ONLINEEYE
IT WASN’T just Co. Wicklow that was shaken and stirred by Rathnew’s historic triumph over St. Vincent’s. It turned the heads of national media and seemed to give hope to GAA players everywhere. Below is just a mere pattering of the truckloads of praise that flooded in for The Village.
Rory’s Stories: “Am by a pool in Cancun sipping cocktails and word is spreading that Rathnew have beaten Vincents. Be the lord jaysus...now there’s an upset!!! #TheToughest”
Brendan Murphy (Carlow footballer): “By Jesus you have to admire Rathnew, shows what an unbelievable unity and belief can do for a team, have to fancy their chances to win Leinster now.”
Colm Keys (Irish Indo GAA scribe): “Just when Aughrim was losing its aura. Some win for Rathnew.”
Kieran Cunningham (Irish Daily Star): “Harry Murphy, Rathnew manager, a credit. Over 40 years of service to his club as player and few stints as manager. Way it used to be, way it should be.
“St. Vincent’s shocked by Rathnew of Wicklow. Dublin clubs have won last five Leinster titles. Wide open now”.
Darren Frehill (RTE Sport): “Wicklow champions Rathnew have just beaten St. Vincent’s 1-13 to 1-09. Incredible upset.”
Darren Clarke (ex-Louth player): “Some shock result in Wicklow savage result for Rathnew #GaaBeo”
Jamie Snell: “.@Woolberto Leighton Glynn’s tactics worked out well today...what do you think?? @RathnewGAA1885” (Colm Parkinson replied: “unbelievable result, happy to be wrong”).
Vinnie Murphy (ex-Dub star): “Things we learned over the weekend. 1. Stafford needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the Wicklow squad. 2. Any dedicated group of good players can win no matter where they come from. Well done Rathnew”
Sean Kelly (ex-GAA President): (commenting on the lack of coverage) “True, got a bare mention when it should have been top headine - akin to Leicester winning Premiership!”
Malachy Clerkin (Irish Times): “Holy shit, that’s some result for Rathnew. My preview couldn’t have been more wrong.”
Conor Healy: “Glynn was an absolute joke today! If Connolly had performed the way Glynn had the country would be talking about it all week! Was so so good! Some win for Rathnew and some win for Wicklow GAA! #joytowatch #differentgravy #TheToughest #rathnew #vincents”
Gary Fennell: “People leaving Rathnew pub while I was on my way to work this morning...”
Eamonn Fennell (ex-Dubin player, current Vincent’s player and probably no relation to Gary above): “Tough defeat yesterday unfortunately the year didn’t finish the way we would have hoped. Thank you to everyone who supported us and travelled to the games, it meant a lot. Well done to @RathnewGAA1885 well-deserved winners, best of luck in the next round”
Chris Gregory: “When you have Leighton Glynn on the team there’s more than a chance of winning specially with the king Theo Smyth, big bad ‘Boa Mark Doyle and another 20 warriors. Deadly lads fair play”.
Tony Hagan: “People were talking about how good Diarmuid Connolly is but folks Leighton Glynn showed today in Aughrim what a really class footballer really can do. Great for the village and everyone in this county should row straight in behind our county champions and support them in vast numbers for their next game.”
Gary Jameson: “Super display, Leighton showed every bit of his experience today...ran the show from start to finish!!”