Argentina’s Tipp heritage
WATCHING the start of the World Cup last weekend, my kids have a major interest in the fortunes of Lionel Messi and Argentina.
They were glued to the TV for the opening Group D game with Iceland but the minnows from the North Atlantic caused a major upset by holding out for a 1-1 draw.
My lads were a little upset afterwards but not half as much as former player Diego Maradona who really let rip on the players in the media.
While discussing Argentina and Maradona the following day, a good friend reminded me of the Irish influence on Maradona’a former club Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires.
Back in 1905 a Tipperary boxer by the name of Paddy McCarthy was instrumental in setting up the club that was the launchpad for Diego Maradona career. McCarthy left his hometown of Cashel in 1900 and like many at the time travelled to South America, working as a PE Teacher in the La Boca area of Buenos Aires.
He is said to have introduced football to several students and becoming hooked on the game, they set about founding the Boca Juniors club. McCarthy was central figure in the early days acting as team coach and club president.
He was also given the honour of refereeing the first ever match with local rivals River Plate, a game that has since become known as the Superclassico.
It was even speculated by some that Boca’s blue and gold kit is a homage to the county colours of Tipperary.
BOWED OUT
YET another Louth GAA team bowed out of the Leinster Championship at the first attempt with the Juniors suffering a heavy defeat to Kildare on Wednesday evening last in Drogheda.
It wasn’t so much the scoreline (2-19 to 0-8) that is annoying but more than manner of the teams preparations. It is rumoured the manager was only appointed the week of the game and no get-togethers, training or preparations were convened in advance of the players meeting in Drogheda an hour before throw-in.
A recent rule change in the competition for Louth means that only intermediate and junior players are now eligible so the competition doesn’t have the same attraction for the senior team manager to use it as a development type squad.
However that doesn’t excuse the complete lack of preparation and respect that was shown towards it. If we had no interest in partaking then we, like other counties, should simply have withdrawn from the competition.
I’m not sure who is to blame for this shambles but it reflects very poorly on all concerned. Fair play to the manager and all of the players involved who made themselves available for this fixture at such short notice. Nobody is pointing the finger of blame towards them. They did their best in the circumstances.
The sad thing about the current state of Louth GAA is the indifference and complete lack of interest that most supporters feel towards it. As I said in this column previously, growing numbers of Louth GAA people have chosen to concentrate their time and efforts solely on their own individual clubs and I really worry for the direction we are heading.
GOOD CHANCE
FOLLOWING their excellent win in Ruislip, the seniors head to Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday evening to take on Leitrim in the second round of the Qualifiers.
The draw is probably the best each county could have hoped for and both teams will fancy their chances of progressing.
Leitrim were extremely fortunate to get over New York at the beginning of May before losing heavily to Roscommon (0-24 to 0-10) in the Connacht semi-final. Like Pete McGrath, Brendan Guckian will see this game as a great opportunity to extend the summer.
Sixteen teams are out this weekend in Round 2 with the eight winners progressing to face each other in Round 3 a week later. The winners of Saturday evening’s game in McDiarmuid Park face a major uphill task next time out but you can’t underestimate the significance of a couple of championship victories.