is.

I look forward to seeing Limerick and Clare contest another Munster final
this year!  Whether Clare or Limerick win, I won't mind.  I think Clare 
deserve a crack of the whip, even if it has to be at the expense of
Limerick (my home county).

Howe about it Dermot O'S (who keVin was asking for)?

                            James.

    
    Well you get your wish..Limerick edged out Tipp by a point...very sad
    day indeed -) -)...Though it was a hell of a good match...close all the
    way through....
    
    I wonder will the munster final be televised???..
    
    Good to see the Monagahan men hammer Donegal..
    
    RGS,
    
    Mick

>    Well you get your wish..Limerick edged out Tipp by a point...very sad
>    day indeed -) -)...Though it was a hell of a good match...close all the
>    way through....

Magnificent result and thoroughly deserved IMVHO.  It was all the better
for on the way home on the train we were right across from a bunch of
Tipp supporters.  They couldn't reconcile that they had been beaten by the
better team and couldn't bring themselves to say anything positive about
the game, or the performance of Limerick's 18 heroes.  Very ungracious!  
They have had their day in the sun, now it's ours and Clare's.  God be with
the days when Cork and Tipperary had Munster to themselves.  Some people, 
it seems, haven't progressed into the 90's yet.  They say you see a
person's real character in defeat...I wonder.

I hope Limerick can win Munster but I wouldn't be at all sad if Clare made
the breakthrough (being that I'm married to a Clare woman).  If history
is anything to go by, Clare's chances against Limerick have to be minimal
given that they've lost, by large margins, their last three Munster final
meetings: 1955 (the year Clare beat both Tipp and Cork and still didn't win
Munster), 1981, and 1994.

Guess where I'll be, God willing, on 9 July around 3:45 P.M. :-).

                            James.

    
    Can't see Clare winning especially if Mr Kirby is on form...I would
    say in the cold light of day Tipp supporters will not be ungracious.
    after all it wasn't Cork that won..
    
    After all its so rare to see Limerick in a munster final.. even more 
    unusual to see them get to an All-Ireland...Am I right in thinking its
    '73 since they won one (when they got out of Munster by beating Tipp by
    a point that never was (Richie Benis sending the ball wide and it
    flagged as a point?? -) -)..poor len gaynor only stetched his arm out
    while yawning polaxing the umpire accidently..
    
    next year..next year....
    
    rgs,
    
    Mick 
    
    
    

>    After all its so rare to see Limerick in a munster final.. even more 
>    unusual to see them get to an All-Ireland...Am I right in thinking its
>    '73 since they won one (when they got out of Munster by beating Tipp by
>    a point that never was (Richie Benis sending the ball wide and it
>    flagged as a point?? -) -)..poor len gaynor only stetched his arm out
>    while yawning polaxing the umpire accidently..
 
Yes, 1973 was the year we last won the All-Ireland.  And as for the point
that never was, what about Babs and the dry ball in the famous 1971 Munster
final that Tipperary *stole* from Limerick.  I only saw the footage from that
game for the first time recently and was astounded that the goal was left
standing, after the stroke Babs pulled.

Basically:

Babs scored a goal late on in the game which meant that Tipperary won by a
point.  The controversy concerned the ball he used to score the winning goal.
The day has been very wet and both teams had been playing with a very heavy
sliothar.  Near the end, Tipperary got a close-in free.  Babs, or someone
else on the Tipperary side, had a brainwave and asked for a new ball from 
the sideline.  The ball duly came in and from the resulting free Babs stuck 
it to the net.  It was only afterwards that it was realised what Babs 
had done was illegal.  Now that is what I call gamesmanship!  It cost us
another All-Ireland as Tipperary went on to beat Kilkenny? in the final.

                           James.

    
    A fair goal it was...It was the speed of the ball generating such heat
    that dried it...Are you from Patrickswell ??.. It was those boys who
    were at fault for Jimmy doyle not getting more all-ireland medals..They
    broke his fingers during a friendly match with Thurles Sarsfields
    in '63...
    
    Mick
    
    
    
    
    
    

>    A fair goal it was...It was the speed of the ball generating such heat
>    that dried it...

That as they say is open to interpretation.

>    Are you from Patrickswell ??..

I'm from a place call Cappamore in East Limerick.  Our main claim to
hurling fame is that we provided 3 of the 1955 team that beat Clare in
the Munster Final, including the captain Liam Ryan who was only 20/21 at
the time.  Supposedly a great hurler whose career was shortened because
of a call to the priesthood (his father won two All-Ireland with Limerick
in 1918 and 1921).

>   It was those boys who
>   were at fault for Jimmy doyle not getting more all-ireland medals..They
>   broke his fingers during a friendly match with Thurles Sarsfields
>   in '63...

