On Monday I ran into the former chief court clerk in Letterkenny, Val Cronin, outside his former place of duty and we got chatting about this and that.
And more significantly the passing of another old stalwart from the town, Harry Blake.
By Paddy Walsh
A native of Cork, Val recalled his own arrival to the town back in 1988 and being served his first pint – note: his first pint in Letterkenny, not in a general sense – in Blake’s Bar on Upper Main Street. “And it was Harry who served me it. A great character.”
It was to Blake’s Bar that large numbers (thankfully not at the same time) made their way over the weekend to pay their respects to the pioneer pin wearing publican.
And there he lay, waked in the bar where he had toiled for many a long year under the gaze of the gallery of sporting photographs, the majority of them featuring St. Eunan’s and Donegal G.A.A. teams and presentations – two of the sporting passions in his life as a player, a committee member and an out and out fan.
There, too, just above the coffin, the plaque honouring the late, Peter Ivors – the echoes of many a banter between the pair a lasting, and often loud, memory for the pub’s regulars.
And on the wall opposite Harry’s remains, the framed Railway Cup jersey worn by Joe Carroll, another G.A.A. stalwart gone to his reward.
In his homily at Sunday’s funeral mass in St Eunan’s Cathedral, where Harry was a daily visitor, Fr Eamonn Kelly revealed that a number of local punters had placed a bet on the 2.50. race on Saturday at Wetherby. The horse’s name? One for Harry!
Sure, they couldn’t have gone wrong – and they didn’t, One for Harry coming home first at odds of 9/1.
I hear it was Don Sheridan who initially spotted the horse’s name among the runners and riders – too good to miss and you could almost see Harry nodding with the biggest of grins.
Gone now to meet Marie and other family and friends but leaving behind a host of memories and anecdotes. To all those mourning his passing – and that’s a multitude – this column’s sincerest sympathy.
UNDER-21’S OVERWHELMED
Defeat to a Martin McHugh managed side the previous week and subsequently to a side once under the helm of the Kilcar man – hopes of advancement in the Dr. McKenna Cup are fading for Donegal but there are still positives to take from both performances.
Eleven points may have separated the teams at MacCumhaill Park on Sunday but Declan Bonner’s under-21 squad were worthy of a kinder scoreline as they fought to the finish against a physically imposing Cavan team.
You couldn’t argue that the better outfit won on the day and the visitors’ eye for the target was more focused.
But there are encouraging signs that some of Bonner’s boys have the know-how and ability to step up to senior ranks if, and when, called to do so.
I would have been one of those questioning the merits of deploying a full under-21 panel to negotiate the McKenna Cup even if the competition has long since its gloss.
Still, it offers us a chance of watching how the next Donegal senior manager – once Rory Gallagher departs, that is – operates at this level.
Meanwhile, is it too late (or too early) to introduce Shane Williams – that young fellow who starred for Glenswilly in Convoy last Thursday evening – into the fray for future action?
SLIPPERY SLOPES
It was, back in the day, required viewing on the old bosca in the corner. I watched it religiously – apt as it was given the day it was broadcast on – and rarely missed it. Ski Sunday.
Not that I was a skier or ever had any inclinations to be one. I can’t even walk down an icy footpath without fear of a headlong fall and as for going on a skiing holiday, give me a break (just don’t make it a ski break).
But nevertheless, I was an avid watcher of the weekly B.B.C. series though I’d inevitably fall down if you asked me to name a decent skier. Or any skier.
Anyway, it’s back on our screens and I was watching it last Sunday and wondering how on earth – on treacherously slippery sloped earth at that – they managed, for the most, to retain their balance while flying – quite often literally – from summit to sanctuary.
And also pondering the words of one of the presenters on the show who was commenting on the careers of those involved. “Like in football, there are only very few who make it to the top,” he declared.
Surely not. Would it not be accurate to say that they all make it to the top…?
AN IRISH SOCCER LEGEND (AND ROBBIE KEANE WAS THERE TOO)
Pleased to see one of my all-time heroes the great Brendan Bradley being honoured at the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland awards night.
The big man, who with 235 goals remains the top scorer in League of Ireland history, was presented with a special award by another man who knew, and knows, how to find the net, Robbie Keane who himself received the Special International Career Achievement Award.
Keane is a target for Preston North End who already have a significant Irish presence, not least in former Dundalk flier, Daryl Horgan, who impressed in his league debut against Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday and indeed laid on one of the goals in a 2-0 win with a pinpoint pass from inside his own half. Ironically, the player who once starred with Horgan in the Dundalk colours, Richie Towell, has yet to make his mark with Brighton.
But back to Beezer Bradley. A gentleman to his boot straps, he is a more than deserving recipient of the Soccer Writers Award and surely it’s well beyond time that Finn Harps acted on the advice of my old buddy, Brian McArt, who has been a loud voice in calling for the erection of a statue or the naming of a street around Finn Park to honour the big man.
Meanwhile, will Bradley’s goal-scoring record survive the recent move by Jason Byrne to Cabinteely?
The Dubliner, who requires 18 goals to equal the 235 netted by Brendan, will be pushed all the way by the league’s Dublin fraternity – and that includes the media – as he strives to emulate it.
But at 37 years of age, he is running out of time and I fancy the former Harps striker to retain his long-standing title for quite a few years to come.
THE JOURNEY MEN
A vital result for Gavin Dykes and his Ballinamallard United side at the weekend as they overcame fellow relegation strugglers, Carrick Rangers.
But good as that was for the former Finn Harps manager and central defender, it was the report in Saturday’s ‘Belfast Telegraph’ that caught this enquiring eye.
“A glorious double from Josh McElwaine made the long journey home to County Fermanagh a lot more enjoyable on a bitterly cold night,” wrote reporter, David Mason.
No arguments with the identity of the goalscorer, or the enjoyable
trip, or the bitterly cold night bit.
But long journey home? In an Irish League fixture?
Come on. It’s A 120 km flit from Carrickfergus to Ballinamallard – as the crow flies. Dykes would surely be able to fill in the Telegraph correspondent as to what constitutes a really long journey in away day travels for football teams on this island.
PRESSING POINT
Still on those awards, Declan Kerr may not have claimed the ‘Press Officer of the Year’ award at the ceremony in Dublin for his media work with Finn Harps but he’s done a mighty job since taking up the post.
A more than worthy nominee and to many of our minds, the real winner.
P.J. BOWLS THEM OVER
Bowled over they are down around the Rosses after P.J. Gallagher’s victory in Sweden at the weekend.
After an impressive advance to the final of the Swedish Masters Short Mat Players Tournament, the Burtonport Bowling Club representative over came Belgian opponent, Jonathan Payne, to claim the title.
It subsequently places the Donegalman at the top of the Order of Merit and after his success with the Irish team in the World Cup, rolling along quite nicely.
I can already see the mats laid out at the Donegal Sports Star Awards.
