Health Checks for Croker

1st Aug 2007

Heart Checks for Croker
Alan Ger

A portrait of Bray last Saturday evening

In a small ale house in Bray on Saturday evening an elderly man wearing a Cork jersey stood deep in thought a few feet back from the bar counter. Clearly intent on addressing his serious and sober demeanour (possibly attributed to his proximity to Dublin or the destruction of Galway he had just witnessed on TV) with a few gats, the bar man waited patiently as the fish-out-of-water slowly surveyed the taps on offer.

Looking up and down the wide selection of big name beverages on offer his brow furrowed as he made an inaudible request to the barman clearly hoping not to have to choose a replacement for his favourite tipple.

'No sorry bud, we don't have that here'
Another mumbled shot in the dark followed.
'I'm afraid we don't do that one either'

This was not a man who was seeking some obscure Weiss bier brewed in a far flung corner of southern Germany. This was a simple country man making a rare sojourn north with no purpose other than to serve his county in Croke Park the following day.

Minimising the impact of a foreign place he had no interest in being was clearly on his mind. Have no doubt that staying in north Wicklow was part of it.

Eventually he was seen reluctantly sipping on something Cork people would refer to as a 'substitute when abroad' yet the furrowed brow seemed to grow sterner with every drop as torrential rain hammered the modest single glazing - the only thing separating him from the inhospitable elements outside. And the weather.

Rebels will have to fork out €45 to sit in Croker this Sunday and €35 on Saturday to support their county.

The Rebel Roar
Last week on this page we called for a heavy presence of Corkonians to fill Croker and by God did it show up. Your county is extremely grateful and so too are the team because like our Corkman in Bray, we all know the sacrifice Cork fans make to support their teams, be it hurling, football or soccer.

During a match there are two important moments for GAA supporters to get behind their team. The easiest one to join in with is the first play after Cork score a goal. The more testing time for Rebels to roar on their side is when Cork fall victim to their opposition's purple patch.

When Shanahan scored his goal and followed it up with a point Waterford fans piped up but, moments later the spine tingling chorus of "Rebels! Rebels!" overpowered it and before we knew it, Tom Kenny was galloping past McGrath and a white flag was raised. There would be no surrender.

Waterford's travelling support were unusually quiet, especially in the second half as Cork rained in the goals. It remains to be seen if their fashionable confidence has any real depth. Naturally we have our doubts.

That Incident

An Captaen

It has been dissected and analysed to death at this stage and somehow certain media pundits are still managing to justify the referee's decision to incorrectly award a free to Waterford after Donal Óg was smashed to the ground by Paul Flynn.

All through the game he blew for a 'clash-ball' when players fell or were pushed on top of the ball but, when a financial bonanza for the GAA beckoned, the Offaly man's morals duly crumbled under the watchful eye of the cackling GAA overlords and their greedy accountants.

For those who doubt the referee played for a draw it is important to remember that the very same referee gave a dubious free to Waterford in the dying seconds of last year's All Ireland semi final between the same teams. That time Donal Óg batted Ken McGrath's effort to safety and Cork were victorious.

If Waterford go on to win the All Ireland this year they'll have Mr. Gavin to add to their thank-you list.

Croker Ads
While we're on the topic we sincerely hope the GAA aren't going to turn Croke Park into one giant advert. It's bad enough when fans in the stadium have to watch repeated adverts for big name brands before seeing replays but they are currently attempting to replace Guinness and Bank of Ireland with a champions league style multi-brand sponsorship whose adverts will be the only ones on view in every stadium through out the country.

This of course means wrangling with the various county boards in an attempt to compensate them for the loss all the sponsorship small local businesses have poured into the organisation since the GAA was founded. Moving the GAA another step away from the local community and those who vigorously support it is a ploy laden with risk.

Oh God Me Heart
On behalf of Cork fans we have lobbied HSE to provide emergency cardiac health facilities at the hurling replay next Sunday. Such was the unbearable tension of the drama unfolding below us that you could almost hear the thump of hearts in the middle of Hill 16 as the lead changed back and forth before settling on the draw.

The excitement every time these two hurling giants clash surpasses what any other sport has to offer but, the amount of people who collapsed to the ground after the final whistle breathing heavily while shaking their heads in disbelief may be a sign that hurling has got too dramatic for its own good.

It might be time for the GAA to implement cardiac screening at the turnstiles for fear fans of either county could fold under the high pressure heart thumping conditions. Beta blockers should be handed out at half time to regulate heart beats and the Artane Boys Band should conduct yoga classes to help nervous fans to chill out.

Victory
For both hurlers and footballers to ensure victory this weekend both teams need the rebel army to travel again in monstrous numbers. The GAA have infuriated us by not putting the games against Sligo and Waterford on the same day. Rebels will have to fork out for accommodation on Saturday night to support their county, not to mind coughing up the cash for two separate tickets to Croke Park.

But don't succumb to the attempted intimidation of Cork, just imagine what it'll be like to see Joe Deane leaping around the field at the final whistle, to witness Fraggie jump into Neil Ronan's arms and hug random strangers in red clothing all around you. Then pour into Dublin's bars and remind any plucky locals about the true kings of GAA. In the words of Seán Óg: bring it on!