On an idyllic Tuesday evening in Athboy these neighbouring teams squared up in the semi final of this competition.Clanns are not that long competing at Camogie at all so it is a feather in their cap to have reached this far in the competition,I didn't know what to expect from them but figured that they must be fairly good as bad teams don't advance that far.I had seen our team play before and was flabbergasted at the improvement in their play since last year.
This team has been together since they were eight years old and have enjoyed little success over the years but this year all the training under the expert tutelage of manager Suzanne Kelly (now Finnegan ) and selectors Caroline Duffy and Donie Mooney is sure paying off and they have turned inside out.
All three have skin in the game in that they have children playing and treat all the girls as if they were their own.Suzanne I trained myself since she was a kid and she was always top drawer.Caroline Daly was an outstanding player with Trim who we always beat those days,thank God and is a great addition to the Club.Donie is a great all round Gael from a family of Gaels of impeccable pedigree and all the girls are from well and long established GAA families.
All the players are respectful to their mentors and a credit to the Club.
I witnessed one of the best games I have seen this year and one which had the entire audience riveted to the very last puck of the ball.
Dunderry Team.
Rachel Duffy
Katie Duffy Hannah Helena Garry
Lauren Finnegan Deirdre Mac Hale Emily Lynch
Orla Daly Katie Buchanan
Sadbh Nelson Laura Cassidy Ellie Keenan
Grace Stenson Niamh Keaveney Kaylinn Mooney
Sub used .Katie Callaghan.
Dunderry are well able to hurl and have all the skills.They are physically strong up the middle and the entire team are full of fighting spirit .And so are Clanns.And a daughter of Graham Geraghty played at number 11 and is some hurler.She has plenty of support and was as dangerous as her auld fella was when she got a sniff of a loose ball.They dominated the first half and we got hard to settle.The defence was under tremendous pressure in the first quarter and it took great tenacity and bravery to hold out against a fierce Clann onslaught.From the goalie to both midfielders we held resolute and how a clatter of goals didn't rattle the onion bag is beyond me.But cometh the hour cometh the woman and Helena Garry gradually emerged as an unbreakable ford which Clanns could not forge.Following in the footsteps of her aunt Teresa Rattigan who was some player in her day.And the management did the master stroke and switched her on to the young Geraghty lassie and Helena won that battle hands down.Never the less we went in at half time down 1-3 to 0-1,the bold Helena scoring our solitary point.
The management rallied the troops and the lusty roar "one,two three Dundrrry " rose pheasants on the faraway bog.We were now playing into the town goal and immediately launched into attacking mode.There was an ever so slight uncertainty in the Clann defence and a long distance free found its way into the Clann net.Game on.
Then an event you might not see in a lifetime's game watching.One of the Clanns better players got possession at the midway line proceeded to jink through our lassies forgot the change of ends and scored an absolutely brilliant own goal.God help her but these things happen.She was a brilliant player before this and remains a brilliant player .
But our lassies smelled blood and raised their game in every department and added a third goal .
It took Clanns some time to get their act together but they did rise again and reeled in a goal and a point to draw level at the cusp of time.Grace Stenson scored a goal I think and either Orla Daly ,Katie Buchanan or Katie Callaghan ,a half Kilmessan woman and the spit of her young mother when she hurled ,scored the other.(With helmets on it is hard at times to recognise the players.).
Extra time so ,ten minutes each half.
Now it was Clanns time to exert pressure and our defence were again stubborn in their resistance and held out against fierce pressure.We were lucky to draw a point apiece at full time.
It was down to willpower now and we rose to the challenge.Again the weakness in the Clanns defence appeared..We rattled in 1-3 to their 0-1 and and deservedly so.And the joy was unbridled and proper order.
On the day Helana Garry was our best by a whisker.
Granny.Grandad,Daddy ,Mammy,and grandchildren Mooney ,true blues all were on a high.
This management team is excellent and know their onions.
All the girls and the subs should take a bow.Some team.
This Sunday at 11.00 a.m. they play Kildalkey in the Final at the same venue.
Bring it on. agus beidh me ann.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Heffo's Mini Army on the March.
As a Dub I totally admire what Kevin Heffernan did for Dublin Football and thought that his name was unique.I have since learned that he was not the sole proprietor of that name.There resides in our Parish another Gael with this moniker.This man is a native of Limerick and is putting in and has put in considerable time and effort into the promotion of hurling at underage level in our Club.
I know him and have often seen him training the younger kids in the pitch.It is easy to see that he is steeped fully in the universal ethos of the GAA and is no johnny come lately into our traditions.
He gives as much time and attention to the weakest players as to the strongest,always the mark of a true Gael,man , and Club man.
I had the great pleasure lately of stumbling in to the pitch lately and was totally entranced by the skills and effort of this team in winning through the semi final of this Shield competition against a game Drumree Team.
I promised myself I would go to the Final if possible.
And last Monday week ( 19/05/2014) I faced a fierce dilemma.The under 12 Shield Final between Rathoat and Dunderry was on at 7.00 p.m.in Kilmessan.
Dunderry were playing the same Club at 7.30 in Dunderry in Intermediate Hurling and a son of mine is captain .And a daughter Mags was playing Intermediate Camogie with Navan O Mahonys against Kilmessan in Navan at 7.30.And I had a crucifying chest infection and other health issues.
Anyhow I decided to go to a bit of each and see how it would develop.
So first I headed for the Shield Final in Kilmessan,Got there about 10 minutes before half time on a hateful and overcast evening.Drizzle and damp and not nice.
Met a few of our older kids heading with hurleys to the hurling wall in Kilmessan.Dream on Daithi.Will we got one ?
Then saw the life blood of the GAA at active duty in Kilmessan.There were a half dozen Kilmessan men bursting themselves replacing the netting behind the upper goal.In the rain and no bother.Fair dues.
Back to the game.First any score carries the same value,Goal or point all the same.And HEffo ,and his able assistants,Hickey and Gallagher were prowling the line with intent.
All had skin in the game,in that they all had kids involved.
IT is a mark of a team that if you are happy for your own kid to play with it is worth having.And this team is worth having.
The players involved were :-
Jack Fagan,
Daire O Leary.
Mark Coffey,
Niall O Leary,
Connor Mulligan.
Cormac Heffernan.
Lee Walsh,(Capt )
Issac Mc Keever,
T.J.Loughran,
Rachel Duffy,
Ryan Walsh,
Kane Lewis,
Cormack Hickey.
Oisin Heffernan,
Diarmuid Heffernan,
William Tracey,
Ben Feeney,
Aaron O Connor.
There was a fair crowd there from Dunderry.I spotted Freda ,who still hurls with our Camogie team egging on her son and nephew.And a clatter of others.
The game was a ding dong affair between two skillful and competitive teams cheered on with enthuasism by their parents..From where I stood the Dunderry mentors questioned the referee not at all whereas some of the Ratho supporters were too vociferous.Not great example to young kids.
On the field of play there was very little between them but our defence was under fierce and sustained pressure much of the time but defended like tigers,
We are strong up the middle but so were they,
All our players are skillful and gutsy.No cowards here.
We went in ahead by 4 scores to three as far as I could see.
In the second half there was huge effort put in by both sides and the defence was again magnificient.
It is clear that the mentors know full well how to place a team to full advantage as the lads up the middle were all outstanding and were marginally better and more skilful than the opposition.
I could pick out a few for special mention but don#t like doing this at such a young age.But believe you me there are some wonderful players on view and all are a great credit to the Club.
From what I can see they are all from long established GAA families and are well integrated into the ethos of our Club.
They won by 9 scores to 5 scores
After they went back to the Clubhouse in Dunderry and were given a standing ovation by the Intermediate Hurlers who were also victorious.
Good enening for Dunderry.
It escapes me how it was not possible to have both games in the same venue.I would like to have seen both matches as would all the players involved I am sure.
As a matter iof interest Mags team also won.
On a personal level I would like to compliment the mentors and families for producing such a well mannered ,respectful competitive and skillful bunch of children for our Club.From the four corners of the Parish Ye should be proud.
