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25 April 2008
Whatever the reason is, this mysterious phenomenon that has taken place in the Parish has certainly caught the attention of the Local GAA men-folk. As they dust-off their long since retired boots, dig deep into the bowels of the clothes drawers for those tight-fitting togs of the 90’s, even ‘80’s, there are wives and partners watching, shaking their heads in dis-belief, as their, well now well-rounded Superstars head to training for the newly-formed Junior “B” hurling team.
The idea was first given oxygen in early January. Some covert meetings took place under the cloak of the dark winter nights, in various back-rooms around the Parish.
I guess the worry among these plotters and schemers was the large dropout rate of 18 and 19 year-olds as players Graduated from the Minor Club Academy of Hurling to the Senior club, many ending up slipping out of focus, Calls were made. Mobile numbers were wrangled out of friends and relations. Contact was made. The Case for the fourth hurling team in the Parish was proposed to each individual contacted. The sounds emanating back were positive enough.
Following several of these clandestine meetings, the Tallyman was invited along.
Slowly and methodically, this Master of Numbers poured over lists of names, with attached X’s and O’s, ticks and scratches, each with its own significance. Many minutes passed, as the Clan Leadership twisted and shifted uncomfortably in their seats, waiting for the Judgement. It was tense!
Then, as fast as he had sat down to work, the Tallyman took to his feet, gathering up the evidence that had been presented to him, carefully slipping it into his leather briefcase. He was done. And the Result?? “The Man from Del Monté, He says YES”…….
And then it suddenly dawned on us. It was a green light. But for what?? Oh, no! More phonecalls. “We are short 3 to make the 15, is there any way you can get off?” And so on.
They made their bed. They can now lie in it!
And so, the call went out. All young, fit, virile hurlers, who had hidden their weapons away in the corner of the garage, were, once again, called to Arms. But what happened?? They answered the call. But what else happened? Former Legends of Clooney hurling suddenly appeared over the Horizon. They, too, had taken up their trusted hurley once more. And in great numbers.
In true Junior “B” fashion, their first League game came around with little or no training under their belts. It was a Saturday fixture. Junior “B” hurlers work on a Saturday. But sufficient numbers made the long trip to the seaside village of Quilty, a club with a long history of the Ancient Game of Iománaíocht!
We do have the famous green and red club colours in common alright.
Clonbony provided the opposition. The weather that week was horrendous. It was a miracle that the game went ahead. Conditions were difficult you could say. They were indeed tough. Playing with the aid of a gale, Clooney were competitive for the first half, Clonbony tigerish in the tackle and decisive up front. At half-time, we were 5 points down, and the gale to face for the second half. Inevitably, the win went to the men from the Club of the Late Clare GAA President, Tom Malone.
The first game done and dusted, the call went out once more. TRAINING! What? For Junior B? Its not like the old days…. That’s for sure.
And they did train, in great numbers. From session to session over the next fortnight, more Lapsed Hurlers returned. There were flashes of the old skills that hadn’t been utilised for several years past.
Some local wag suggested that it was due to the impending clash with our neighbours, Crusheen that was the motivation for these Golden Oldies to get to the pitch and train.
Oh, yes. Did I not mention the game with Crusheen?? Ah yes. The Green and Red versus the Blood and Bandage. Those who are old enough to have witnessed past clashes recall the days when such a match would have jammed a previously empty Casualty Ward right to the beams that held up the ceiling.
The bould Tom Mac and all his tricks. The Fitzgibbon brothers who stood for no nonsense versus the O’Loughlins, Mike Murphy, the Duggans and so on.
The new breed from both Parishes still possess this healthy rivalry. The Secondary school in Tulla would buzz with electricity when these sides were due to meet. But back to the Junior “B”’s….
With all the training not usually associated with the Grade now stored within them, the Clooney lads took to the field to meet a weakened Crusheen. A County Under 21 Final robbed them of a number of regulars. With Local pride at stake, a walk-over was out of the question for Crusheen. Such was the shortage of players, that Warrior of many past Battles, Michael Fogarty donned the number 3 jersey. He surrounded himself with a mixture of mature lads and some very young lads.
Once the game commenced, to a man, the Crusheen team took the game to Clooney. Once it settled down, the home side began to win a slight majority of possession, but, alas, all the training they had done didn’t quite cover the art of shooting. Following a number of misses, up the field came the Crusheen lads and a speculative high ball into the Clooney defence eluded one and all, ending up gently nestled in the corner of the Clooney net. This score brought rapturous applause from the substantial Crusheen support in the now almost full Stand.
This score seemed to have been the decisive score of the day as the clock ticked to mid-way in the second half, with Crusheen holding a commanding 1-2 to 0-1 lead. It was time for a change!
The Clooney/Quin Backroom team of Kevin O’Brien and dave Barry put their heads together and, with some astute switches set in train a sudden burst of scoring by the Clooney lads, notching 3- 1 in the final quarter to secure a deserved victory. Bragging rights had been secured – for now. Well, until the next Battle!
And so it goes on. More matches. More training sessions. And even more All-stars returning. It is wonderful to see. Large numbers at training, all having the craic, enjoying their sport and no pressure. Isn’t that for tyres after all?
Finally, as we finish this piece, perhaps we should return to the original question posed for the return of all these players??