Are you telling me the Patrickswell men did it on purpose?  Hurling was 
tough those days.  My father played one junior match which he was 16/17
for the parish back in the mid-50's and lost 6 teeth in the first 15 
minutes.  It sort of put him off hurling for a long time after that :-(.
I think it was a case of doing onto others before they did it onto you!
Or as Willie-John McBride is reputed to have said: "Get your retaliation 
in first lads."

The hurling they play these days is a lot cleaner - on the whole - and
is also a lot faster, I'm told.  I wonder a lot how the intercounty teams 
of yesteryear would do against their current day counterparts?

                          James.

    
    
    It certainly is alot faster...a big focus on fitness and speed. Though
    no amount of speed can combat skill. Its good though that the older
    names live on. (for teams like Wexford its all the have!) 
    
    Safer too though not all players will wear helmets/face
    guards..Hence Anthony Crosse could lose an eye after last weeks match
    ..accidently mind you. However helmets take time to get used to and on
    a hot day with a point or two between sides..life and limb often take
    second place. The finger guards/glove are excellent though..although
    not perfect..The brother was using one last week and is nursing a few broken
    fingers.
    
    Only problem for kids is the cost involved with this equipment..Weaker
    counties don't seem to have a program in place to help subsidise the
    cost which means they won't progress..
    
    SHould be a good hard match between Wexford and Offaly on sunday..
    
    rgs,
    
    Mick
    
    
    
    
    

    re:21
    
    James,
    
    Didn't know you were a Cappamore man - I went to school with lads there
    in the 60s and remember the excitement (and more!) of inter-county
    hurling.  Cappamore must have been a senior team as we (Pallas) spent
    most of our time in Junior hurling.
    
    Tipp are a bit like the Brit rugby team - they feel superior to all
    others (/) ;-) and don't really believe they should be beaten by their
    inferiors.
    
    Anyway, looking forward to the Munster Final, Limerick hopefully but
    all the way behind Clare if they make it through.
    
    Slan
    
    Dermot

>the Brit rugby team

no such animal, I'm afraid.

Chris$pedant.

Dermot,

>    Didn't know you were a Cappamore man - I went to school with lads there
>    in the 60s and remember the excitement (and more!) of inter-county
>    hurling.  Cappamore must have been a senior team as we (Pallas) spent
>    most of our time in Junior hurling.

They were the great days of Cappamore hurling - county champions in 1954,
1956, 1959 and 1964.

If you were around in the 60's then you *must* have gone to Dromkeen
Ballroom?  My father was "the b*stard" who took the money at the door ;-).

>    Tipp are a bit like the Brit rugby team - they feel superior to all
>    others (/) ;-) and don't really believe they should be beaten by their
>    inferiors.

I think you do mean English/Welsh, don't you?  Surprisingly, Limerick's record
against Tipperary is quite good with only a few games more won by Tipperary
over the hundred years or so of competition.  It makes beating them all the
sweater when they take it so badly :-).

>    Anyway, looking forward to the Munster Final, Limerick hopefully but
>    all the way behind Clare if they make it through.

After seeing Offaly and Kilkenny play some very scrappy stuff yesterday, I 
think, Limerick, if we play to our full potential, are in with a great chance
of going all the way.  But first to the game in hand: Clare on 9 July.  The 
hunt for tickets is on.  If there are any floating around in Dublin, don't
forget me!

                            James.

    James
    
    Ah Dromkeen and the foggy windows in the car park;-)
    
    More often than not we were not allowed in as they had a strict
    apartheid scheme against the longhairs at that time (I wouldn't have a
    problem today!).  We used to wet it down, stick it in at the back of
    the collar etc. and all to no use of course.

Just to update you all as the Limerick lads seem to have lost their voices..too
much crowing over that victory over Tipp if you ask me!! :-)

Clare are the Munster senior hurling champions this year. In the second half
especially they played Limerick of the field, winning by 1-17 to 0-11. Clare's
goal was scored by their keeper from a penalty and he had a blinder in his main
role too.

Heh Mick....I was sitting beside Richie Bennis' uncle last Sunday in the local
Irish club watching the game...guess who I was rooting for. I was behind that
post in '73 and it was definitely wide...however no trial by camera in those
days. As for Tipp being ungracious in defeat...well we've had plenty of them
since '71 so we're used to it by now...just natural reaction in the immediate
aftermath of the match I'd say...pretty much the same as you Limerick guys now.
I wish keVin was around in Digital to see this day and I hope the Clare boys
don't go over the top in their celebrations (remember Munster 87) and go all the
way.

Sean

    Sean
    
    Clare deserved it from every angle.  What riled my was last year's
    (Tipp originating) comments about a 'mickey mouse All Ireland'.  Now
    lets hope Clare make better use of their opportunity than we did.
    
