Massive sporting occasions are thin on the ground, but I have that amazing stomach feeling right now, after 25 years of going to internationals (not em all, I'm not an addict) Myself and Maggie are heading to croker in a wee while for the England game, I so hope we win, not because it's against the old Sassanach enemy, but because HISTORY may be set up today.
Ireland have taken a grand slam once in the long history of rugby, in 1948, after wins in paris and twickers the legendary team took in Wales in Ravenhill on March 13th 1948, captained by Karl Mullen who became famous for the "boot, bollock and bite" exhortation to his team before games, led by apparently the best Irish player of all time, the incredible Jackie Kyle, Ireland beat Wales 2 tries to 1 (that meant 6-3 in those days) and took the triple crown and the grand slam.
I have no connection with that team, except a brief little one, I did meet the amazing Corkonian Bertie O'Hanlon about 13 years ago in Strandhill where he was attending a retirement do for my brilliant boss Finbarr Hegarty, and I did speak with him and told him that the 1948 team would forever be legendary to Irish sportspeople.
It never occurred to me that this could be repeated until a night in Belfast before Christmas, I was in Belfast for the Ulster-Connacht league game, (I got home a lot quicker this time) and after the game I was introduced to a man called Declan whom I never spoke to before or since, and despite the fact that he was the Irish coach, and in modern sport with media influence such notables are usually hassled and keen to get away as quick as possible, this man stood chatting for 15 mins, despite the fact that I kept standing aside to let him pass, I discovered that whatever about his rugby knowledge or tactical genius (I'll leave that up to Gerry Thornley) that Ireland were being coached by a down to earth and very sound man who would connect with anyone, if he could connect with a tall, loud GAA man, then how could he not connect with the players.
So that evening it did cross my mind that Ireland could be awesome again, just like 61 years ago!
So I'm so looking forward to tonight's game, but a little nervous cos we have 3 huge hurdles to cross on the road to immortality and like all hurdles they need to be jumped one at a time.
I have such a gut feeling that I can't resist, so last night, knowing well that if we win a trip to cardiff will move out of the reach of the financially ordinary fan, I went online and booked my flights to Cardiff (and a beautiful lighthouse B&B in Newport with Maggie) so either way we'll be there for the match, no tickets yet, but i have not asked anyone and i am fortunate to have so many friends, todays tickets came because of a good friend Roisin Henry, She's getting confirmed today (have a great day Roisin) and that meant that her aunt Una who had 2 briefs had to go to Mayo rather than Croker.
Plus I've always been a lucky boy, let's hope Ireland are too.
Now............ shoulder to shoulder......... let's "boot, bollock and bite"
