It has probably been mentioned in this space over the years that the 2001 All Ireland Football Final between Galway and Meath was one of two occasions during which tears were shed in Croke Park. The other being 6 years prior to that when Dublin well and truly stuffed us in the Leinster Final.
The difference between the two occasions being that the second instance came at a time when – between my line of business and privileges that accrue due to same, I had become very close to (and blessedly still am) the vast majority of the players and backroom staff. Most especially Eoghan Lynch – or ‘The Crow’ as he’s known to so many of us.
So there were more tears on the Monday night at the official All Ireland homecoming in Dunboyne. As a result of which one was far too ‘tired and emotional’ (literally) to even consider going to college.
Thus, as my wont at the time, Brady’s was my sanctuary, the people therein my medicine. Despite what some gossips wish was the truth. Anyway, this particular evening, when I rolled into the bar, here was The Crow with David Gallagher, Cormac ‘Spud’ Murphy, Richie Kealy, Niall Kelly, David Crimmins, Nigel Nestor and Paul Shankey. Plus a few local ‘characters’ who we’ll get back to in a bit.
Anyway, pints flowed, stories were spun, sorrows were drowned and all in all it still remains one of the happiest evenings spent anywhere in my life.
Now, obviously, I knew the lads from the clubs nearest to our own very well. Indeed, Niall and I have been closer than there are words to describe for years, and anybody who has been frequenting this space for long enough will know the same applies tenfold with big Gally.
‘Spud’ needed no introduction either as, during that particular bit of life’s journey, tipping down to Brady’s to meet the various Sales Reps whose visits punctuated the week, the aforementioned on a Monday for Heineken, Peter Darby – Lord rest his kind soul – and later Sean Barry for what is now Britvic on a Tuesday, Jinksy Beggy for Guinness on a Wednesday. They were only the scheduled visits. Added to that, you could have Gene Sherry or Larry Murphy or Liam Dunne or Richie Power senior and/or junior.
The man from the ‘Wood was in that particular ensemble but it was actually through another of the Brady’s regular groups that his acquaintance was made properly. The motor dealership group. Comprising the main people behind both Tractamotors Blanchardstown – Greg and Nick Crawford, brothers of former Meath Captain, Nigel, and the Blanchardstown Renault crew, headed up Fergus O’Rourke and Bert Gill, Lord rest them both, and the two O’Rourke ‘young lads’ Tiernan and Brian.
Now, who actually owned the house, or if any of them did, I was never sure, but the Crawford and O’Rourke offsprings were domiciled together in Dunboyne for what was a brilliant but all too brief period. Brian was on the ”92 Minor panel – as was Denis Gallagher – and it was through him that Mr Shankey ended up in these parts for a while.
So anyway, there we were on the Tuesday after the Galway All Ireland, the pints are flowing and frienships are being cemented for eternity. Be that as it may, with the amount of diesel that was flowing around, soakage would be required at some stage.
To that end, I don’t think anybody initially noticed The Crow sneaking out, but once yours truly copped on, it was obvious what was coming next. Sure enough, the man often referred to as my ‘extra brother’ arrived back with a half pallet of stuff from the chipper. Of which he would eat SFA himself!
To be honest, I’m not sure when I crossed paths with Shankey again after that but what can be said is that fate had crossed our paths again in more recent years – well, inside the last decade. Specifically, when a group of dads – Denis Gallagher, Colm Brennan Jnr and Paul Barker – were united by a common cause when their sons were diagnosed Autism.
As a means of raising funds for what was already a ground breaking ASD Unit in the local primary school, the three lads came up with a novel fundraising event – an Over 40s 7-a-side to be played on the eve of the All Ireland SFC Final.
Sadly however, the onset of the scourge of Covid-19 meant that 7s only ran for three years. But, for each of them, Shankey was co-ordinator in chief in terms of rounding up a team from Kilmainhamwood. And of course he made the long journey from Portlaw to be with us.
Unfortunately, the ceasing of the 7s meant that it’s been a while since Shanks and I crossed paths. Nonetheless, while waiting on the action to get underway in Pearse Park, the wonderful ScoreBeo app was constantly being refreshed to see how his maiden foray into inter county management with his adopted home, Waterford – from whence his wife Annette hails – was going as they took on Tipperary at Fraher Field in Dungarvan.
Well, didn’t he only go and guide them to a first Championship win of any sort since 2010 and a first over the opponents in question since 1988. Of course, he’s not the only Meath expat doing their bit to improve the sporting fortunes of Na Deise.
There’s Dunboyne clubwoman Caragh McCarthy who still commutes home to line out with their lady footballers and Rathmolyon’s Jack Fagan who has blended into the Deise hurling team brilliantly over the last half decade or so. Under both Derek McGrath and Davy Fitzgerald.
Yet, for a multiplicity of reasons, what Paul Shankey achieved with Waterford’s footballers surely trumps any of the above. Simply because, with the greatest respect in the world, it’s not exactly the most attractive of job opportunities out there.
Yet, knowing Shankey’s infectious enthusiasm, if he told me he was going to be the next James Bond I’d have no reason to doubt him. So he most likely told them they might get a call to form a boy band if they won. The one call he never got himself!
Seriously though, regardless of what motivational orations he may have deployed in preparation for the clash with the Premier County, the imprint of Meath’s style of playing during his own career was indelibly woven into how the so-called ‘no-hopers’ went about their business. Ferocious work rate, judicious use of the long ball and – most pertinently – traces of the inclination to keep going until the bitter end. As evidenced by Tom O’Connell’s ultimately decisive second goal in the dying embers of the contest.
Who knows how far the man from the ‘Wood can take them? But equally, what does it matter? He’s already written himself into the history books and has a damn good first entry on his managerial CV should he wish to expand on it. The chipper’s on me next time fella!
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