    -Dermot 
    
    P.S.  Funny how all the Clare people in the office came by last week;-)

    
    well well now...I would have expected to hear alot more from the
    limerick folk here...But I guess 'shame' is the only word that can
    come to mind..I had the pleasure of watching this game "live" (with Mr 
    Burns) and as you can imagine the celebrations went (are still) going
    on. Its really shocking to think that Tipp lost to a team that.........-)
    
    Then I suppose all pales when you look at the HAMMERING that the
    Kilkenny shower got yesterday from Offaly..Good team Offaly..strong
    defence...Conditions were pretty bad with alot of rain ..which suited
    the offaly folk as they are used to it...-)
    
    Any of our Northern friends know what this Down team are like???...
    
    rgs,
    
    Mick
    Mick
    
    
    

    <expected to hear a lot more from the limerick folk...
    
    Sorry to dissapoint you Mick, but we only gloat when we win ;-)
    
    -Dermot

RE: .35

> What is the down team like?

Mick,

Unfortunately they are just a little better than the Antrim team.

:-(

I was "down South" at the weekend and ended up going to the Kilkenny/Offaly 
game rather than Antrim/Down. Wasn't too impressed with either team although 
conditions weren't the best. Must say Offaly took some great scores and was 
glad to see them win.

I would like to say that Down are a really impressive team and Ulster hurling 
has arrived. They are a good side but I think the confidence factor is not 
there yet in Ulster for the Championship. A bit like the football in the 70's 
and 80's. Down could suprise and I hope they do but I won't have money on it!
The heart was there in the match for the local derby game but will Down bring 
it to Dublin with them?

Dermot

I am one Limerick man who has not lost his voice - probably because
there wasn't much to cheer about last Sunday week.  I am a little brow
beaten and depressed after last week's defeat by Clare but I will say
that Clare - on the day - deserved their win.  It was really wonderful
to see the emotions it released all over Clare during the week as a
result of their long awaited breakthrough. 

I'd say more than one grown man was moved to tears during the week by
the turn of events.  It can only be good for hurling to see Clare,
Down and to a certain - though decreasing - extent Offaly making
breakthoughs against more established counties. 

There still seems to be an insidious attitude amongst many
commentators to devalue the championship because of the lack of the
big three (Kilkenny, Tipperary and Limerick...sorry Cork) in the final
stages.  A comment like "Mickey mouse final" is but one manifestation
of this patronising attitude. 

It was a pity that I had to take down the big Green and White flag
that was flying over my cubicle for the past month.  I had been hoping
to keep it flying well into September but I suppose if anyone was to
beat us I'd much prefer that it was Clare.  Someone after the final
asked me if I'd prefer to be shaking the hand of a Tipperary/Cork man
after a Munster Final defeat?  No contest really I said... 

As my new personal names say: there is always next year.  I just wish
I had the confidence to predict that Limerick will be back next year!
Time will tell. 

                          James.

P.S. I've had a little nibble at 11/2 for Clare to go the whole way.
Galway are in for some hell of a fright in the semi-final and Offaly
will not get it as easy as they did yesterday in the final versus
Clare.

    
    11/2 for Clare!!!.....I don't know whether I am more shocked at the good
    odds you are getting or a man betting against his own team..-)
    
    Re Down.. Didn't one of the Down club teams do very well in the
    All-Ireland Club champtionship??..DunLoy (spell?). If I recall they
    had a hard match with the Birr folk from offaly..That could be an
    interesting match.....
    
    Slainte,
    
    mick
    

Mick,

You spelling is correct for Dunloy, however, your geography ain't so
good :-) Dunloy are an Antrim team and they took Birr to a replay of the 
All-Ireland Club Final. Unfortunately they were well beaten in the replay 
even though they should have won the original game.

What is your unbiased opinion of Hurling and Football Champions for this 
year?

I think I would go for a Leinster double, even though it would pain me!

Regards

Dermot

re .40,

completely off the topic, but you seem to have attached the conference file
"Celt" to your note.  This may confuse any KP7 fiends out there!
Cheers,

Chris.

re .38

>    11/2 for Clare!!!.....I don't know whether I am more shocked at the good
>    odds you are getting or a man betting against his own team..-)
 
I wouldn't be betting against Limnerick *if* they were still in the
Championship.  Since I'm married to a fair lady from Clare I can rightly
claim more than a passing interest in the fortunes of the county, and if
it can win me a few pounds at the same time then why not :-)?

                             James.

