Derek Thompson, arguably the most recognisable horse racing anchor/presenter over the past few decades, once drew the ire of Ruby Walsh when, after the latter had just finished second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard the legendary Kauto Star – to his Paul Nicholls teammate Denman.
Now, I will admit that, to me, it was naïve bordering on stupidity on the experienced broadcaster’s behalf, to begin his interview with the vanquished rider thus – “How does it feel to have picked the wrong horse”? To which the unsurprisingly crass response came “How do you think it ******* feels, did you have to ask that stupid question”?
But here’s the thing Ruby, he did have to ask it, because that’s the way the world, and the media in particular, is gone now. Everybody wants instant reaction. Immediate response.
Furthermore, though it pains me to say this, horse racing is the worst culprit for it by a distance. Again, I realise that the likes of Matt Chapman, Alice Stevenson or, ironically, Katie O’Sullivan (Walsh) are only doing their job, but surely, post race, a jockey’s first debrief should be to the owner and/or trainer.
Mind you, the same moronic stuff is now seeping into GAA. Whether that be by coralling a team mentor before they even get to the dressing rooms for half time or, even more grotesquely, snaring a mentor or fatigued player in the immediate aftermath of the full time whistle where swarming fans (everywhere bar Croker) – unintentionally – make the acquisition of meaningful interviews completely futile.
Of course, it’s all grand if you’re going looking for quotes in the aftermath of a victory, but if you have to run the gauntlet of a defeated entourage is more vinegar than gravy.
Which is why I do not remotely envy colleagues who had to visit five different Meath dressing rooms on Saturday and Sunday where desolate dejection had to have been the overarching emotion.
Granted, one of them didn’t have a final berth at stake, but, after the heroic efforts of our Minor hurlers against Offaly when a mid air volley ended up in Patrick Casey’s net and gifted the home team a win they scarcely deserved with literally the last puc of the game, I can only imagine the crestfallen dejection my clubmate Ray O’Connor and his fellow mentors will have to lift their charges from.
Taking things in chronological order, after that Pairc Tailteann was the venue as the Royal County and Derry added another chapter to their expanding catalogue in Camogie.
Anton O’Neill made sweeping changes from the side which lost to Offaly three weeks ago but unfortunately it was a case of the Oak Leaf ladies holding sway, as has been the case throughout recent meetings.
Having played with wind advantage into the Navan O’Mahonys end, those from the Free place had a 1-07 to 0-05 interval buffer constructed.
Meath did improve after the restart via scores from Aoife Carey, Isabel O’Connor and Grace Coleman but sometimes a team just has the Indian sign on another, and that is absolutely the case here.
As it is regarding the final two steps on this journey through a sobering Saturday during which it became all too clear how tough the odyssey in top level sport can be.
Now, it’s probable that there’s been many a story spun about the graveyard behind one of the goals in Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon holding the ambitions of many vanquished teams. However, from a Meath perspective, it may now be required to look for similar DNA in the environs of Austin Stack Park in Tralee.
By my calculations – and I sit to be corrected on same – the Royal ladies have now left the shadow of the green mountain on their last three visits empty handed.
The sickening feeling this time around stemmimg from the realisation that this was one that definitely got away. Having trailed by 0-02 to 0-06 at the break after playing against the considerable breeze, Shane McCormack’s side dominated the third quarter.
Thanks to points from Emma Duggan (four) – who did, in fact, start in place of Kerrie Cole – Ciara Smyth and Meadhbh Byrne before the latter finished low to the net to edge them into a 1-07 to 0-08 lead.
However, the visitors were then on the wrong end of two horrendous refereeing decisions as firstly Byrne was Sin Binned for doing nothing more than “get(ting) the hand in”, as every kid is taught to from the time they can kick a ball and then Vikki Wall is hit high, late and from behind and the gent with the whistle doesn’t even blink.
All the while giving the locals a phalanx of frees that were so soft and scoreable Siofra O’Se would’ve converted them with her eyes shut.
And from there it was onto Trim where the senior hurlers faced familiar foes Kildare in what was essentially a shootout, the prize at the end of which would be the dizzying heights of Div. 1B for either.
However, despite another heroic effort from Jack Regan – which yielded a personal tally of 1-10 – through the unerring accuracy of David Qualter and a Jack Sheridan goal meant that Brian Dowling’s side were able to ease down well before the finish line.
In a very similar scenario to the senior footballers, after things got off to a very promising start for Johnny Greville’s side, the wind backing their sails dissipated significantly as the campaign went on.
Yet they still managed to hold the ship together long enough to leave themselves in with a shot for a final spot. Managing that proves they played plenty of good hurling the way.
There’s nothing to disuade an observer from the view that another right rattle at a Christy Ring Cup title will be in the offing.
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