THIS WEEK, STEPHEN Carty and his family finally got away on their much-delayed summer holiday.
Still wanting to feel a hot sun on their skin, they went to Marrakesh. After all, they didn’t foresee that things would be too hectic at the very end of November.
And then Coolera/Strandhill just kept winning and winning and winning. After winning the Sligo men’s senior and ladies’ Junior championships last year in Carty’s first year as chairman, they backed it up this time and just kept going.
Last weekend, he found himself in Maastricht, of all places, where the ladies were playing European champions Paris-Bordeaux Gaels in the All-Ireland Junior quarter-final, a fixture they negotiated with ease and a 7-18 to 1-4 scoreline.
Tough life.
This weekend the family will all be back in time for a busy weekend.
The ladies face Mungret of Limerick on Saturday at Ransboro on their All-Ireland semi-final at 1.30pm.
Less that 24 hours later, the men are in action in the Connacht final against Roscommon champions Pearses. Happily, it is being hosted at Markievicz Park on Sunday (throw-in 1.15pm).
Coming up against the 2021 champions and 2019 finalists, few would give the Sligo side a chance. The pedigree is not there anyway, with St Mary’s the only side from the county to have landed a provincial club title.
But records stand to be broken, Carty says. In manager John McPartland, they have someone steeped in the club.
“It is not too often a Sligo team gets to the final and a long time since a Sligo club has beaten Mayo opposition (as they did against Ballina). So we are obviously over the moon. We are delighted with the progress. Real unchartered waters for ourselves,” he says.
“It’s something we are really looking forward to. We are under no illusions about the challenge we have on Sunday. But the club, the team, we are trying to make the most of it and trying to galvanise the whole thing.”
In his second year as club chairman, Carty has had to seek dispensation from the county board to postpone the Annual General Meeting that should have taken place by now. They got a sympathetic hearing, though he wonders if he should have struck while the iron was hot and got the roles and jobs filled in the swell of enthusiasm.
“My first year there was phenomenal success. Our men’s team won the county championship for the first time since 2005 when I was playing,” recalls Carty.
“Then our ladies won the ladies Junior championship as well. So I can’t believe we have backed it up and had back to back championships. There is a saying there that you are better being a lucky chairman than a good chairman. That’s certainly the way with me and I hope I can keep it going.”
Over in Leinster, there’s a similar story heading into the club football on Saturday evening as St Mary’s of Ardee face Cuala at 5.40pm in Croke Park.
The Wee County are the Cinderella story of Leinster club football. No club have managed to snaffle the Sean McCabe Cup.
St Mary’s neighbours Mattock Rangers were the last to reach a final, when they lost the 2002 decider to Meath’s Dunshaughlin.
In the early years of the competition, Newtown Blues (1970) and Cooley Kickhams (1973 and ‘76) were others that featured in deciders.
But Louth football in general is feeling a lot better about itself, believes St Mary’s chairman, Mickey Rooney.
“On the football side of things we have put a big effort in at juvenile level over the last 15 years. It’s paying it back now,” he says.
“Donal McKenny this year was nominated for an All Star. Louth football is pretty strong right now and we are lucky enough to have seven or eight lads knocking around the Louth senior panel.
“They are not all playing, but Ciaran Keenan, Donal McKenny. The Jackson brothers.
“And then with the U20s, we have a good few lads in there as well.”
St Mary’s have Down’s 1994 All-Ireland winning player Cathal Murray as manager. In all, there were no less than nine people from Down managing in Louth this past year.
When Monaghan exited the All-Ireland this year, they were also able to bring in the excellent coach, Martin Corey.
That is supplemented with a strong backroom team including strength and conditioning coach Barry Teather and Rooney’s own brother Alan as selector.
“The lads are a credit to the club. All so committed. At this level you genuinely need to be committed to keep it going. It’s three years now,” says Rooney.
“Last year we were beat by Kilmacud, five points in the end but we had our chances. But we did learn, that’s the main thing. You hope you can learn from those experiences and I think we did.
“We haven’t come against a team as strong as Cuala, but there’s always a chance.”
This weekend, Croke Park will see the whites of their eyes for the first time. With so many county players having played there before, it won’t be that big a deal.
“Ack, we will have a great support going down. We have loads of buses leaving Ardee at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon and we are really up for it. And we have had a lot of good support from people in Louth,” adds Rooney.
With two teams to get behind this weekend, Carty has a tonne of stuff on his plate.
“For myself and executive, our job is very much behind the scenes and we tend to stay out of the way and let the team and management do their business and we just give them every support we can give them,” he says.
“Organising physios, meals, bus trips, jerseys, gear, making sure the sponsors are getting the recognition they deserve. There’s a huge bit that goes on there and while people are focussing on the pitch, the work that goes on behind the scenes is equally important and we are happy to support both teams in that regard.”
The word that strikes fear into GAA administrators – integration – isn’t the issue locally that it clearly is proving on a national scale. Coolera/Strandhill amalgamated in every sense of the word years ago and have Gaelic football, ladies’ football, hurling and camogie on an equal footing, all under the one executive.
“The thing that really resonating with me at the moment is that with the success of the ladies and men’s team at the moment, it’s inspiring a cohort of young kids from nursery all the way up, to emulate what the adults have done. We have to make the most of it and do everything to keep everyone involved.”
Among them are his own children; Oisín, Darragh and Mia. Right now, they are as wrapped up in it as anyone else in the parish.
“It’s unbelievable, they are diehard Coolera-Strandhill fans now and they have the flags and the jerseys on, they have temporary tattoos of the club crest on their faces and all go,” he laughs.