I know him and have often seen him training the younger kids in the pitch.It is easy to see that he is steeped fully in the universal ethos of the GAA and is no johnny come lately into our traditions.
He gives as much time and attention to the weakest players as to the strongest,always the mark of a true Gael,man , and Club man.
I had the great pleasure lately of stumbling in to the pitch lately and was totally entranced by the skills and effort of this team in winning through the semi final of this Shield competition against a game Drumree Team.
I promised myself I would go to the Final if possible.
And last Monday week ( 19/05/2014) I faced a fierce dilemma.The under 12 Shield Final between Rathoat and Dunderry was on at 7.00 p.m.in Kilmessan.
Dunderry were playing the same Club at 7.30 in Dunderry in Intermediate Hurling and a son of mine is captain .And a daughter Mags was playing Intermediate Camogie with Navan O Mahonys against Kilmessan in Navan at 7.30.And I had a crucifying chest infection and other health issues.
Anyhow I decided to go to a bit of each and see how it would develop.
So first I headed for the Shield Final in Kilmessan,Got there about 10 minutes before half time on a hateful and overcast evening.Drizzle and damp and not nice.
Met a few of our older kids heading with hurleys to the hurling wall in Kilmessan.Dream on Daithi.Will we got one ?
Then saw the life blood of the GAA at active duty in Kilmessan.There were a half dozen Kilmessan men bursting themselves replacing the netting behind the upper goal.In the rain and no bother.Fair dues.
Back to the game.First any score carries the same value,Goal or point all the same.And HEffo ,and his able assistants,Hickey and Gallagher were prowling the line with intent.
All had skin in the game,in that they all had kids involved.
IT is a mark of a team that if you are happy for your own kid to play with it is worth having.And this team is worth having.
The players involved were :-
Jack Fagan,
Daire O Leary.
Mark Coffey,
Niall O Leary,
Connor Mulligan.
Cormac Heffernan.
Lee Walsh,(Capt )
Issac Mc Keever,
T.J.Loughran,
Rachel Duffy,
Ryan Walsh,
Kane Lewis,
Cormack Hickey.
Oisin Heffernan,
Diarmuid Heffernan,
William Tracey,
Ben Feeney,
Aaron O Connor.
There was a fair crowd there from Dunderry.I spotted Freda ,who still hurls with our Camogie team egging on her son and nephew.And a clatter of others.
The game was a ding dong affair between two skillful and competitive teams cheered on with enthuasism by their parents..From where I stood the Dunderry mentors questioned the referee not at all whereas some of the Ratho supporters were too vociferous.Not great example to young kids.
On the field of play there was very little between them but our defence was under fierce and sustained pressure much of the time but defended like tigers,
We are strong up the middle but so were they,
All our players are skillful and gutsy.No cowards here.
We went in ahead by 4 scores to three as far as I could see.
In the second half there was huge effort put in by both sides and the defence was again magnificient.
It is clear that the mentors know full well how to place a team to full advantage as the lads up the middle were all outstanding and were marginally better and more skilful than the opposition.
I could pick out a few for special mention but don#t like doing this at such a young age.But believe you me there are some wonderful players on view and all are a great credit to the Club.
From what I can see they are all from long established GAA families and are well integrated into the ethos of our Club.
They won by 9 scores to 5 scores
After they went back to the Clubhouse in Dunderry and were given a standing ovation by the Intermediate Hurlers who were also victorious.
Good enening for Dunderry.
It escapes me how it was not possible to have both games in the same venue.I would like to have seen both matches as would all the players involved I am sure.
As a matter iof interest Mags team also won.
On a personal level I would like to compliment the mentors and families for producing such a well mannered ,respectful competitive and skillful bunch of children for our Club.From the four corners of the Parish Ye should be proud.
Monday, May 26, 2014
They are reaping just as they sowed.
My gut feeling about the elections has been accurate enough.Labour has utterly failed to learn from the Meath East bye election and jettison the womb raiders,the sneerers at hetrosexuals ,the anti Catholic bigots it harbours in droves and the stickies who talk a good game but never togged out in the game of life and will leave a husk of a party in its wake.
They are now the sole refuge of the atheists,the gay and lesbian movement and trade unionists who are stuck so far up their holes that they cannot and will not let go.
Oh and I forget the feminists men haters who are now being wheeled out to spin the lie that the female gonad somehow trumps the male gonad when it comes to governance.Yep people, let more like them into the fold and watch your support sink down to 2 %.
You do see how Joan "SEXIST "Burton has rallied the troops in Dublin West and how so few people admire her that Labour failed to register at all in the bye election.Yep get more like her on board.There are plenty to be found drawing handy money from our hard earned taxes in minor p professorships in vague university's polishing their gonads and further demeaning their sisters with the message of academic prostitution (i.e possession of a fanny is the bees knees ).
And the man who knows more than the Pope and thought himself fit to admonish his Church has bought into this agenda hook,line and sinker.
Enda has proven to be the spiritually successor of Cromwell in words and action.He has enough apostles lurking in the Churches and GAA clubs of Ireland spying on the goings ons to know full well how much he and his Junior partners are actively hated by the Greter populace.
Well it has only started.
And RTE and the general media are so divorced from reality that it hasn't and hadn't a clue.
Here's some free advice for those genuine enough to exercise compassion.
1.Each week abolish a quango.
2.Each week unravel and unpick one piece of legislation enacted these four years back.
3.Each week delegislate one piece of Euro legislation enacted without Dail Scrutiny.
4.Apologise and make restitution for each suicide and economic emigrant that happened in your watch.
5.Try telling the truth.
They are now the sole refuge of the atheists,the gay and lesbian movement and trade unionists who are stuck so far up their holes that they cannot and will not let go.
Oh and I forget the feminists men haters who are now being wheeled out to spin the lie that the female gonad somehow trumps the male gonad when it comes to governance.Yep people, let more like them into the fold and watch your support sink down to 2 %.
You do see how Joan "SEXIST "Burton has rallied the troops in Dublin West and how so few people admire her that Labour failed to register at all in the bye election.Yep get more like her on board.There are plenty to be found drawing handy money from our hard earned taxes in minor p professorships in vague university's polishing their gonads and further demeaning their sisters with the message of academic prostitution (i.e possession of a fanny is the bees knees ).
And the man who knows more than the Pope and thought himself fit to admonish his Church has bought into this agenda hook,line and sinker.
Enda has proven to be the spiritually successor of Cromwell in words and action.He has enough apostles lurking in the Churches and GAA clubs of Ireland spying on the goings ons to know full well how much he and his Junior partners are actively hated by the Greter populace.
Well it has only started.
And RTE and the general media are so divorced from reality that it hasn't and hadn't a clue.
Here's some free advice for those genuine enough to exercise compassion.
1.Each week abolish a quango.
2.Each week unravel and unpick one piece of legislation enacted these four years back.
3.Each week delegislate one piece of Euro legislation enacted without Dail Scrutiny.
4.Apologise and make restitution for each suicide and economic emigrant that happened in your watch.
5.Try telling the truth.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Fir Breaga out of control
The political establishment clearly take us, the electorate, as total gob shites,with the memory of an amoebae.That is when they are not quietly mining the ore from the voluntary charity sector to where they migrate when the onus of quarrying the public lucre becomes too barefaced even for themselves and their voracious supporters.
We now know that Fine Gael,Fine Fail,Labour and P.D Grandees and their pals can slither into the long grass of the charity sector and continue quietly for decades to sip from the endless gravy train all the while spreading their vile principles of political greed via an unquestioning and seamless media who won't let the cat out of the bag .
Just as it falls into step with the lie that the tsunami of homelessness snuck us on us.Nothing could be further from the truth.
I have consistently compared this Government to that of Cromwell.
It has been the messenger boy of a foreign agent,the troika,and has been vigilant beyond duty in implementing the anti Irish policies of its employers.
There is talk of" rats" lately.Queen of the species herself,and Queen of the scratches ,Joan actively encourages them.She wants neighbour to inform on neighbour.
But a much deeper definition of the species is of someone so low that there is no hole dirty enough that s/he won't climb into it.
