My cousin Jim, Belfast and loving a whiff of new shoes FROM THE SPORTS VAULTS
WEDNESDAY: MAY 19
WHEN on a post-deadline ramble, I spotted a lady with a pair of binoculars. She could have been looking into the distance or the future, I couldn’t tell.
With the weather delightful for our beach walk in Rosses Point, I realised how lucky I am. I could have been one of those who got a land when the Chinese skyscraper they were in, the almost 300 metre high SEG Plaza in Shenzhen (southern China), started to wobble.
I don’t have a head for heights at the best of times – when either Rovers or Sligo’s Senior Gaelic footballers are top of their respective tables I get dizzy, as do most of the county I suspect – so I won’t be booking a trip to China next week. Five of the world’s tallest skyscrapers are to be found in China (easily found, too, just glance up).
In other China-related matters, China has landed an unmanned spacecraft on the surface of Mars. Will, 100 years from now, humans be living all over the universe?
My new favourite programme on RTÉ, Cook-In with chef Mark Moriarty, demonstrated how to make, among other things, foccacia. Watching food being prepared by experts is one thing, getting inspiration to try it at home is another. I’ll stick to burning toast.
THURSDAY: MAY 20
A RAINY start to this particular Thursday that, once its gone, can never be relived. The Irish Times tells me that three years ago the HSE were warned about potential weaknesses in their computer systems. The same HSE that is dealing with a cyberattack.
Speaking of technologies, I don’t listen to music when out walking. Perhaps I should invest in an iPod or MP3 player.
Today was all about investing in an umbrella or a wetsuit, such was the constant rainfall. I surmised that maybe all the rain we are meant to get in June is falling now, so next month can be free of brollies and rain jackets.
We had an appointment that we were dreading – a visit to the vet with Macy, one of our two dupers. She has a limp but doesn’t complain. I suggest that she write a blog about it or set up an Instagram account called Macy’s Limp. When the limp clears up she can change the account name to Macy’s Blimp or Macy’s Imp. Is there an interest in a dog’s small airship or fairy/demon controlled by a canine? The vet gave us some upbeat news – rest and medication should clear the issue. So while I drink gin and take afternoon naps Macy should be OK.
FRIDAY: MAY 21
EDDIE, the jumpy, excitable dog who makes our lives that much better, was lost this morning. Not physically, but in spirit. With his canine pal, Macy, confined to barracks until her limp clears up, he just wasn’t in the same form when charging about alone on the beach, his tongue lolling cartoonishly.
He still chases birds, obsessively so, that I now believe he doesn’t want to catch these winged creatures but actually become one of them. Eddie the existentialist.
With the country gradually moving towards its former self, although the ransomware attack on the HSE continues to cause major, life-threatening issues, a critical decision for some Irish folk is around the corner. Staycation or holiday abroad? It has to be the former. The service/hospitality industry is on its knees and it is beholden on everyone to do what we can for this sector, here and in the North.
We stayed at home during lockdown, we can stay at home (this country) for our holidays, too.
Donegal GAA legend Jim McGuinness, a far out relation of mine on my mum’s side of the family (although Jim doesn’t know me from Adam) could end up as manager of Dundalk. So says the rumour mill. According to RTÉ, McGuinness was offered a short-term coaching role at Oriel Park in County Louth.
SATURDAY: MAY 22
MACY is still limping, unfortunately, and Rovers are still winning, fortunately. Last night at The Showgrounds was one of the coldest nights I’ve experienced there for some time – luckily I found a belt for the trousers that normally keep falling down and so I didn’t have to wear my summer shorts.
It must have felt even colder for visitors Longford Town, whose winless streak continues.
With this game being behind closed doors, it was unusual to hear any shouts/howls/outcries normally associated with supporters. Because, er, there weren’t any fans present. But members of the press pack following Longford’s fortunes (or misfortunes as it turns out due to them achieving just one win in 12 games) were doing their best to be their team’s 12th man.
Breaking the golden rule – media folk must never, ever get shouty, even if their hometown club is winning the UEFA Champions League or the Kiernan Cup – didn’t seem to matter to them.
Today’s road trip was a short one – a hop and a skip up the road to Markievicz Park (which now has a book written about it) where Sligo’s Senior hurlers took on Armagh.
Sligo were on fire – at times – and fully deserved their 2-24 to 1-18 win. Despite the promise of Marty Whelan’s witty quips, I avoided RTÉ’s coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest final.
RELAY RUNNERS: Odhran Byrne-Gildea and Nathan Rooney in action for Sligo in the Boys U-16 relay event at the Community Games national finals in August of 2012.
SUNDAY: MAY 23
FOR today’s road trip to Belfast’s Corrigan Park, with herself and the dupers replacing my usual road trip companions (Mr Finn and Mr Cawley), I thought a Eurovision Song Contest trivia quiz might shorten the journey up North.
My intention was a light-hearted tribute to Italy’s entry Maneskin winning last night’s Eurovision Song Contest final. There were also allegations that they sampled Coke. Or was it Pepsi or TK red lemonade (which contains delightful ingredients such as sunset yellow, quinoline yellow and carmoisine).
