Keen rivalries have energised fans of G.A.A. from the off

THERE’S NOTHING like a bit of local rivalry to whet the appetites for all sporting occasions, regardless of the code or the level. If the near neighbours are providing the opposition, rest assured that the bragging rights will be a precious commodity until the sides meet again.

Indeed, many teams have been known to live off the special feeling that comes from a win over their nearest rivals, even if they slumped at a later stage of the competition.

Nowhere is that scenario more prevalent than in the G.A.A. world, where rivalries have formed the cornerstone of activity since the foundation of the organisation in 1884.

And now some of the most talked-about and fondly remembered head-to-heads are recalled in book form.

‘Great GAA Rivalries: Unforgettable Showdowns’ is the latest offering from John Scally, a Trinity College lecturer but a prolific author in his spare time.

Indeed, he has written 40 books with cumulative sales of over 150,000 since 1992, including the biographies of former Clare hurling manager Ger Loughnane, and ex-Ireland rugby out-half Tony Ward.

Scally has a special place in his heart for his native Roscommon, and the late Dermot Earley was a close personal friend.

This latest book is true to its title, as Scally looks at the ageold rivalries that have captivated followers of hurling and football through the years.

The chapters are short and snappy, ensuring that as many of these match-ups as possible are covered.

And while many focus on neighbour versus neighbour, that isn’t always the case.

For example, the rivalry that blossomed between the Kerry and Dublin footballers in the 1970s came about through their regular meetings on the bigger occasions, while the same could be said about Wexford’s hurling clashes with Cork in the 1950s.

Scally relies on anecdotes and amusing tales to highlight the appeal of these clashes, and it’s the type of book that one can dip in and out of given the range of rivalries covered.

While he draws on interviews from a number of G.A.A. personalities, his heavy reliance on Pat Spillane for comment may prove rather irksome for those who are not fans of the former Kerry player.

And while most of the general recollections are brief and to the point, the book ends with a more in-depth look at what transpired in the hurling world in 1998 when Clare went to war with the Munster Council after a fractious clash with Waterford in Thurles.

Scally, as Ger Loughnane’s biographer, reproduces the manager’s thoughts on that bizarre year, and it’s worth reading in full just to recall the enmity that existed between the warring parties.

While many of the stories in this book will be familiar to ardent G.A.A. followers, it’s still possible to pick up some interesting nuggets of fresh information.

For example, I was intrigued to learn that Seán Boylan once changed the Meath jersey for an All-Ireland final replay because two of his players were colour-blind and had trouble distinguishing from their opponents in the drawn encounter - now, that’s what I call attention to detail!

ALAN AHERNE

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