Since this Government's ascension to power,there has been no part of the citizen's life that the rats have not been forced into to extracts whatever pitiable tit bit they can from the unfortunate victim.They have burrowed into your pension,your van tax,your wage slip.your septic tank.the price of your heating,the roof over your head.and the water that falls from the skies.
And anyone with initiative they especially hate.
They attack the young,the youth,the middle aged,the healthy,and especially the old and elderly disabled.
They are intent on making decent people into bowsies and breaking the hearts of a proud race.
They have installed hail fellow well met economists into all the important finance ministries whose non answer to the question of homeliness is to emit a nervous and self deprecating smirk and academic sleight of hat and and treat the matter as a hilarious quirk of nature and promise to look into it.
And they wheel out tight lipped and heartless hussies who pretend that this has caught them by surprise.
Truth is that they all worked ceaselessly to so impoverish us so that homelessness,they hoped ,would be socially accepted by a broke people.
Run the fuckers back to the holes they escaped from and never let them see the light of day again.
What a collection of bowsies.
We now know that Fine Gael,Fine Fail,Labour and P.D Grandees and their pals can slither into the long grass of the charity sector and continue quietly for decades to sip from the endless gravy train all the while spreading their vile principles of political greed via an unquestioning and seamless media who won't let the cat out of the bag .
Just as it falls into step with the lie that the tsunami of homelessness snuck us on us.Nothing could be further from the truth.
I have consistently compared this Government to that of Cromwell.
It has been the messenger boy of a foreign agent,the troika,and has been vigilant beyond duty in implementing the anti Irish policies of its employers.
There is talk of" rats" lately.Queen of the species herself,and Queen of the scratches ,Joan actively encourages them.She wants neighbour to inform on neighbour.
But a much deeper definition of the species is of someone so low that there is no hole dirty enough that s/he won't climb into it.
Since this Government's ascension to power,there has been no part of the citizen's life that the rats have not been forced into to extracts whatever pitiable tit bit they can from the unfortunate victim.They have burrowed into your pension,your van tax,your wage slip.your septic tank.the price of your heating,the roof over your head.and the water that falls from the skies.
And anyone with initiative they especially hate.
They attack the young,the youth,the middle aged,the healthy,and especially the old and elderly disabled.
They are intent on making decent people into bowsies and breaking the hearts of a proud race.
They have installed hail fellow well met economists into all the important finance ministries whose non answer to the question of homeliness is to emit a nervous and self deprecating smirk and academic sleight of hat and and treat the matter as a hilarious quirk of nature and promise to look into it.
And they wheel out tight lipped and heartless hussies who pretend that this has caught them by surprise.
Truth is that they all worked ceaselessly to so impoverish us so that homelessness,they hoped ,would be socially accepted by a broke people.
Run the fuckers back to the holes they escaped from and never let them see the light of day again.
What a collection of bowsies.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Dunderry V Ballinabrackey .IFC 17/5/2014
Today was a grand Spring day ,as good as it gets.Nobody here will be aping the Yanks in erecting weather rooms at their offices to better pamper their poor vapid employees to better enjoy the awful weather here.What a condescending bunch of Yankees.
Around Dunderry a good day to be alive.
Personally I have b been as sick as a rabid dog for a week.My stroked arm is giving me hell.I irrevocably destroyed me stroke twisted knee thirty years ago to the extent that ligaments are non existent,cartilage is problematic and the slightest divergence from the direct line forward is severely punished .This week I twisted it.The pain was unbearable any rate,
On top of this I developed a chest infection which led to a tsunami of phlegm forming In my lungs and staying stubbornly there flowing from one side to the other but refusing to do the decent thing and erupt through my throat into infinity and back,
NO matter how I Lay there were eruptions aplenty and unceasing.I coughed for Ireland and the only little sleep I got was sitting up in a chair.
Driven by misery to the triple attack I surrendered to the mercies of my harried G.P.on Friday.
Painkillers,steroids ,anti bio tics,inhalers,anti hystiems etc and the combination started to kick in on Saturday.
I left the bed in one piece.Our Blaithin was in situ,being spoiled by Agnes ably assisted by her two year old cousin Chloe who had to be stopped from cuddling her to death as Jacinta dragged Cormack to Dublin to equip him for his First Holy Communion.On the bus,.Our Claire a nurse gave me the one over.Passed..
I didn't feel great and mosied off down to the farm to enjoy better the fresh air and the grand weather and do like my uncle Joe used do.That is look at the cattle ating and just living.I strongly recommend it and now know how he so loved farming.
Totally undecided about going to the game,And at six Minogue phoned .Did I want a lift.And then Aoife phoned "Was I going..Padraig ,Finns Son wanted a lift.
Game on so.
I drove myself.Had to wait for Padraig to put on the gear.Dunderry jersey knicks and socks.The sixth generation of our breed to wear the colours .Proudly.
Small enough crowd I thought in a resplendent Summerhill for the game.Fiver in .Enough.
The Legend,the Lev and Neddie fielded the following team.
Jennings
A.Newman S.Harte Davy Mac Cormack
C.Dempsey Finn Stephens Conor O Shea
Liam Dempsey Conor Farrell
A Waters S,Coogan Swiss Clarke
Lukie Martyn Paddy Kenneally Bob Doherty
I hadn#t seen Ballinabrackey play this year but had heard reports that they were a serious team ,a team on the move ,unlike our poor gob shites who would be cannon fodder for the real footballers.
I don't accept this agenda.As a club we have and are working through the tyranny of players and their acolytes who always knew more than the management and made it their life's work to overthrow them and put theitr own men into office to secure their own gametime at better players expense.
The Legend and his men are their own men,so far at any rate.Long may it continue.
The first half was an even steven up and down affair with text book refeering by Far and away the best referee operating in Meath football at the moment.Richie Morris.
Coogan opened the scoring with a flawless close in free.Brackrey responded with a free from play.Soon after Coogan repeated the dose.,followed by one from play.
Then Brackey reeled off three scores two from play and one from a free before Coogan grabbed back two from a free and a forty five .The half was completed by a fine Brackey point from play to leave it at 0-5 apiece at the break.
Jennings was having a master game.Newman and Spongee were cleaning up in the corners and covering well for Harte who ,while having his moments ,is maybe a half stone over the ideal .But his instincts are good,Conor a is adapting quicker to the step up from Div.5 minor football to intermediate than Lukie and was playing well and O Shea ,freed from Hurling duties was buzzing around with aggressive gusto.
Finn was having his first half man of the match performance.He is flying again.Finally has found faith in his own ability and being encouraged in it by a perceptive management.,No longer a fall guy taking the hits for lesser and less courageous luminaries.
Bomber plays on the edge and just has to get in the last word.He is good enough not to play this way.A matter of belief and self control.He should button it and get on with it.He is talented and gifted enough to go either way.Now is the time to put up or shut up.
Dempsy at midfield is big,strong courageous and a team player.Needs to learn that the field is not a debating chamber and you are judged at your play not your say.I know he is doing training above and beyond and with their build this will always be the case.Is brimming with promise.
Waters was cute and is fit and has bought into the team plan.Not always anxious to tackle back.Coogan ghosts into positions when a reasistic expeectation of a good pass is on the cards and wins it inevitably/Got all our first half scores.
Lukie is tough and brave but is getting fierce hard to make the transition from Div,5 Minor Football to Intremediate.The ball just didn't fall for him in the first half.It was directed more towards Paddy Kenneally and he had to feed on the mickey drippings.No fault of his.Swiss involved himself at every opportunity and was always available,sending much ball to advantage to Paddy.
Paddy got plenty of good ball.was fouled twice for frees which Coogan converted,Opposition teams gave now cottoned to his style of play and no longer buy itto his quicksilver changes of pace while holding on to the ball.He was stymied several times/Will have to work out a more understanding style of passing interplay with his team mates.Bob was mining any well placed pass that went his way and is hard to beat under a high ball but needs someone running art him to take the ball when hie gets possession.
Carroll at midfield caused huge trouble for us when he got the ball.
