Search Results for 'Dermot Higgins'

Fr Rocks, Cookstown 1-8

The Charlestown Sarsfield cavalcade will be making its way to Pearse Park, Longford, this Sunday where they will be dreaming of a place in this year’s All Ireland Intermediate Championship Club final. Standing in the Mayo and Connacht champions ways is Fr Rock’s, Cookstown from Tyrone. The Ulster men will be bringing with them on Sunday one of the most recognisable figures in recent GAA history, Eoin Mulligan. The bleach blonde full forward brings with him all the experience that being part of a three time All Ireland winning team comes with and will be the man, all of Charlestown will be looking to shut down. And the rest of his team-mates will also bring the experience of actually winning this competition in 2010, but were relegated to intermediate in Tyrone and have found themselves back in the intermediate grade. Charlestown are more used to senior competition having claimed the intermediate title at their first time of asking following their shock relegation in 2011. Sunday offers Charlestown a chance to make it into an All Ireland final for the first time, having come close in 2002 when they lost out in the senior last four to Nemo Rangers, while Fr Rock’s will be looking to make it back to the middle grades showpiece for the second time in three years.

“Ara shut up ya auld teapot” the young voice shouted down at the older man sitting next to me last Sunday. The older man and his wife were at McHale Park supporting Killala and had earlier remonstrated with the crowd of Neale supporters behind them. The Neale boys were beginning to realise that the game was slipping away from them and I can understand why they were getting a little frustrated. In such a scenario every refereeing decision can be criticised and this time was no different. Every time a Killala player went to ground the ref was derided and goaded by the boys, very often in not too flowery tones! The craic was good and, in a selfish way, I was kind of enjoying the exchange of words. For a start I had never heard anyone referred to as a “teapot” before! Despite The Neale throwing the kitchen sink at Killala in the final quarter Killala held out for the victory that had the man beside me delirious with excitement. He let a roar out of him at the final whistle that, mostly, was an expression of great satisfaction at seeing his team win, but, also a sign of the none-too-little pleasure he took in giving the figurative two-finger salute to the young cubs behind him! He was having the last laugh today. His wife was also beaming from ear to ear after the final whistle and it was a joy to witness both taking flight onto the McHale Park pitch to embrace neighbours’ children who had guaranteed a night or two of fun for all in the town of Killala. I am sure there was no place under heaven as good as Killala last Sunday night or indeed Monday as I hear the celebrations continued for a day or two!

Corofin 2-14

Charlestown 1-9