What a day. What a week actually. In the closing lines of last week’s ramble, mention was made of the fact that, at the time of going to print yours truly was still sans ticket for Sunday’s All Ireland Ladies Finals day.
Well, after a voluminous amount of phone calls and emails, Jackie Cahill, former disciple of the pen and currently head of Commercial and Communications with the LGFA did, as was hoped last week, come up trumps and got media accreditation for the occupant of this seat, and, of course, the good lady. Without whom attendance anywhere would simply not be possible.
Thus, with a couple of courteous emails, one long peddled line spun by those in positions of influence within the GAA that there was no wheelchair access to the Hogan Stand side of the field was summarily debunked.
Not only is there such, but the courteous, helpful staff in the Media Centre couldn’t have been any more understanding or accommodating. To the extent that inquiries will absolutely be made in that direction again.
However, before getting into analysis of the day’s main event, allow me to firstly back up a bit. To Thursday to be exact. When what was supposed to be a routine eye appointment in connection with my fairly recent diagnosis with Diabetes turned into a four and a half hour A & E misadventure. Reason being that, despite three phone calls seeking clarity as to the accessibility of the appointment venue, we arrived to find that a bull would stand a better chance of circumnavigating his way around a china shop than I would have had of getting my conveyance to the ocular examination machinery.
Worse still, against my better judgement, I allowed the – in fairness well meaning optometrist – convince me the wheelchair would fit where I had serious doubts about. Turns out, one should always pay heed to one’s gut feeling. Because (i) wheelchair into tight space would not, in fact, go. And (ii) in attempting to placate my well meaning guide, a cut to my shin which ended up in my latest bout of Cellulitis three weeks ago was busted open and so needed tending to.
Now, at this juncture, it must be pointed out that A & E staff couldn’t have been more patient, understanding and helpful. But, between the jigs and the reels, the unexpected pit stop meant that making it to Pairc Tailteann for Dunboyne’s SFC opener against Skryne was a non runner.
Even from following matters online, it was clear Mick O’Dowd’s team were deserving winners. Be that as it may, our lads still have their own destiny in their own hands. Provided they have the guts and gumption to do the needful in the two remaining matches.
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So to Sunday. We left base camp not as to whether the press accreditation would be of benefit in regard to accessibility. Not that, as it panned out, there were any such concerns in the end.
From the time we were guided into the Davin Stand (Canal End) carpark, to being greeted by a porter in the Media Centre on the seventh floor of the Hogan Stand who had quite clearly been awaiting our arrival. Whereupon we were presented with complimentary match programme and directions to the canteen!
Anyway, unfortunately, the experience and novelty of unexpectedly making my debut with the rest of the press pack was as good as it got for those of us of a green and gold persuasion.
Indeed, with the benefit of hindsight, after Vikki Wall had claimed the throw in and burst through the centre of the Dublin defence. Only for, after an intricate necklace of passes, a fisted point attempt went wide.
The peril of profligacy against the two shades of blue scarcely needed further endorsement, but, after a few surprising misses, Dublin exacted emphatic retribution as goals from Nicole Owens and Niamh Hetherton and a predictable phalanx of points from Carla Rowe and Hannah Tyrell gave the now seven time champions a 2-09 to 0-04 interval advantage.
Undoubtedly, the most jarring and upsetting aspect of the occasion was the absolute belief that our brave ladies didn’t do themselves justice on the day. Yet the most frustrating factor was surely the realisation that the finite margins between heroics and heartache are just that.
As it was, there was only a point between the sides, in Dublin’s favour, in the second half. The old cliche about goals winning games hitting hard. Especially as Meath’s best goal chance was butchered when referee Gus Chapman pulled Vikki back and insisted on a free being taken when an application of an advantage would absolutely have resulted in the Dunboyne woman blowing the net out of it.
After what hopefully wasn’t a once in a lifetime experience (in the Press Centre), somebody asked me which was more disappointing, the lads losing to Galway or the ladies going under to the auld enemy yet again.
It would be a disservice to both and clouding gut judgement to engage in such comparisons. It would be felt, though, that almost identical end of term report cards could be assessed to both.
Both teams have had exceptional seasons – possibly to the point of overachieving – and inclination in both cases is that the best days are indeed ahead. That said, as this is being typed, in the early hours of the day after an All Ireland Final defeat and thereby the end of the inter county season from a Meath perspective, shots at redemption seem as far away as ever.
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Personally speaking, with club ambitions also teetering on a very icy precipice it may be left to the sport of kings from which to attain a modicum of solace as the days shorten and evenings lengthen.
And on that score, how reassuring and indeed exciting it was to have so many of the local racing fraternity among the winners during the epic week at Ballybrit.
At least the pockets are a tad heavier at the end of a whirlwind week.
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