Check out Tom’s Angels!
Dear Editor,
I can truly imagine that all those who take part in field sports must be like young calves waiting to get out on fresh grass. But that day is getting ever closer and my wish is that our local teams (in all codes) will give a good account of themselves and, in the process, bring back some silverware to the area before this year is out.
The American crime drama TV programme ‘Charlie’s Angels’ ran from 1976 to ’81 and was hugely popular. The programme starred three women working in a private detective agency in Los Angeles and starred Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett-Majors and Jaclyn Smith. We never got to meet their boss, the unseen ‘ Charlie’ Townsend (voiced by John Forsythe). That got me thinking - what then of ‘ Tom’s Angels’. Now Charlie had just three angels on his side but I would go much further and pick 15 for my favoured team of angels. Most would be made up of camogie players from my favourite club St Catherine’s, but not all.
Tom’s Angels: Y O’Neill, A M Ronan, O Neville, Rachel (O’)Callaghan, Laura Hayes, Finola Neville, Aoife Hurley, Lorna Twomey, Isobel Pyne, Ashling Hutchings, Leah Lyons, Alison Bergin, Jane Mangan, Eleanor Walsh and Aibhín (O’)Sullivan. Reserves: Catherine McAuliffe (non-playing captain), Emma (O’)Hagan (Catherine’s good friend) and Louise McGann. I name these, not necessarily for the purpose of playing, but rather to have their names listed here in the pages of The Avondhu for posterity. Why you might ask? Well, to paraphrase a well-aired advert: ‘ Because they’re worth it’!
Speaking of camogie, the girls out there in Castlelyons are showing some promise and hopefully they too will have another good year. They have the great Timmy McCarthy, Trevor Hickey and Seanie Cotter training them. They are in the County minor final which has been postponed due to Covid. To mention a few: Olivia Beausang plays minor and junior with them, Ava Hallihan is on the Cork minor panel, Leah is on the U16 panel, Lucy McNulty, Sarah Morrisson and Aine Ní Mhaoilin are also on Cork panels; Grainne McNulty (ex-Loreto captain 2018) is on the Imokilly team and Aoife Beausang plays junior camogie with her club. Nestled nicely between Castlelyons and Conna (but more a part of the latter) is the tiny but charming hamlet of Aghern by the River Bride. A great spot and many a good night was had at The Big Tree which stands at the cross, and for many years before that, the famous ‘stage’ attracted people from far and wide. The Big Tree was built by Paddy (O’) Flynn in the 1970-s ‘with his bare hands’. Paddy has since retired from the business to concentrate on farming up the road in Mount Gifford, home to another great man, Gerard (‘Puka’) (O’)Flynn. Ahern boasts some great people such as poet, author and film producer, Patrick N (O’) Sullivan; John Meaney (emigrant), Pat Lee (of tug-o-war fame), Martin (O’)Flynn (the JCB man), Michael Sinclair (doggie man), Michael Joyce (a man of the land), ‘Twin’ Smith and Mary and Tom Cullinane (engineering) to name but some.
Paddy (O’)Flynn was a good goalkeeper in his time, a man whose temper was easily ‘riz’ if one of his backs made a mistake. Others I recall who were good between the posts included Tom Walsh, Conna (really sound), J J Sexton, Castlelyons (if he had a down side it was that he was a little short in height), Dicko (O’)Brien, Castlelyons (known for his fast reflexes), Aidan Barry, Coolagown (saves out of the top drawer), Jack Barry, Coole (a classy player) and John Richards (Fermoy/Castlelyons footballer). Every good wish and blessing to all the above.
Shakespeare said: “The man who has no enemies, has no friends”. I am so happy that so many people enjoy my letters to The Avondhu, but of course, we also have the knockers and begrudgers - people who see most things in life in a negative light. But it’s well acknowledged that anyone who is worth anything in this life, must endure the knockers. I keep my trust in Mary Our Mother who helps me deal with any negativity in my life. I know that with Her help and the ongoing interest I have developed since I started following St Catherine’s camogie, life is good and well worth living!
May God and Our Blessed Mother watch over our young people.
Yester- me, Yester-you, Yester-day! Yours sincerely, Tom McAuliffe, Cluain Dara, Fermoy.