As a trivia quizzer, Eddie has had better days. He barked only when I replaced certain words in winning song titles with words that he’s familiar with. For example, ‘Seagull on a String’ (Puppet on a String, Sandie Shaw, 1967), ‘All Kinds of Every Treat’ (All Kinds of Everything, Dana, 1970) and ‘What’s Another Treat’ (What’s Another Year, Johnny Logan, 1980).
For the record, I don’t condone putting seagulls on strings.
Meanwhile, while I watched Sligo’s ding-dong battle with Antrim, the gang walked from Whiterock Road to Belfast’s centre. There, while herself had had a snack outdoors, with the dogs chilling out in this famous city, one of the restaurant staff mentioned how a few years ago he had travelled to Strandhill with his family on a break, popped into Shells Cafe and was amazed to spot Kian Egan of Westlife fame. Small world, eh?
For the journey home, there were no more Eurovision trivia questions or, indeed, answers about Sligo’s onepoint loss. We stopped at Tully Castle where, as dusk fell on it and shores of Lough Erne, I took pictures. There was a massacre there on Christmas Day, 1641.
Then I ate my way through a bag of Maynards Bassetts Fizzy Fish (soft jellies, not actual fish), thinking that to be killed in any era, be it the 17th century or now, is terribly sad.
MONDAY: MAY 24
DURING the Belfast experience I took my eye off the ball. Only a late update on my Google feed last night reminded me that United wrapped up their Premier League campaign with a 2-1 away defeat of Wolves.
This means that United have gone through the entire season unbeaten away from home on their way to finishing runners-up.
Being second (to City) is only a quasi-achievement but foundations are being put in place. There are also some reasonable young players coming through, although it remains to be seen if they’ll become the next Ravel Morrison or the next Ronaldo. Herself, enthused by yesterday’s road trip (technically she was in another, non-EU country), is just as enthused by getting her nails done by nail technician Sabrina at Caroline Wimsey’s Makeup Studio.
My nails, meanwhile are treated as things to be cleaned and trimmed. Which goes for my feet as well as my hands. This evening’s result at Tallaght Stadium proves that for the moment there’s only one Rovers.
TUESDAY: MAY 25
MAYBE I’m walking too much.
Maybe footwear isn’t what it used to be. Anyway, I have a new pair of Asics courtesy of online giants Amazon. Before donning them I repeatedly inhaled the shoes new smell. Glorious. It brought me back to the fragrance of new football boots, ones that my mum would buy for me at Kenny Sports in Ballina. The boots must have done something right as – at all levels – I netted approximately 50 goals for Easkey. With different pairs of boots and against different defences, including a Tourlestrane defence in 1994 that featured the one and only Jerry Lundy.
During today’s stroll, I noticed a man eating a sandwich from a wrapper as he walked along Riverside. That is something I would never do – eat and walk. But I will talk and walk or just walk around this town. Tomorrow, Wednesday, United are in a European final. A chance to wear my United jersey to work. I won’t lie, I’m excited – yet nervous.
Not about United’s chances in the UEFA Europa League final against Villarreal CF against, a very useful Spanish side, but if the jersey still fits.
COUNTY PLAYERS
Geevagh players Sarah Reynolds and Megan Davey were part of the Sligo Ladies Football squad that defeated Down last Sunday. Arthur Wall was in Sligo’s Senior hurling panel for their victory over Armagh last Saturday at Markievicz Park. Donal Conlon was a second-half substitute for Sligo in their game away to Antrim – Sligo lost this game by a point.
PROVINCIAL FINAL
Geevagh Ladies Footballers’ 2020 Connacht LGFA Intermediate Club Championship final against Glencar-Manorhamilton (Leitrim), a game that was deferred due to lockdown and national Covid-19 restrictions, has been scheduled for Saturday, June 19, at Markievicz Park. Another Geevagh team that has a game from last year to play is the club’s Boys U-12 side. On Wednesday, June 9, they are at home to St Patrick’s in the Sligo U-12 ‘B’ Football League Shield semi-final (throw-in 7pm).
BEST WISHES
Congratulations to Eimhear and Brian Drury, Annaghgowan, on the recent birth of their baby daughter.
SUBMITTING NOTES
Any items for inclusion in these club notes can be forwarded by text, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to 087 1305671.
THE Sligo Senior Football Championship, last year won for the fifth year in succession by south Sligo giants Tourlestrane, will again feature 10 teams.
Returning to the top tier are Tourlestrane’s neighbours Curry, winners of last year’s Intermediate Football Championship.
Senior Championship teams will be divided into two even groups (five teams in each) and round-robin games will be played over five weekends.
The top two in each group will be the competition’s semi-finalists – the leading team in Group One takes on Group Two’s runners-up and the Group Two winners face the team placed second in Group One.
The bottom two in each group are destined for the relegation play-offs. The loser of the relegation final will play in next year’s Intermediate grade. There are also 10 teams in the Intermediate Football Championship. New to this year’s competition are Eastern Harps, who were relegated from the top table in 2020, and Tourlestrane’s second XV,