Category: CHRONICLE COLUMNS
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Not all change is good
Aidan O’Brien recently sent out his 4,000th winner. Yes, that figure includes both Flat and National Hunt. We know, too, that he has seemingly endless resources of the Coolmore ‘syndicate’ backing, no need to labour on the point. Simply because, no matter how impeccably bred a steed may be, their pedigree will count for damn…
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Each sport must compete for market share
Over the years, I’ve been very fortunate to meet a host of top sports stars, and befriend quite a few of them. Regular ingesters of content from this keyboard will know the list well. Or some of them. Colm O’Rourke, Graham Geragthy, Noel Meade, Jim Bolger, Trevor Brennan, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony and Michael Carruth.…
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The engine can only be fixed with the proper tools
What old style life hacks can you remember from when you were growing up? For example, I know there was a method of mending a puncture on a bike (or wheelchair!) involving washing up liquid. The same substance was also deployed to counteract a disease in rose bushes which I think was called blackspot. Vinegar…
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There are none so blind as those who don’t want to see
Con Houlihan, after one of the epic Dublin/Kerry encounters of the 1970s, began his summation of the event thus: “House private, no flowers please’. Now read on… The strange opening was a nod to Con’s “Friend Girl” Harriet Duffin who was a Dub. On the said occasion, his would be the happy half of their…
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The star pupil has taken over career guidance
In what I think was 2002, the notion landed to get da tickets for the Fairyhouse Easter Festival as a birthday present. Apart from the fact that the day we went was the coldest day I was ever at a sporting event anywhere, the other abiding memory is if Gordon Elliot taking a mount in…
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No place for the young or the old, the brave and the bold better watch out
“The young, the old, the brave and the bold came their duty to fulfil”… So goes one of the verses in Spancil Hill – as best performed by the late Jim McCann. That subject is non negotiable. In GAA terms, it’s not so much fulfilling a duty as engaging a passion. Wearing your heart on your…
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Glass half full for resolute Royals
A long time ago now, the resolution dawned that if change is desired within the GAA it can be achieved. As long as one has an almost infinite level of patience. There are numerous examples which could be employed here to illustrate the point. Frees and line balls from the hand in football, red and…
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The star pupil has taken over career guidance
In what I think was 2002, the notion landed to get da tickets for the Fairyhouse Easter Festival as a birthday present. Apart from the fact that the day we went was the coldest day I was ever at a sporting event anywhere, the other abiding memory is if Gordon Elliot taking a mount in…
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A tale of two journeys
Mention Colm O’Rourke, Sean Boylan and Kepak in close proximity to each other and thoughts of success naturally germinate. Yes, one could go back in time. The late Noel Keating had been a financial benefactor to Meath football long before the name of the meat processing business he opened in Clonee in 1980 was emblazoned…
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J. F. K’s famous words localised
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.The utterance of the above quote by John F. Kennedy is one of those occurrences in world history that,not only will you instantly recognise it,those who were around at the time will probably be able to tell you where…