I regret lost opportunity to shake my hero’s hand

WITH so much happening in sporting circles in the week just gone and indeed the week ahead, it was very difficult to know where to begin this column. That was until news broke on Saturday morning that Muhammad Ali had passed away the previous evening.

Ali was my hero as a youngster and I’ve never grown tired of watching those old fights and interviews. Like all people who become true cultural icons, he transcended the sport that he loved so much because his mind was as powerful as the punches that he threw.

From an early age the poor kid from Louisville, Kentucky, knew he was destined for stardom and told all who would listen that he would become the greatest boxer of all time.

Not only would he fulfil this dream of becoming the champion of the world, defeating every boxer of his era during the golden age of heavyweight boxing, he would go on to become arguably the greatest sportsman of all time. His charisma, charm, quick wit and turn of phrase will likely never be seen again.

He first came to Ireland in 1972 to fight Al Blue Lewis in Croke Park, having being persuaded by Kerry-born circus strongman and publican Butty Sugrue.

As I mentioned in this column previously, I almost got to meet him during the World Special Olympics opening ceremony at Croke Park in 2003. I got within 20 feet of the great man in a corridor in the bowels of the stadium, only to be ushered away by security. I always regret not trying harder to dodge those bouncers and try to shake his hand. He returned to Ireland in 2009 to the birthplace of his great grandfather Abe Grady in Ennis, where he was made a Freeman of the town.

I read a good story about Ali recently told by the son of an Irishman who came across him in London during the early Sixties. The man was attending a trade show and was sitting down for breakfast in his hotel when he noticed a large, noisy group entering the dining room. He didn’t pay much attention until one of the group detached themselves and approached his table. He politely asked if he could join him for breakfast to escape the fuss of the entourage.

They got chatting and the man asked him where he was from and what he did for a living. He replied that he was from Ireland, was a tanner and worked with leather. The man smiled and said he too was Irish, with relations in County Clare, and also worked in the leather trade ... but his customers didn’t much like what he gave them. It was only later that €20 on Louth - at 4/1 - to beat Meath in Sunday’s Leinster SFC clash the Irishman found out he had just had breakfast with Cassius Clay.

The Euro 2016 Finals begin on Friday night, with the hosts France taking on Romania in Paris. Ireland’s first match is on Monday evening as we take on Sweden at the Stade de France where we must get something from the game if we’re to have any hope of progressing. The Belgians and Italians are likely to be a lot tougher opposition than the Swedes, so we must start with a result.

After the disappointment of 2012 the nation could really do with another tournament like Italia 90 or USA 94. Those were fantastic times and it would be marvellous for a new generation to experience what all us old-timers got to enjoy in the early Nineties.

Before then, however, there is the small matter of Louth v Meath in Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon. Traditionally these matches have always been tight, with very little between ourselves and our neighbours in championship games over the years, but we haven’t beaten them in summer football since 1975 and it’s about time we put this right.

Although we have a very young and inexperienced side at the moment, Meath are no different. They haven’t set the world alight in recent years and Mick O’Dowd has gone through a very similar rebuilding process as Colin Kelly. Maybe it’s the recent hot weather or something, but I’ve got a real good feeling about this one.

I was in Newbridge on Wednesday night for the Leinster Junior semi-final against Kildare where a youthful Louth team gave the hosts a lesson in how to play a fast-paced running game. The Lillywhites had no answer to our skill and accuracy and Colin Kelly’s side ran out comfortable 11-point winners.

Two old midfield partners of mine, Gerry Curran and John Osbourne, had sons featuring on the night (Robbie and Hugh) alongside my own son Shane. .... it brought back lots of memories.

One of the highlights of the game was the free-taking of the aforementioned Robbie Curran. He stroked six 50-yard dead balls over the bar in as good an exhibition of long-range free-taking as you will witness all year. Louth’s reward is a home final in Drogheda against holders Wexford on June 22nd.

There were contrasting fortunes for the two local soccer sides on Friday night, with Dundalk going under 1-0 to title rivals Cork in Turner’s Cross and Drogheda ending Limerick’s unbeaten run with a 2-2 draw at the Markets Field. Going into the mid-season break Dundalk are now just one point ahead of Cork in the Premier Division, while Drogheda remain in second place in the First Division.

This week’s bet is for Louth to cause an upset on Sunday against Meath at odds of 4/1.