I would have made possibly two changes after the half but on balance was happy enough with the draw/
I didn't expect Lukie to get line but he was taken at half time With Carty getting his place.When you think about It this is some statement.Carty is a current under under 21 county football team player.Lukie is not on the minor team .But there you go.Carty is like a will o the wisp ,he just appears ,shakes and motors on ball somehow controlled.And he did almost straight away ,conjuring up a shot on open goal from nowhere and ...missing.Ballinabrackey didn;t stand and admire,they threw two over the bar from play.
Finn manned the breach impressively and steadied the ship across the middle .No entrance.We responded.Coogan pulled one back from another impeccable free.Ballinabrac kept at it and score another minor from play.Then Catty and Swiss split the posts before the trusted boot of Coogan scored the final two from his trusted boot/
Paddy and Swiss departed through injury And Martin Garry.who made a most influential contribution graced the field.Lukie was reintroduced and gave it rebind diddy and Col Harte Stefan Clarke was thrown in r towards the end.
This was a good game of football the result of which was in doubt right up top the end.Truth to tell we missed four scorable chances in the the last ten minutes and had we got them we would have been out of sight.
Finn was our best ,followed by spongy and Jennings ,who attaining the status of his namesake in another code of a different era,and Swiss with the score rate of Coogan making the pick of the forwards a foregone conclusion.
I would have liked to see Marty Garry on for longer.
We won 0-10 to 0-8
BUt to the Legend,the Lev and Ned and lifestyle coach the Crowes nest ,fair dues.
WE did suffer one defeat on Saturday however.One of our more vociferous supporters was routed by an w even more vociferous female supporter from the opposition who out screeched and totally intimidated her into unconditional submission /Well you cant win them all.
Our blaithin was
Around Dunderry a good day to be alive.
Personally I have b been as sick as a rabid dog for a week.My stroked arm is giving me hell.I irrevocably destroyed me stroke twisted knee thirty years ago to the extent that ligaments are non existent,cartilage is problematic and the slightest divergence from the direct line forward is severely punished .This week I twisted it.The pain was unbearable any rate,
On top of this I developed a chest infection which led to a tsunami of phlegm forming In my lungs and staying stubbornly there flowing from one side to the other but refusing to do the decent thing and erupt through my throat into infinity and back,
NO matter how I Lay there were eruptions aplenty and unceasing.I coughed for Ireland and the only little sleep I got was sitting up in a chair.
Driven by misery to the triple attack I surrendered to the mercies of my harried G.P.on Friday.
Painkillers,steroids ,anti bio tics,inhalers,anti hystiems etc and the combination started to kick in on Saturday.
I left the bed in one piece.Our Blaithin was in situ,being spoiled by Agnes ably assisted by her two year old cousin Chloe who had to be stopped from cuddling her to death as Jacinta dragged Cormack to Dublin to equip him for his First Holy Communion.On the bus,.Our Claire a nurse gave me the one over.Passed..
I didn't feel great and mosied off down to the farm to enjoy better the fresh air and the grand weather and do like my uncle Joe used do.That is look at the cattle ating and just living.I strongly recommend it and now know how he so loved farming.
Totally undecided about going to the game,And at six Minogue phoned .Did I want a lift.And then Aoife phoned "Was I going..Padraig ,Finns Son wanted a lift.
Game on so.
I drove myself.Had to wait for Padraig to put on the gear.Dunderry jersey knicks and socks.The sixth generation of our breed to wear the colours .Proudly.
Small enough crowd I thought in a resplendent Summerhill for the game.Fiver in .Enough.
The Legend,the Lev and Neddie fielded the following team.
Jennings
A.Newman S.Harte Davy Mac Cormack
C.Dempsey Finn Stephens Conor O Shea
Liam Dempsey Conor Farrell
A Waters S,Coogan Swiss Clarke
Lukie Martyn Paddy Kenneally Bob Doherty
I hadn#t seen Ballinabrackey play this year but had heard reports that they were a serious team ,a team on the move ,unlike our poor gob shites who would be cannon fodder for the real footballers.
I don't accept this agenda.As a club we have and are working through the tyranny of players and their acolytes who always knew more than the management and made it their life's work to overthrow them and put theitr own men into office to secure their own gametime at better players expense.
The Legend and his men are their own men,so far at any rate.Long may it continue.
The first half was an even steven up and down affair with text book refeering by Far and away the best referee operating in Meath football at the moment.Richie Morris.
Coogan opened the scoring with a flawless close in free.Brackrey responded with a free from play.Soon after Coogan repeated the dose.,followed by one from play.
Then Brackey reeled off three scores two from play and one from a free before Coogan grabbed back two from a free and a forty five .The half was completed by a fine Brackey point from play to leave it at 0-5 apiece at the break.
Jennings was having a master game.Newman and Spongee were cleaning up in the corners and covering well for Harte who ,while having his moments ,is maybe a half stone over the ideal .But his instincts are good,Conor a is adapting quicker to the step up from Div.5 minor football to intermediate than Lukie and was playing well and O Shea ,freed from Hurling duties was buzzing around with aggressive gusto.
Finn was having his first half man of the match performance.He is flying again.Finally has found faith in his own ability and being encouraged in it by a perceptive management.,No longer a fall guy taking the hits for lesser and less courageous luminaries.
Bomber plays on the edge and just has to get in the last word.He is good enough not to play this way.A matter of belief and self control.He should button it and get on with it.He is talented and gifted enough to go either way.Now is the time to put up or shut up.
Dempsy at midfield is big,strong courageous and a team player.Needs to learn that the field is not a debating chamber and you are judged at your play not your say.I know he is doing training above and beyond and with their build this will always be the case.Is brimming with promise.
Waters was cute and is fit and has bought into the team plan.Not always anxious to tackle back.Coogan ghosts into positions when a reasistic expeectation of a good pass is on the cards and wins it inevitably/Got all our first half scores.
Lukie is tough and brave but is getting fierce hard to make the transition from Div,5 Minor Football to Intremediate.The ball just didn't fall for him in the first half.It was directed more towards Paddy Kenneally and he had to feed on the mickey drippings.No fault of his.Swiss involved himself at every opportunity and was always available,sending much ball to advantage to Paddy.
Paddy got plenty of good ball.was fouled twice for frees which Coogan converted,Opposition teams gave now cottoned to his style of play and no longer buy itto his quicksilver changes of pace while holding on to the ball.He was stymied several times/Will have to work out a more understanding style of passing interplay with his team mates.Bob was mining any well placed pass that went his way and is hard to beat under a high ball but needs someone running art him to take the ball when hie gets possession.
Carroll at midfield caused huge trouble for us when he got the ball.
I would have made possibly two changes after the half but on balance was happy enough with the draw/
I didn't expect Lukie to get line but he was taken at half time With Carty getting his place.When you think about It this is some statement.Carty is a current under under 21 county football team player.Lukie is not on the minor team .But there you go.Carty is like a will o the wisp ,he just appears ,shakes and motors on ball somehow controlled.And he did almost straight away ,conjuring up a shot on open goal from nowhere and ...missing.Ballinabrackey didn;t stand and admire,they threw two over the bar from play.
Finn manned the breach impressively and steadied the ship across the middle .No entrance.We responded.Coogan pulled one back from another impeccable free.Ballinabrac kept at it and score another minor from play.Then Catty and Swiss split the posts before the trusted boot of Coogan scored the final two from his trusted boot/
Paddy and Swiss departed through injury And Martin Garry.who made a most influential contribution graced the field.Lukie was reintroduced and gave it rebind diddy and Col Harte Stefan Clarke was thrown in r towards the end.
This was a good game of football the result of which was in doubt right up top the end.Truth to tell we missed four scorable chances in the the last ten minutes and had we got them we would have been out of sight.
Finn was our best ,followed by spongy and Jennings ,who attaining the status of his namesake in another code of a different era,and Swiss with the score rate of Coogan making the pick of the forwards a foregone conclusion.
I would have liked to see Marty Garry on for longer.
We won 0-10 to 0-8
BUt to the Legend,the Lev and Ned and lifestyle coach the Crowes nest ,fair dues.
WE did suffer one defeat on Saturday however.One of our more vociferous supporters was routed by an w even more vociferous female supporter from the opposition who out screeched and totally intimidated her into unconditional submission /Well you cant win them all.