Can we not reasonably attribute this Renaissance to the outstanding achievements of Clooney/Quin teams in the recent past, particularly the Season of 2006, when we became Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Champions, County Intermediate Camogie Champions and County Minor “A” Hurling Cmampions?
I think so!
The idea was first given oxygen in early January. Some covert meetings took place under the cloak of the dark winter nights, in various back-rooms around the Parish.
I guess the worry among these plotters and schemers was the large dropout rate of 18 and 19 year-olds as players Graduated from the Minor Club Academy of Hurling to the Senior club, many ending up slipping out of focus, Calls were made. Mobile numbers were wrangled out of friends and relations. Contact was made. The Case for the fourth hurling team in the Parish was proposed to each individual contacted. The sounds emanating back were positive enough.
Following several of these clandestine meetings, the Tallyman was invited along.
Slowly and methodically, this Master of Numbers poured over lists of names, with attached X’s and O’s, ticks and scratches, each with its own significance. Many minutes passed, as the Clan Leadership twisted and shifted uncomfortably in their seats, waiting for the Judgement. It was tense!
Then, as fast as he had sat down to work, the Tallyman took to his feet, gathering up the evidence that had been presented to him, carefully slipping it into his leather briefcase. He was done. And the Result?? “The Man from Del Monté, He says YES”…….
And then it suddenly dawned on us. It was a green light. But for what?? Oh, no! More phonecalls. “We are short 3 to make the 15, is there any way you can get off?” And so on.
They made their bed. They can now lie in it!
And so, the call went out. All young, fit, virile hurlers, who had hidden their weapons away in the corner of the garage, were, once again, called to Arms. But what happened?? They answered the call. But what else happened? Former Legends of Clooney hurling suddenly appeared over the Horizon. They, too, had taken up their trusted hurley once more. And in great numbers.
In true Junior “B” fashion, their first League game came around with little or no training under their belts. It was a Saturday fixture. Junior “B” hurlers work on a Saturday. But sufficient numbers made the long trip to the seaside village of Quilty, a club with a long history of the Ancient Game of Iománaíocht!
We do have the famous green and red club colours in common alright.
Clonbony provided the opposition. The weather that week was horrendous. It was a miracle that the game went ahead. Conditions were difficult you could say. They were indeed tough. Playing with the aid of a gale, Clooney were competitive for the first half, Clonbony tigerish in the tackle and decisive up front. At half-time, we were 5 points down, and the gale to face for the second half. Inevitably, the win went to the men from the Club of the Late Clare GAA President, Tom Malone.
The first game done and dusted, the call went out once more. TRAINING! What? For Junior B? Its not like the old days…. That’s for sure.
And they did train, in great numbers. From session to session over the next fortnight, more Lapsed Hurlers returned. There were flashes of the old skills that hadn’t been utilised for several years past.
Some local wag suggested that it was due to the impending clash with our neighbours, Crusheen that was the motivation for these Golden Oldies to get to the pitch and train.
Oh, yes. Did I not mention the game with Crusheen?? Ah yes. The Green and Red versus the Blood and Bandage. Those who are old enough to have witnessed past clashes recall the days when such a match would have jammed a previously empty Casualty Ward right to the beams that held up the ceiling.
The bould Tom Mac and all his tricks. The Fitzgibbon brothers who stood for no nonsense versus the O’Loughlins, Mike Murphy, the Duggans and so on.
The new breed from both Parishes still possess this healthy rivalry. The Secondary school in Tulla would buzz with electricity when these sides were due to meet. But back to the Junior “B”’s….
With all the training not usually associated with the Grade now stored within them, the Clooney lads took to the field to meet a weakened Crusheen. A County Under 21 Final robbed them of a number of regulars. With Local pride at stake, a walk-over was out of the question for Crusheen. Such was the shortage of players, that Warrior of many past Battles, Michael Fogarty donned the number 3 jersey. He surrounded himself with a mixture of mature lads and some very young lads.
Once the game commenced, to a man, the Crusheen team took the game to Clooney. Once it settled down, the home side began to win a slight majority of possession, but, alas, all the training they had done didn’t quite cover the art of shooting. Following a number of misses, up the field came the Crusheen lads and a speculative high ball into the Clooney defence eluded one and all, ending up gently nestled in the corner of the Clooney net. This score brought rapturous applause from the substantial Crusheen support in the now almost full Stand.
This score seemed to have been the decisive score of the day as the clock ticked to mid-way in the second half, with Crusheen holding a commanding 1-2 to 0-1 lead. It was time for a change!
The Clooney/Quin Backroom team of Kevin O’Brien and dave Barry put their heads together and, with some astute switches set in train a sudden burst of scoring by the Clooney lads, notching 3- 1 in the final quarter to secure a deserved victory. Bragging rights had been secured – for now. Well, until the next Battle!
And so it goes on. More matches. More training sessions. And even more All-stars returning. It is wonderful to see. Large numbers at training, all having the craic, enjoying their sport and no pressure. Isn’t that for tyres after all?
Finally, as we finish this piece, perhaps we should return to the original question posed for the return of all these players??
Can we not reasonably attribute this Renaissance to the outstanding achievements of Clooney/Quin teams in the recent past, particularly the Season of 2006, when we became Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Champions, County Intermediate Camogie Champions and County Minor “A” Hurling Cmampions?
I think so!
