Hard work,decency,talent and application bring their own rewards.Bit like prayer really.Never wasted.Take this as read from an unholy Joe.
This August Bank Holiday weekend the grafting classes here defied the odds and withered the tumble weeds at germination.
Not once,not twice but thrice.and counting.
First we have three lads,Christy Coogan,paddy Kenneally and Alan Garry on the Meath Minor Football panel.
On Sunday evening they beat a good Tyrone team by the minimum due to a last minute goal by Stephen Coogan,who played start to finish at full forward.He had an exceptional first half scoring four points from play.That he is here at all is a minor miracle in itself.His father Christy emigrated to America in the hungry eighties where he met Denise O Reardon ,whose family had also emigrated there from Cork.They hooked up there and drawn by the irresistible lure of the soil returned to rear their family here.I would say that they were economically disadvantaged in relocating here,but like all true children of the soil are rooted in a community they love with a passion.
Alan Garry has two brothers in exile in Australia,two hard working goosons who would gladly work here were the economic gobshites who destroyed this countryeven half competent..He has cousins and uncles all over the globe.He is proudly carrying a family GAA tradition on his capable shoulders.He wasn't called into action on Sunday but as a team is only as good as its panel this is still an honour.
Paddy Kenneally was introduced as a sub on the forty in the second half .He played well after a thundering welcome onto the pitch from his opponent.His Kerry father will take some consolation from this victorty and I would say it will help sooth the pain of Kerrys defeat to Donegal.This family ,who are relatively recent arrivals to the Parish choose Dundery as their base brecause of its grounded application of the Gaelic ehtos.
Meath meet Mayo next and have realistic expectations of advancing.According to my source ,who was at the game and has been at them all,this is a good and improving team and can go the whole hog .Dublin are exceptional I am told ,but hey Kerry were bet in the Senior and Meath are improving by the new time.Everything is possible.
The presence of our lads on the team leaves a warm glow in Dunderry hearts all over the world not only here.There are toasts being raised in Australia,America,England and even the United Arab Emirates .
Secondly the high profile sports man,T.V.and print pundit,School master and famed All Ireland winner ,Colm O Rourke ,has found time, at no cost to the Club, to put our lads through their paces this(Monday) evening,Not one person in Dunderry would make little of him for supporting the Quinn family last week ,nor would anyone here sniggeringly nor sneeringly refer to Quinn as the "son of Brian" and sneer at Quinn nor O Rourke as was done by some of the gob shites on Charlie Bird's radio show on Sunday.Conversely we would pray that someone of Quinn's stature would come to create jobs to stop the advance of the tumbleweeds.Some of these commentators are beginning to sound like the comic character Judge Dread incapable of sprouting anything other than the "The law is the Law."They were saying the same at the time of Jesus.Around here we "get "Sean Quin and Colm O Rourke,even our own blue shirts. We also"get" Sean Boylan ,another man who backed the Quinns ,and would be equally honoured were he to show his face here again.
Finally the Club organised a barn dance last evening in Geraghty's shed.Truth to tell money is fierce scarce around here with everybody,even those lucky enough to have State jobs.Those who could afford a mini blast supported the outing in numbers enough to make it a success in today;s terms.The upside for those who like a jar is that they get a buzz now after about two drinks such is their lack of practise due to the lack of cash.Great for the punter Id say but not so good for the publican.
But those who went made the best of it.
All in all a glimpse at the rainbow.
P.S.Val Andrews who managed Louth and Cavan is a grandson of John Newman ,after whom the pitch in Bohermeen is named.His daughter is Val's mother and her brother James played football with Dunderry at the same time as my uncles Joe and Paddy.John is buried in the Black Church in Meadstown,Dunderry .
Another Dunderry disciple you might say.
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