Our blaithin was
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Why this country is disintegrating before our eyes
Until the mid 1980,s Government Departments were run on the basis of the applicable law and without fear or favour.It mattered not a whit who you were or what prominent position you occupied in Society.Your actions ,proposals ,whatever were judged strictly on their merits and in light of the applicable law.
This approach served the State well since its foundation.
In the time frame I am talking about there emerged from all over the Public Service a breed of person who actively advocated a commercial business approach to Government function.
When all the rhetoric was stripped away this meant that you took shortcuts and approached problems in a business like fashion.Distilling this further this meant that you aped business.
These guys were so naive that they didn't realise that businesses cheat to preserve the business.And so I argue Government departments started to cheat to preserve their powers and in administering thee functions.And anyone who stood up to this injustice was caste aside and those in power promoted their apostles.
And the administration of the State went haywire.
Thees advocates were snapped up by outside business interests to increase their bottom line,profit ,no more no less.
This approach dovetailed with the emergence of a breed of politician whose sole reason d'etre was greed and was admired for it.Even to day we have those commentators who would gladly hand over any given Government function to an astute business man on the basis outlined above.
Every investigation properly undertaken from the mid 1980 to date has exposed gross impropriety on behalf of those in power in Public service and it all stems from what I have outlined above.
The unfortunate thing is that this laisser faire attitude to the exercise of responsibility is so embedded in our Public Service that it would take major surgery to remove it.
As a general aside,you will find that the fairest people in the public service are not at the top of the food chain and it is them and them only that enables Government Departments to function at all.
Any Civil Servant who lived through the times I am talking about will remember the type of person I am talking about and maybe now realise the incalculable damage they foisted on this country and the tax payer.
This approach served the State well since its foundation.
In the time frame I am talking about there emerged from all over the Public Service a breed of person who actively advocated a commercial business approach to Government function.
When all the rhetoric was stripped away this meant that you took shortcuts and approached problems in a business like fashion.Distilling this further this meant that you aped business.
These guys were so naive that they didn't realise that businesses cheat to preserve the business.And so I argue Government departments started to cheat to preserve their powers and in administering thee functions.And anyone who stood up to this injustice was caste aside and those in power promoted their apostles.
And the administration of the State went haywire.
Thees advocates were snapped up by outside business interests to increase their bottom line,profit ,no more no less.
This approach dovetailed with the emergence of a breed of politician whose sole reason d'etre was greed and was admired for it.Even to day we have those commentators who would gladly hand over any given Government function to an astute business man on the basis outlined above.
Every investigation properly undertaken from the mid 1980 to date has exposed gross impropriety on behalf of those in power in Public service and it all stems from what I have outlined above.
The unfortunate thing is that this laisser faire attitude to the exercise of responsibility is so embedded in our Public Service that it would take major surgery to remove it.
As a general aside,you will find that the fairest people in the public service are not at the top of the food chain and it is them and them only that enables Government Departments to function at all.
Any Civil Servant who lived through the times I am talking about will remember the type of person I am talking about and maybe now realise the incalculable damage they foisted on this country and the tax payer.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Eurovision 2015 ,Dunderry entry.
The event formerly known as the Eurovision song contest ,but now better known as a freak contest ,will receive a huge Irish fillip next year when the world gets to see first hand the Dunderry entry,which is now being induced into performing mood.
Let me explain.I know that the whole secret of success in this competition lies in getting inside the heads of those who judge these things and appealing to the lowest common denominator of that mindset.
It is clear that the lyrics and melody of any song is a waste of space unless there is a freak element to the presentation.This should not surprise us Irish in the least as we were the first half nation to sent a non human act to represent us there ,a puppet turkey who spoke wit a Dublin accent and whose best pal was a bit of two by two wooden plank.
This was followed by a pair of twits whose expertise consisted of head stands and other acts of physical contortion which were deemed "gas " by pre teen Irish ludramans.
The latest winner is a being whose gender is uncertain and which sings in a frock while sporting a full beard.Is it human,is it alien is it it.?It also comes with an inbuilt anti Russian hiss factor which is activated when the Russian contribution gets merited marks.
In short it is the product and zenith of Western European secular evolution and the sting of a dying wasp.It is the product of an entertainment act which regards all art as essentially the sole prerogative of the queers and the gays and of a movement that for stops just short of making homosexuality and lesbianism mandatory for everybody and which revels in poking fun at people who regard themselves as heterosexuals.
It is the raison detre of the Pussy Rioters and is revenge for the very tolerant and reasonable treatment of their blasphemy by reasonable Russia.It is the epitome of bunkered cowardice which reasons the lack of boots on the ground and the use of drones is the domain of the brave and which selectively supports army coups d'etats when it suits their purposes.
Any how I toured Dunderry Fair today to see if I could identify any thing which could be interbred to ensure sure fire success at the 2015 Erosion.And I am sure I cracked it.
I will immediately start to interbreed an ugly turkey today with with a black danish sheep breed and cross it with a home bred duck which has a baritone quack.
The result will be a short legged,big chested ,thin necked,black,hornless ,two eyed ,yellow billed ,red combed,half duck ,half sheep ,whose posterior would put the Kashardin sisters to shame such is the size of its feather circled arse which has three holes of uncertain destination .
And it can gobble,quack and baa to tune.
Should be a shoo in.( or whatever you are having yourself )
And it can be trained to boo whatever country you are having yourself.
Let me explain.I know that the whole secret of success in this competition lies in getting inside the heads of those who judge these things and appealing to the lowest common denominator of that mindset.
It is clear that the lyrics and melody of any song is a waste of space unless there is a freak element to the presentation.This should not surprise us Irish in the least as we were the first half nation to sent a non human act to represent us there ,a puppet turkey who spoke wit a Dublin accent and whose best pal was a bit of two by two wooden plank.
This was followed by a pair of twits whose expertise consisted of head stands and other acts of physical contortion which were deemed "gas " by pre teen Irish ludramans.
The latest winner is a being whose gender is uncertain and which sings in a frock while sporting a full beard.Is it human,is it alien is it it.?It also comes with an inbuilt anti Russian hiss factor which is activated when the Russian contribution gets merited marks.
In short it is the product and zenith of Western European secular evolution and the sting of a dying wasp.It is the product of an entertainment act which regards all art as essentially the sole prerogative of the queers and the gays and of a movement that for stops just short of making homosexuality and lesbianism mandatory for everybody and which revels in poking fun at people who regard themselves as heterosexuals.
It is the raison detre of the Pussy Rioters and is revenge for the very tolerant and reasonable treatment of their blasphemy by reasonable Russia.It is the epitome of bunkered cowardice which reasons the lack of boots on the ground and the use of drones is the domain of the brave and which selectively supports army coups d'etats when it suits their purposes.
Any how I toured Dunderry Fair today to see if I could identify any thing which could be interbred to ensure sure fire success at the 2015 Erosion.And I am sure I cracked it.
I will immediately start to interbreed an ugly turkey today with with a black danish sheep breed and cross it with a home bred duck which has a baritone quack.
The result will be a short legged,big chested ,thin necked,black,hornless ,two eyed ,yellow billed ,red combed,half duck ,half sheep ,whose posterior would put the Kashardin sisters to shame such is the size of its feather circled arse which has three holes of uncertain destination .
And it can gobble,quack and baa to tune.
Should be a shoo in.( or whatever you are having yourself )
And it can be trained to boo whatever country you are having yourself.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Muskateer Update.
Liam's mother died and is well buried.Deirdre has been battling hard against illness but returned this week to the Friday prayer group.She is much better.Leo and Carmel are dizzy with hope for a fine day on Sunday for the Fair.I am fairly bet myself.I twisted my bad knee and even hobbling is a major pain in the ass.On top of this i have a hateful cold that has gone to my chest.I still need prayer for a close family member.
God is good.We hope,
God is good.We hope,
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Bullshit aside.
You should not be fooled by all this talk of economic recovery and suchlike.
Just this week another talented tradesman and Dunderrry footballer emigrated to England for work.There is no work here for him.