    
    Well We all have a price I suppose -).. That said there are limits -)
    We might agree on Offaly...A bet won Offaly would be "bad" money...would
    buy "bad pints"..
    
    very good program a few days go on RTE about the Sarsfields club in
    Galway who have won a couple of all-ireland club hurling championships
    back to back a few years ago. Club seemed to be made up of only a few
    families. Its amazing how you can get specific pockets of hurling skill
    even within counties...I know offaly is the same. One scene where they
    were refering to how hard, tough and dangerous hurling can be..Showed
    a player who had just had his skull split..Player is brought to the
    sideline and it looked for all the world like the trainer was stapeling
    his wounds to-gether...back out immediately !
    
    Dermot...
    
    Offaly for the hurling but the football will be hard to call..Meath are
    looking good this year..Whoever comes out of ulster will be hard also
    to beat
    
    rgs,
    
    mick

>    very good program a few days go on RTE about the Sarsfields club in
>    Galway who have won a couple of all-ireland club hurling championships
>    back to back a few years ago. Club seemed to be made up of only a few
>    families.

I missed that program but I heard that Joe Cooney's father was a howl.  The
man must be nearly 90, I'm told.  I did see this week's installment about
St. Partick's(?) in Cabra.  It goes to show that the GAA will always be
strong, if the local club scene is strong.

>   Offaly for the hurling but the football will be hard to call..Meath are
>   looking good this year..Whoever comes out of ulster will be hard also
>   to beat

Putting my head on the block I say Clare and Tyrone :-).

                           James.

                                                         
    James.
    
    That bet looking good......I would say some serious celebrations
    down in Clare after beating the galway men...very good second
    half..galway didn't seem vey fit.
    
    Dublin play Cork in the fottbal semi-final this dunday..the winners to
    meet tyrone. The dubs are favourites. should be goo
    rgs,
    
    mick

Mick,

> Tips - Tyrone and Clare

It's not looking too bad at the moment.  I've a few quid on Tyrone at
2/1.  That was before they beat Galway in the semi-final.  My main
focus of attention at the moment is the Sunday week clash and where to
dig up a ticket from.  Anyone out there with spares please call
822-4715 ;-).  Digital aren't doing any corporate catering for this
final are they? 

Clare won't be too happy with the choice of referee for the match I
think!  It's Dickie Murphy from Wexford.  If I'm not mistaken he was
the referee for the League Final and the Clare Semi-Final this year. 
On both occasions he did Clare no favours.  It's seems a bit strange
that the same referee gets the League Final, Semi-Final and Final of
the Championship, all in one year to referee. 

Clare are 6/4-13/8 with most bookies and I'm tempted to wade in (Alex
Bird like) at those prices.  I've heard/seen no build up surrounding
the match, as yet, even though I spent a good bit of my evenings
monitoring Clare FM and the Mist Covered Mountain!  Next week should
be something else.  Hopefully the week after will see the _mother of
all parties_ down in that area.  If I were a cow (of the bovine kind)
I'd be getting worried, for if Clare can pull this one off they
probably won't be milked again until after Christmas :-))))). 

I've been in touch with keVin and he's said that he won't be making it
back for the final.  That's a little disappointing as I was looking
forward to meeting him for the first time.  I've heard and read quite
a lot about him.  He says he will be there in heart.  He will be 
downing the pints someplace in Boston.

As to Clare's chances in the final itself, my heart says Clare but the 
hurling seems to be with Offaly, though on the day anything could and 
will happen (cf. Limerick painful capitulation last year when in a 
winning position).  Clare will have to play much more first time
hurling to beat Offaly.  They won't get the same time on the ball as
they did against Galway.  To a man, they will all have to play the
games of their lifes if they are to down the BIFFOs ;-).  (Don't ask 
what BIFFO stands for if you are an Offaly person since it's slightly 
offensive; I can never forgive ye for what ye did to us last year in 
the final.)

                          James.

Hindsight is great they say, isn't it!

More than a few pundits will be eating crow this week.  I'm looking
forward to seeing what slant they will put on Clare's success after
most of them had opined that Clare might as well not bother turning up
since Offaly would hurl them off the pitch.  If anything, it was the
other way around.

Which reminds me, I heard a vile rumour that keVin was seen wondering the
streets of Boston wrapped in a Saffron and blue flag late last evening.  
Hope he wasn't picked up for vagrancy ;-).

Roll on next year...there is always next year!

                             James.

    James,                        
    
    I think I must have got overconfident after reading your predictions
    for the Munster final:
    
    :If history is anything to go by Clare's chances against Limerick have
    to be minimal                
    
    : Limerick are in with a great chance of going all the way.
    
    The fact is that Clare have been underrated all the way, and i would
    not try to put a slant on it. If the game had gone on longer they would
    have gone further ahead. Just like Offaly would have against Limerick
    last year, don't you know :-)
    
    Kevin
    

Re -1

Touche!

                          James.

Just testing the notes interface
[Posted by WWW Notes gateway]