Bellewstown racecourse is one of my favourite places to write about. And visit. Though it has been far too long since the latter happened.
In the company of the late, great and desperately missed Paul B. Garvey. The Hill Of Crocafotha is actually a writer’s dream. The history, the stories and the views which wouldn’t even make it onto a postcard so beautiful are the views. They would be deemed too good to be true.
The history – this being the 300th year steeds have galloped over the old Hill clad with leather and lead. Fitting, then, that local operators were to the fore in terms of bagging winners on the hill.
As is quite often the case, horses racing and GAA is very well established. And in the funny way things often work in sport, wouldn’t it just be aptly fitting if the local GAA club, Duleek/Bellewstown were to go and win the Meath IFC.
Something which the chances of have got considerably shorter owing to news which broke earlier this week. Namely that AFL outfit St Kilda have released their Irish recruits – including Kobe McDonald and Duleek’s own Eamon Armstrong – back to their clubs for, notionally at least, the concluding stages of club championships around the country.
Now, as far as I am aware, as their employers, were under no obligation to do as such. But they’re to be greatly admired for doing so. And there’s no doubt Eamon’s availability would be an incredibly significant boost to the Louth border club.
Furthermore, at my own expense it will be admitted that at the time of typing I am unsure as to whether they will be hoping to win to qualify for the knockout stages or to avoid teetering over the relegation trap door.
Whichever it may be, if Eamon were to be available it could absolutely tip the scales in favour of the green, white and yellow.
It might also go some way to appeasing Pat Spillane’s point in his Irish Independent column that AFL clubs that pilfer players from GAA clubs should be made to compensate them.
Naturally, monetary support could or should never be refused.
However, I suspect many might agree with my view that the St Kilda solution would be far more beneficial to the clubs – having there faraway stars available at their most important time of the year.
If only AFLW clubs would engage in commensurate generosity I would be having a right punt on our Dunboyne ladies to regain the Joe Breen Cup!
Fág freagra