Another dear friend who lives locally hadn't called in for a month.We were worried and checked.Put simply she was afraid to leave the house empty in case it was robbed.The only time that both she and her husband were at home at the same time was at night time .As he was away working long hours she was afraid to move out and leave the house empty in daylight hours in case it was robbed.
They are a relatively young couple.
Another family I know who have already been the victims of burglary have had to install electronic gates at enormous expense and even at that are afraid to leave the house empty.
And yet another couple have had to build a fortress like shed with steel shutters to house their diesel tank to stop the theft of diesel.
This is what the Government has done for rural Ireland.
There is a huge fall in support for politicians of all the main parties in rural Ireland.
Labour will be destroyed.Fine Gael will be boycotted by a significant number of its core vote such is the disappointment of its adherents with its governance.Rather than vote for any other party many will just not vote at all.,
Fianna Fail is so ashamed of its recent past that it is hard to see the Fianna fail logo on its posters,but those who switched to Fine Gael the last time out will return to F.F.on the basis that they are no worse than the Government parties.
Floating voters will vote independent but thinking Catholics will not turn to Sinn Fein in the numbers predicted because of its pro abortion stance.
Ronan Mullin will I believe get a better vote than currently predicted as pro life people have no obvious Party to flock to.
I am giving it a miss this time out but am hoping for enough good fortune to run in the next General Election.
Even more a cynic than I was it seems to me that back bench T.D.s are reduced to burrowing into positions at funerals adjacent to the bereaved so as to present themselves for handshakes immediately after the bereaved.They are also useful for using their influence in skipping the queue of mourners by having a quiet but influentisal word with the undertakers.
Just this week another talented tradesman and Dunderrry footballer emigrated to England for work.There is no work here for him.
Another dear friend who lives locally hadn't called in for a month.We were worried and checked.Put simply she was afraid to leave the house empty in case it was robbed.The only time that both she and her husband were at home at the same time was at night time .As he was away working long hours she was afraid to move out and leave the house empty in daylight hours in case it was robbed.
They are a relatively young couple.
Another family I know who have already been the victims of burglary have had to install electronic gates at enormous expense and even at that are afraid to leave the house empty.
And yet another couple have had to build a fortress like shed with steel shutters to house their diesel tank to stop the theft of diesel.
This is what the Government has done for rural Ireland.
There is a huge fall in support for politicians of all the main parties in rural Ireland.
Labour will be destroyed.Fine Gael will be boycotted by a significant number of its core vote such is the disappointment of its adherents with its governance.Rather than vote for any other party many will just not vote at all.,
Fianna Fail is so ashamed of its recent past that it is hard to see the Fianna fail logo on its posters,but those who switched to Fine Gael the last time out will return to F.F.on the basis that they are no worse than the Government parties.
Floating voters will vote independent but thinking Catholics will not turn to Sinn Fein in the numbers predicted because of its pro abortion stance.
Ronan Mullin will I believe get a better vote than currently predicted as pro life people have no obvious Party to flock to.
I am giving it a miss this time out but am hoping for enough good fortune to run in the next General Election.
Even more a cynic than I was it seems to me that back bench T.D.s are reduced to burrowing into positions at funerals adjacent to the bereaved so as to present themselves for handshakes immediately after the bereaved.They are also useful for using their influence in skipping the queue of mourners by having a quiet but influentisal word with the undertakers.
And so it goes.
Tonight our third football team turned up at the pitch for a League Div.7 match against Rathoath.There was no match ,our Chairman having been notified at 6.00 p.m. this evening that the visitors couldn't field.
Even though it was a hateful evening weather wise our boys were disappointed.
Hard to blame them ,they are making a huge effort and need all the football they can get.
In my noggin there stirred a memory from a decade or so ago when there was controversy in Meath GAA circles over the attempted transfer here of a juvenile from a different Parish.
At the time a Ratoath Gael wrote to the papers wishing our Club bad luck over our stance on the issue.
It hurt me at the time.
We are still standing.What goes around comes around.
Even though it was a hateful evening weather wise our boys were disappointed.
Hard to blame them ,they are making a huge effort and need all the football they can get.
In my noggin there stirred a memory from a decade or so ago when there was controversy in Meath GAA circles over the attempted transfer here of a juvenile from a different Parish.
At the time a Ratoath Gael wrote to the papers wishing our Club bad luck over our stance on the issue.
It hurt me at the time.
We are still standing.What goes around comes around.
Dunderry v Drumc./Meathill u 14 Div 4 Final 03/05/2014
Last Saturday was a busy day around Dunderry.First of all the village was packed in the morning with the attendees at the Church for First Holy Communion for the pupils of Dunderry School.Great occasion all round I heard.I think that there were 15 Communicants, the girls vastly outnumbering the boys.Phil's daughter had the choir in great voice and Finn's woman tickled the ivory with erudition and an impressive induction to the Body of Christ was experienced by the participating children on their big day out.
Take a bow the teachers of Dunderry and the parents involved.
And I am sure all had a day to remember.
I had a clash of fixtures at 1.00 p.m.
My granddaughter Kate Kelly (Claire's daughter ) was a year old and a party was kicking off at 1.00,the same time as the game.
I am a brave man but not brave enough to miss a party of this kind.Henpecked,chicken pecked and egg pecked you could say.
Party it was so.
I have a particular reason to be interested in the under 14 football team.It stems for profound concern at the inexorable slide of our juvenile footballer down the Divisions this last decade and the need for urgent redeemable action to reverse it.
A decade ago we were Div.1/2 minor football .This year we are Div.5.At under 16 level we are Div.5 also and so it goes.
I was appalled last year at the lax attitude towards sliding standards and the galling lack of respect amongst certain mid teens towards the Club and had courted unpopularity by repeatedly saying so.
There is no genetic reason why standards should have slipped so drastically and efforts and personnel are now in place to arrest the decline.
A win in this Final would go a long way to starting the climb back to respectability and ensure that we don't take our eyes off the sporting ball again ,as it were.
I had a reporter there to fill me in.
Firstly the pedigree of the team management are impeccable.Sean Kelly has more coaching qualifications than would sink a battleship.He also happens to be a Meath selector.John Brady ,like Sean played at all levels for Meath and is a fanatic Club man.Eoin O Leary,from the Lambay corner of the Parish is a fanatic Gael and is married to one also as are the others.
And they all have skin in the game.
All the players are with the team since they were 8 years old,all are from solid GAA families and barring there are profound sporting genetic deficiencies in some of them and given the pedigree of the management the sky ought be the limit.
And thanks be to God it was.
They won a hard sporting and fiercely contested match by 5-10 to 4-10.The result was in doubt right up to the final whistle.
Warriors were.
James Smyth
Jack Feeney Ronan Brady
Diarmuid O Corrain Donagh O laoire Michael Garry
Cian Eglington Shane Heffernan
Conor Leavy Dermot Kelly Cormack Brady
Alex Smyth Adam Kelly
Subs used.Paul Maxwell and Luke Hill.
I am told it was more an overall team effort than a display by just a few talented individuals and this is as it should be.
In the opinion of one man ,and remember everyone has a personal opinion,Ronan Brady,Donagh O Laoire,Shane Heffernan,Dermot Kelly,Adam Kelly and Diarmuid O Corrain made the more significant contributions ,just about,towards the lifting of the laurel,but in reality it was a super all round team effort.
I pray that this is the start of the fightback towards football respectability at this level .It is certainly a start.
Let us face it,the management team would not be out of place at senior Inter County evel and if the players didn't take encouragement from such a set up it's all a matter.
The good ship Dunderry Juvenile football has successfully cleared the harbour mouth but is now sailing into more testing waters.
We will be keeping an eye on its progress.
Take a bow the teachers of Dunderry and the parents involved.
And I am sure all had a day to remember.
I had a clash of fixtures at 1.00 p.m.
My granddaughter Kate Kelly (Claire's daughter ) was a year old and a party was kicking off at 1.00,the same time as the game.
I am a brave man but not brave enough to miss a party of this kind.Henpecked,chicken pecked and egg pecked you could say.
Party it was so.