“It’s for them. They are the future of the club and it’s great to see all the happiness that the team have brought us this year.”
I think he’s right! But the stable door has long since closed on that one.
I look forward to hearing what Gary Neville has to say about the Catholic church’s position on marriage. It will be approximately as relevant.
I thought that would have been in the running for comment of the week. Just goes to show.
Quality comment!
About as relevant as yours
Pope warns against money in football from his gold throne.
So true. the man lives in a palace and I imagine it costs a fortune to send him around the world to wave
Actually, this Pope doesn’t. He has moved to an apartment which was previously used by staff. I’m no fan of the Catholic church but at least blame them for what they are guilty of.
Grand so, Padraig McHale
Their are guilty of:
- covering up sex abuse of children for decades
- Fast tracking John Paul ii to saint hood even though he was the man heavily involved in cover ups for 25 years!
- In 2014 refusing to co-operate with UN investigation
- Refusing to compensate abuse victims
- Trying to influence Irish Government legislation by threatening our government ministers that if they don’t vote a certain way they’d be banned from communion.
- Silencing priests with progressive views such as, priests should be allowed to marry, gay marriage should be allowed etc
The Catholic church are hardly in a position to lecture anyone in relation to rights and wrongs in this world.
Who is?
I completely agree Michael. That was precisely my point!!
*Martin, not Michael obviously.
“Actually, this Pope doesn’t” <- whether he lives there or not, the Vatican is a fecken gold laden palace. How is he costing them less by living in yet another residence?
Why not go out and sell your car, computer, sky tv box etc if you’re so concerned about worldly possessions making people greedy and evil. Go live on a deserted island with little luxury and then come back on here and talk about pots and kettles. Although if you sell your expensive computers and other devices then that may be difficult.
Actually he doesn’t. He lives in a small room in a seminary with other priests and brothers. If you’re going to attack the man’s stance, at least do it with the truth.
Add being guilty of the deaths of thousands in Africa due to their stance on contraception
Agreed Mr Bishop,
But the man still has a point.
@John O’Call
“Why not go out and sell your car, computer, sky tv box etc if you’re so concerned about worldly possessions making people greedy and evil.”
Most people haven’t lied, raped, pillaged and murdered others for the computers/phones/homes/clothes etc that they own.
If he doesn’t indulge in the luxuries like his predecessor then fair play but he’s still head of the Catholic Church. Go to the Vatican and witness the opulence for yourself and then tell me this is the religion of charity!
It is most definitely not the religion of charity….but then what religion ever followed its own teaching? I do actually think this Pope is better than his predecessors but that’s not saying an awful lot really. The Vatican is still one giant bureaucracy and no one person can change it even if they really want to.
I don’t like the Catholic church one bit but you can hardly expect them to but the Vatican on Daft.ie or start flogging works of art on ebay ? Or can we.? *moves eyes shiftly * .
@Padraig McHale
Nice work. I’ve never seen an example of nested tu quoque fallacies before.
Thanks Jimbo. Appreciated.
He is guilty by association padraig
They could and should fold their tent and sell off everything and eradicate starvation worldwide
Pots and kettles
Yet our former pope would have taken the cash for an ole champions league blessing
Anything about the Money in Religion and charities?
I can’t believe it but I agree with the pope.
Pity he couldn’t have said that to the private interests in rugby before they destroyed one of its best competitions, the Heineken Cup, all in the name of greed.
I’d be more worried about the money in the Vatican! Maybe they should buy a football team just to add to the corruption! How about Plymouth Argyle otherwise known as the Pilgrims or maybe go straight for a PL club. The saints had a good year!!
The last few Popes would know a thing or two about football.John Paul 2 was a goalkeeper but he and the repugnant Benedict were Defenders! Defenders of paedophiles.
The Vatican and all its wealth and pomp are the polar opposite of the alleged teachings of Jesus.
Lets see P.R Pope do a Bill Gates and donate the Vatican Billions.
Too late popey – far too late.
I chuckle to myself everything I see your profile name and photo :-)
*everytime
Vatican
Keeper – of wealth
Defenders – of filth
Midfield engines – of Propaganda
Attackers – of critics
When he and his cronies honour their supposed vow of poverty I’ll listen…..until then best to say nowt Popemeister!
http://www.nytimes.com/…/vatican-suspends-german-bishop-known-for-spendin…;
What vow of poverty? Only applies to some priests.
Money in football = bad
Money for systematically raping children = fine
He’s only discovering this now?
I’m warning the pope against money in the church. Three collections in one mass Francis, THREE!
I’d much rather see people be greedy in sport than greedy in the drugs business. Sport is a nice, safe place for greed, IMO.
Greed is bad everywhere.
Is Martin bishop a bishop just asking
Careful ladies James Franco is here. What’s the next statement from the church? Opinion on current state of music scene? Maybe a statement about good holiday destinations. Can someone please tell that the world is considerably better educated than it was a couple of 100 years ago they are no longer relevant and we know hypocrites when we see them.
Of course he is right. We need the fA to step in and hand Liverpool the title. Whether by linesman, or maximum 20 million plus player quotas.
I see the red thumbers. Good day to our American brethren.
I wish he told them to stop diving trying to cheat , not that the Vatican can preach to anyone, at least not yet
You see the problem with arsenal is that they just walk the ball into the net
The more I hear from this pope the more I like him, let’s hope he lasts in the oldest corporation in the world.
Trying to close another stable door long after that particular horse has bolted a long time ago.
Barrys or lyons lads? That’s the question!
Even il papa is on Napoli’s side.