Where to begin??

It’s difficult to explain in words the turnaround between being on the end of a hiding a fortnight ago and actually dishing one out on Saturday. At the end of the match we were probably more surprised than anyone else not only at the score but the manner in which it was achieved and all this considering that the match very nearly didn’t take place at all. We didn’t secure ourselves a ground until Thursday morning, generously provided by Blackrock College. 

Three guys spent a huge amount of time and effort in pursuit of the playing surface, Crispy, Coach Kerran, and El Presidente Colm, so thanks lads. After the trials of finding ourselves a pitch, Crispy spent the best part of a day constructing and erecting a set of eight goal posts. One of those things too easily taken for granted but the effort required to get it right was enormous.  [ Wouldn't have happened without Phoenix Pipe, cheers George! - Crispy]

Come game day both teams agreed to play 14-a-side as the pitch was about 30 metres short of being full length and a touch narrow. Also the surface was pretty hard but this made for some great running and kept the ball alive at all times, not to mention a few carpet burns! Ball-up was at 2pm and the game began at a ferocious pace. Immediately it became clear we'd learnt an awful lot from the Belfast game. 
 
 
 

We didn't have 10 players going for the same ball like a bunch of pre-schoolers, the fitness was up, and most importantly the team were talking to each other on and off the ball. Very quickly we put scores on the board and established a healthy lead. 

Come half time we were ten goals to the good. Despite a sloppy third quarter we still held a comfortable lead although had Wandsworth’s kicking for goal been a little better they could have made it much more uncomfortable for the Dublin boys. For the second half it was pretty much tit-for-tat fare, we managed to maintain the 10 goal cushion right up till the final whistle (no hooters this time, the budget just wouldn’t stretch!). When we heard the whistle we couldn’t quite believe it, the score, the win, the way we played out of our skins, getting a trophy into our hands.

It’s extremely hard to pick out individuals from our team when everyone gave 100%. But the key to our performance lay in the spine of the team. Full-back Niall Tukey Tuke was immense and deservedly won Man of the Match. Ruck-rover Matt Diggs Campbell once again showed endless stamina and skill in moving the play upfield and cleaning up the breaking ball, aided by Mark Mooners Mooney, ruckman Tom Hynes, and centre-half forward Jeremy Jezza Greay who clocked up a huge amount of possessions between them. Newcomer Tony Saunders was a revelation up in full forward, with a pair of hands as safe as houses. Probably the most encouraging aspect was how quickly the Irish guys have adapted to the game, fellows like John McKenna, Dave Tierney, and Declan Cotter combining a naturally physical approach with rapidly improving skills.
 
 

[Declan actually played for Wandsworth because they were a man short. He played a surpurb game,  even being mentioned as one of the Wandsworth better players during the presentation - Crispy]

Another budgetary constraint (or just plain idiotic lack of foresight) meant we could only shower our coach-for-the day, ex-Wandsworth boy Mick McCormack, with water and not beer after the match. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

But the wrong was righted when the festivities began in Dicey Reilly’s pub on Harcourt St where the teams met for a post-match piss-up. After a much appreciated feed supplied by Dicey’s we got stuck into the second major event of the day The Boat Race. Of all the drinks to be skulled the boys had to knock back a pint of snakebite in one, poor fellows. 

Once again Dublin triumphed, with the winning team of Digs, Tukey, Darren Nutty Nutt, and on the glory leg our redoubtable American Ken Orce. [I don't think anyone told Ken to stop - he was knocking back the ales all night! - Crispy]. 
 
 

The club raffle was notable because it saw captain Digs win a bottle of whiskey, the first thing he’s ever won in his life apparently. It hardly matters because we drank most of it. Also £50 was raised for the club’s coffers thanks to the efforts of unofficial club cheerleader Corina Carroll.

Funniest moment of the night goes to one member of the team who's hopes were dashed when the girl he was chatting to turned out to be his long-lost first cousin. Only in Ireland!

Or maybe when Mooners sang Angry Anderson’s ‘Suddenly’ on request. The whole thing.

So overall, it was one of those days most of us will never forget. 

Thanks go out to everyone. Blackrock College and Willie Cronin for the grounds, Dicey Reilly’s for putting on a great night for us, Sportslocker for sponsoring the trophy, the Wandsworth boys for coming over the pond to play, Mick and Kerran for keeping us going, Crispy and El Presidente for the organisational legwork, our band of supporters, among them Corina and scorekeeper Joanne Orce, but most of all the team for putting up such a brilliant performance. 
 

Magic.

Mark Mossy O'Shea