I have a particular reason to be interested in the under 14 football team.It stems for profound concern at the inexorable slide of our juvenile footballer down the Divisions this last decade and the need for urgent redeemable action to reverse it.
A decade ago we were Div.1/2 minor football .This year we are Div.5.At under 16 level we are Div.5 also and so it goes.
I was appalled last year at the lax attitude towards sliding standards and the galling lack of respect amongst certain mid teens towards the Club and had courted unpopularity by repeatedly saying so.
There is no genetic reason why standards should have slipped so drastically and efforts and personnel are now in place to arrest the decline.
A win in this Final would go a long way to starting the climb back to respectability and ensure that we don't take our eyes off the sporting ball again ,as it were.
I had a reporter there to fill me in.
Firstly the pedigree of the team management are impeccable.Sean Kelly has more coaching qualifications than would sink a battleship.He also happens to be a Meath selector.John Brady ,like Sean played at all levels for Meath and is a fanatic Club man.Eoin O Leary,from the Lambay corner of the Parish is a fanatic Gael and is married to one also as are the others.
And they all have skin in the game.
All the players are with the team since they were 8 years old,all are from solid GAA families and barring there are profound sporting genetic deficiencies in some of them and given the pedigree of the management the sky ought be the limit.
And thanks be to God it was.
They won a hard sporting and fiercely contested match by 5-10 to 4-10.The result was in doubt right up to the final whistle.
Warriors were.
James Smyth
Jack Feeney Ronan Brady
Diarmuid O Corrain Donagh O laoire Michael Garry
Cian Eglington Shane Heffernan
Conor Leavy Dermot Kelly Cormack Brady
Alex Smyth Adam Kelly
Subs used.Paul Maxwell and Luke Hill.
I am told it was more an overall team effort than a display by just a few talented individuals and this is as it should be.
In the opinion of one man ,and remember everyone has a personal opinion,Ronan Brady,Donagh O Laoire,Shane Heffernan,Dermot Kelly,Adam Kelly and Diarmuid O Corrain made the more significant contributions ,just about,towards the lifting of the laurel,but in reality it was a super all round team effort.
I pray that this is the start of the fightback towards football respectability at this level .It is certainly a start.
Let us face it,the management team would not be out of place at senior Inter County evel and if the players didn't take encouragement from such a set up it's all a matter.
The good ship Dunderry Juvenile football has successfully cleared the harbour mouth but is now sailing into more testing waters.
We will be keeping an eye on its progress.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Rude flower
Neath yonder bower there sits a flower,
That flower has won my heart,
And from that flower there came a shower ,
And after it a .... .
That flower has won my heart,
And from that flower there came a shower ,
And after it a .... .
Dunderry V Donaghmore Ashbourne .Under 14 Camogie.April 2014
Last week on a grand Summer's evening I found time to see our under 14 Camogie team in action in Dunderry.
As a very proud President of the Club I like to get to as many matches as possible.Truth is that there is so much going on on the sporting fields of Dunderry between football,hurling and camogie that it is impossible entirely to keep up with everything.
Anyhow Donaghmore are ancient rivals and are always good.We have had many's a battle over the years.
When I parked on the upper pitch to watch the match my heart lifted when I saw that Suzanne Kelly (Finnegan ),Caroline Duffy and Donie Mooney were the mentors.The women at least know their onions ,both having yielded the Caman with distinction in the recent past.And Donie is a good motivator.
All three had skin in the game,with Donie and Suzanne having a daughter each on the field and Caroline having two.
And beside them were Lettie Rowan and Tereas Rattigan.Two queens of the game.Between these women are more medals than would sink a battleship,.And loads of cop as well.
Team.
Rachel Duffy
Katie Duffy Hannah Morgan Helena Garry
Lauren Finnegan Deirdre Mic Hale Emily Lynch
Orla Daly Kate Buchanan
Niamh Keaveney Ellie Keenan Kaylinn Mooney
Grace Stenson Laura Casserley Katie Callaghan,
This team has been together for six years.They train hard.There is fierce unity in the camp.They are well trained.They excel at blocking,hooking and are unselfish ,passing the ball to each other to advantage.They come from good GAA families and are proud to play with Dunderry.They have oodles of skill and are fearless.
They play a nice brand of hurling and are well able to take their scores.
They outplayed Donaghmore decisively and ran out relatively winners on a scoreline of 7-2 to 2-1 as far as I could see.
The win was achieved with solid teamwork from 1 to 15 and all were stars,
A nice team to watch and a job well done.
These girls are on a roll,having beaten Trim and Drumree before this latest victory.
I look forward to the next match.
As a very proud President of the Club I like to get to as many matches as possible.Truth is that there is so much going on on the sporting fields of Dunderry between football,hurling and camogie that it is impossible entirely to keep up with everything.
Anyhow Donaghmore are ancient rivals and are always good.We have had many's a battle over the years.
When I parked on the upper pitch to watch the match my heart lifted when I saw that Suzanne Kelly (Finnegan ),Caroline Duffy and Donie Mooney were the mentors.The women at least know their onions ,both having yielded the Caman with distinction in the recent past.And Donie is a good motivator.
All three had skin in the game,with Donie and Suzanne having a daughter each on the field and Caroline having two.
And beside them were Lettie Rowan and Tereas Rattigan.Two queens of the game.Between these women are more medals than would sink a battleship,.And loads of cop as well.
Team.
Rachel Duffy
Katie Duffy Hannah Morgan Helena Garry
Lauren Finnegan Deirdre Mic Hale Emily Lynch
Orla Daly Kate Buchanan
Niamh Keaveney Ellie Keenan Kaylinn Mooney
Grace Stenson Laura Casserley Katie Callaghan,
This team has been together for six years.They train hard.There is fierce unity in the camp.They are well trained.They excel at blocking,hooking and are unselfish ,passing the ball to each other to advantage.They come from good GAA families and are proud to play with Dunderry.They have oodles of skill and are fearless.
They play a nice brand of hurling and are well able to take their scores.
They outplayed Donaghmore decisively and ran out relatively winners on a scoreline of 7-2 to 2-1 as far as I could see.
The win was achieved with solid teamwork from 1 to 15 and all were stars,
A nice team to watch and a job well done.
These girls are on a roll,having beaten Trim and Drumree before this latest victory.
I look forward to the next match.
Styler Mac Donagh .A legend.
Monday evening I was passing by the pitch in Dunderry when I saw the unmistakable image of the Styler going in the gate with his gear under his oxter.It was an overcast evening and I did my task quam cellerime and returned to the pitch to see what match he was referring.
And boy was I glad I did. Dunderry were playing Drumree in an under 12 hurling semi final.
I was totally entranced.The level of skill on display from both teams was incredible .An absolutely enthralling match played out in a hateful drizzle which didn't effect the standard of play at all.
Believe you me we have at least three Christy Rings in the making on this team.Incredible skills and bravery.
Pat Mulligan ,a former Chairman must be bursting with Heavenly pride at his great grand children and the Lambay corner continues to amaze.
We won.Roll on the final.
And overseeing the whole thing was the Styler.When I was Secretary of the Juveniles he was our ref of choice.Never let us down.And that is a long time ago.And he is still a knight of the whistle.Still refereeing under 12 matches.And doing it well.
More than most he knows that you must be scurrilously fair with children.They will see through you like a light.
Styler is fair.Men like him ,who week in week out referee unglamorous games at the youngest age groups perform an invaluable and vital service for our Association.
We take this for granted .. We shouldn't.
I guess that the Styler is referring for 40 years or more and he is still going strong.
He should be rewarded by the Meath GAA for services rendered.
I hope somebody there reads this article and sets the wheels in motion.
And boy was I glad I did. Dunderry were playing Drumree in an under 12 hurling semi final.
I was totally entranced.The level of skill on display from both teams was incredible .An absolutely enthralling match played out in a hateful drizzle which didn't effect the standard of play at all.
Believe you me we have at least three Christy Rings in the making on this team.Incredible skills and bravery.
Pat Mulligan ,a former Chairman must be bursting with Heavenly pride at his great grand children and the Lambay corner continues to amaze.
We won.Roll on the final.
