THE CURSE HAS ENDED
Recently in Dublin, County Mayo defeated Kerry in the All-Ireland football final. A packed crowd of 85,000 at Croke Park (Ireland’s MCG) witnessed a hard fought clash with Mayo the victors. It was their first victory in a Grand Final for 75 years and there in lies a story. Since 1951 Mayo had been to the ultimate day at Croke Park but was always defeated, sometimes in a quite improbable manner. Many of their supporters at the recent triumph were young boys and girls at the 1951 triumph and they remembered the jubilant scenes on that distant day. After the 1951 triumph players, coaches and officials were returning home after celebrating all night when their bus stopped in a small town. Unfortunately, their high spirits disrupted a funeral procession moving down the main street. Several priests walked in front of the hearse which was followed by grieving relatives and hundreds of locals. It was an unfortunate incident that angered everyone and as a result the parish priest put a curse on the Mayo club. He said, “you will not win the All-Ireland again until all on the bus have died”. The last one of the 1951 bus load died only a short time before Mayo’s 2026 triumph.
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PUMPING UP FLAT TYRES
Australian cricketers easily won the second Test versus Bangladesh to level the two-game series. Mitchell Starc wrecked the visitors on a pace friendly pitch. But apart from Cameron Green the Aussie batting was again very poor. Marnus Labuschagne failed again – for the umpteenth time but the captain and senior players are still insisting he go to South Africa next month to face their “hot” pace attack. When are we going to see a couple of young players selected. Out Test team resembles a cosy “Old Boys Club”. The highlight in Mackay was the packed, enthusiastic crowd on both days of yet another two-day test.
VARIA
Good to catch up the other day with two fine Review journo’s – Michael Thompson and Cooper O’Brien. Sports fans I’m sure are enjoying their excellent coverage of sport in the region. The NCR is read by around 6000 at least and we are lucky to have a fine community newspaper. The cost of producing papers has increased markedly in recent years, especially after Dan Andrews closed the states mills. A fair number of communities across the state and nation no longer have access to a local newspaper.
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Also I encountered longtime Kilmore resident Mary McLaughlin at the supermarket and it was good to reminisce about her late husband Kevin. He was a very fine man of strong faith who spent years supporting “News Weekly” a journal that for decades has fought for fairness and justice in the political area and in Australian life. A daughter Simone is a highly esteemed teacher who gave fine service to ACK.
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The Sydney Swans “bosses” showed the club has high values it expects its highly paid players to fully subscribe to. A strong AFL premiership contender for 2026 the decision to ban five key players for the rest of the season showed their priorities are strong. I wonder how many other Australian prominent sports clubs would do likewise or would they put the almighty dollar ahead of principle.
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Ive been watching quite a bit of the Caribbean cricket premier league. Large boisterous and colourful crowds in each venue show the game is still very popular across the “Islands in the sun” despite the sad decline in the West Indies Test fortunes. There were on view quite a number of very good home grown players who have to rely on franchise cricket to make a living for their families. They cannot afford to play Tests where remuneration is sparse. West Indies cricket exists on only a tiny fraction of the finances and resources enjoyed in Australia, England and India. The ICC (International Cricket Council) could do something to help but it doesn’t.
Hopefully one day the situation will change and the fabled sun drenched islands will see a return of test cricket greatness.
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The ACK class of 1976 had their 50-year reunion at the weekend. A very good roll-up many travelling long distances enjoyed the occasion. It is inspiring to note the strong bonds of friendships from times past that have survived so strongly. There was only a handful of girl students in those times but they made a splendid impact. Angela Ryan (nee Johnson), Angela McCarthy, Margaret Kiddy will be remembered by people of the region. All present for their “catch-up” have done well in life – in the areas of medicine, law, agriculture, business management, teaching etc. as well they have contributed well to their communities. Without exception they remember the college song “When Shandon Calls”, also the legendary sporting war cry.
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One of the “boys”, a keen young poet in his teens, brought along some samples of his time. One such was as follows:
AT THE NETS
Winter is past; warm days are here.
From “cold storage” comes the cricket gear, Toward the nets we nightly trek, Our batting faults we’ll try to check.
“Head down and straight bat to ball”, we’re told, If we don’t do this, we’re promptly bowled, We learn to defend first of all,
Later we often up and clout the ball.
The “squad” includes faces old and new, All keen and hopeful, one thought in view, To make the team in eighty-four, And help to build Assumption’s score.
From our “nets” one day may a star unfold, Who’ll wear the Aussie Green and Gold, He’ll blaze a trail and old pals will say, Remember “him” in the “squad” at A.C.K.