And overseeing the whole thing was the Styler.When I was Secretary of the Juveniles he was our ref of choice.Never let us down.And that is a long time ago.And he is still a knight of the whistle.Still refereeing under 12 matches.And doing it well.
More than most he knows that you must be scurrilously fair with children.They will see through you like a light.
Styler is fair.Men like him ,who week in week out referee unglamorous games at the youngest age groups perform an invaluable and vital service for our Association.
We take this for granted .. We shouldn't.
I guess that the Styler is referring for 40 years or more and he is still going strong.
He should be rewarded by the Meath GAA for services rendered.
I hope somebody there reads this article and sets the wheels in motion.
Dunderry V Drumbarragh Div.4 F.C.20/04/2014
Easter Sunday was a grand day.My car failed the test in Kells that morning and I mosied to Martry on the way home to see our third football team take on Drumbarragh at noon.The people of Bohermeen are great Gaels and the pitch was immaculate.
Dunderry Team.
Brendan Farrell
Russell Kellaghan Davy Stephens Stephen O Donnell
Kenny Patterson Eric Murray Owen Fagan
Eddie Maguire Joey Farrell
Damian Bruton Shane Mooney Conor Daly
Darragh Scannell Christopher Harrington Bugle
In a way the GAA is like the Catholic Church in that while you might stray away for a while you will eventually return to your true home.I had the pleasure to mentor as children and young men the two Farrells,Russell,Ownie, Bruts and Harrow .Even Bugle had tried to pass himself as a Camogie player at 16 years of age when I found him hiding amongst the other girls at the back of a bus when we were leaving Dunderry for an away game many moons ago. When rumbled he got off no problem.I have since figured that he was smuggled aboard by a certain player,who shall be nameless, he was trying to get off with .He has definitely proved since that he had no desire to be a closet female Camogie player .
Anyhow the aforementioned players,Bruts and Harrow excepted have tried their feet at the garrison game and it was great to see them back in the bosom of the Gaels.
I had skin in the game with Sprog at full back and Eddie at centre field.
Eddie and Bugle are similar physically and are the senior members of the team .Rumour has it that they the only place they will see 40 again is on a door.
Seriously they are great credit to themselves and are a bit like good wine ,improving with age.And a shining example to other players of the benefit of regular training.And abstemious habits.
We were playing their second team and were hoping to acquit ourselves well and not make a show of ourselves.And we are training as a team and under serious management and here for the long haul.
From the start we were under severe pressure.
Most of us don't do coward but it was clear that Sprog was a tad rusty,Russell and Ownie although brave needed more football,Eric definitely was off the pace,Darragh ,who has great potential ,needs an amount of football to get his eye in and Bugle hadn't yet brushed off the cobwebs.Farrell senior and Junior .Patterson ,Bruton ,Daly , Mooney and Harrow kept us ticking over while the excellent Maguire aided well by Joey put their fingers in the dyke to avoid an early whitewash.
But we settled somewhat after a while as Sprog ,Bugle and Bruts got more into their stride.My father used say in a different context that you can,t win.And I thought of this when Bruton was blown for a textbook perfect shoulder charge to the utter amazement of all the attendance and of myself in particular who had a bird's view of it as had the ref.
I am beginning to wonder whether there is a conspiracy to take the physicality out of football entirely and re brand it as a kind of basketball with foot passes allowed.
This sort of nonsense does have an adverse effect on the player wrongly penalised and is just not good enough.Will the player shoulder charge again and such bad decisions do no service to the game and its promotion.In fairness to the ref,he improved as the game progressed.
Any how ,by half time they led by 0-7 to 0-2,ours coming from Harrow from play and Bugle from a free.To be fair the score reflected their superiority.
We made a much better fist of it in the second half with Bomber in goals having a blinder,Sprog attacking to advantage ,Eddie playing like a man half his age,Joey winning impossible ball,Bruts ,Daly ,Scanno and a web free Bugle taking the game to the opposition.
We gave it diddy ,Bugle tacking on 4 points,Scanno 2 points and Bruts a single point.
Daly sprayed the ball around to advantage while all the backs did their damnest to stem the Dumbarragh flow and contained it to 1-4..
I would love to see Daly giving it a serious lash in training to see where it would lead.
Mooney had his moments too.
Mitchell,Casey,Cooke,Dowdall and Brennan made somewhat brief appearance's in the second half and made wholehearted and valuable contributions.
Were I in charge of the Intermediate team I would be inviting both Farrells,Sprog and Bruts to join the panel.
Eddie and Bugle too were father time on their side.
This team has a good spirit
I will watch them again.
Dunderry Team.
Brendan Farrell
Russell Kellaghan Davy Stephens Stephen O Donnell
Kenny Patterson Eric Murray Owen Fagan
Eddie Maguire Joey Farrell
Damian Bruton Shane Mooney Conor Daly
Darragh Scannell Christopher Harrington Bugle
In a way the GAA is like the Catholic Church in that while you might stray away for a while you will eventually return to your true home.I had the pleasure to mentor as children and young men the two Farrells,Russell,Ownie, Bruts and Harrow .Even Bugle had tried to pass himself as a Camogie player at 16 years of age when I found him hiding amongst the other girls at the back of a bus when we were leaving Dunderry for an away game many moons ago. When rumbled he got off no problem.I have since figured that he was smuggled aboard by a certain player,who shall be nameless, he was trying to get off with .He has definitely proved since that he had no desire to be a closet female Camogie player .
Anyhow the aforementioned players,Bruts and Harrow excepted have tried their feet at the garrison game and it was great to see them back in the bosom of the Gaels.
I had skin in the game with Sprog at full back and Eddie at centre field.
Eddie and Bugle are similar physically and are the senior members of the team .Rumour has it that they the only place they will see 40 again is on a door.
Seriously they are great credit to themselves and are a bit like good wine ,improving with age.And a shining example to other players of the benefit of regular training.And abstemious habits.
We were playing their second team and were hoping to acquit ourselves well and not make a show of ourselves.And we are training as a team and under serious management and here for the long haul.
From the start we were under severe pressure.
Most of us don't do coward but it was clear that Sprog was a tad rusty,Russell and Ownie although brave needed more football,Eric definitely was off the pace,Darragh ,who has great potential ,needs an amount of football to get his eye in and Bugle hadn't yet brushed off the cobwebs.Farrell senior and Junior .Patterson ,Bruton ,Daly , Mooney and Harrow kept us ticking over while the excellent Maguire aided well by Joey put their fingers in the dyke to avoid an early whitewash.
But we settled somewhat after a while as Sprog ,Bugle and Bruts got more into their stride.My father used say in a different context that you can,t win.And I thought of this when Bruton was blown for a textbook perfect shoulder charge to the utter amazement of all the attendance and of myself in particular who had a bird's view of it as had the ref.
I am beginning to wonder whether there is a conspiracy to take the physicality out of football entirely and re brand it as a kind of basketball with foot passes allowed.
This sort of nonsense does have an adverse effect on the player wrongly penalised and is just not good enough.Will the player shoulder charge again and such bad decisions do no service to the game and its promotion.In fairness to the ref,he improved as the game progressed.
Any how ,by half time they led by 0-7 to 0-2,ours coming from Harrow from play and Bugle from a free.To be fair the score reflected their superiority.
We made a much better fist of it in the second half with Bomber in goals having a blinder,Sprog attacking to advantage ,Eddie playing like a man half his age,Joey winning impossible ball,Bruts ,Daly ,Scanno and a web free Bugle taking the game to the opposition.
We gave it diddy ,Bugle tacking on 4 points,Scanno 2 points and Bruts a single point.
Daly sprayed the ball around to advantage while all the backs did their damnest to stem the Dumbarragh flow and contained it to 1-4..
I would love to see Daly giving it a serious lash in training to see where it would lead.
Mooney had his moments too.
Mitchell,Casey,Cooke,Dowdall and Brennan made somewhat brief appearance's in the second half and made wholehearted and valuable contributions.
Were I in charge of the Intermediate team I would be inviting both Farrells,Sprog and Bruts to join the panel.
Eddie and Bugle too were father time on their side.
This team has a good spirit
I will watch them again.