Naomh Gall GAA

Well the first ‘’southy ‘’ game of the 2011 season was in action on Monday night against our arch rivals lamb ‘’I’ll knock your tools in’’ dhearg. St Galls 2.12 Lambs 1.11

The Game started off with a lethargic but entertaining warm up there were more balls fumbled about with than in the Kremlin. But this didn’t stop paddy ‘muscles’ flan stepping to the forefront  and leading by example shouting the orders and showing the southys how it should be done, it just a pity no one listened ;).

As the boys made their way over to Conor ‘The General’ McMahon for their pre match war cry, I couldn’t help but notice some of the lads were out of breath and sweating a bit. I was thinking to myself did I miss some of the warm up drill when micky ‘dodgy Knee’ O’neill was telling me what way the team should be lining out, but then I realized why the lads were out of breath and sweating….the water arrived…it was like watching a herd of buffalo in the Serengeti…suppose it was marvelous to see the fight and determination hopefully they could bring it on to the pitch.

The Ball is thrown in by the hairless man in black, the clash of the ash has begun.  And wouldn’t you know it within the first few mins Darren ‘OAP’ Mckeown starts the hand bag wrestling. A few words are said and things move on then a few mins later it all starts up again this time a little more intense, the hurls come into a bit of use. Then Darren seems to react to something that has been said to him, I could only imagine the sort of things that could have been said but to see a reaction like that, very undarren like, he must of touched a nerve. It transpired that it was something along the lines of ‘retire Darren for god sake your 39’. Back to the fight, it was over as quickly as it started as antoin steam rolled in enough said.

The game started of point for point, wasn’t much between the sides some good tackling and fighting from the defense and also done by the forwards. Some nice scores taken to, the boys were working as a team as one defence/attacking unit, however a number of people mentioned how they kept hearing a somewhat womanly cry being muttered every so often.  People were puzzled but wait yes it is…bap is back in to the hurling fold not as bad as his usual self but sure you can’t break habits of a life time it will take some time but we will get there. Bap added that little bit of speed to the attack which helped break up break play. Half time came and went it was a very tough and hard fought game.

The light was fading and the flood lights came on for the last 10-15 mins, Darren was over on the line complaining it was hurting his eyes but was told to get back out there the team needs you. With the team battling well lambs score a point to take the lead with 5 mins remaining.  Then  Darren finally pulls a point from no where to level, then a quick ball into Antoin which he collects under pressure from two players  and spots paddy flan busting through from midfield, he dispatches the ball to the top corner of the net which to be honest the keeper made a meal of. Then bap finishes the game of with a free which he sticks over black mountain, to which I turn to conor to see smiles all round then for him to realize that was one of his balls lol. The game ended to the dislike of the lambs coaches as there was five mins left but it was agreed at half time that the second half was going to be 25 mins.  Pity the ref didn’t tell the lambs coaches lol. It was later confirmed the ref told two St Galls men, who he thought were a galls and lambs man. By the way Marty I am not mentioning you, goal poacher wouldn't be in it.

P McCaff. C Bellew N O’Reilly P Mcbride R McMahon Bradso Kurtis P Flan C McCaff Boo Bap Curnsy Darren Antoin S Mcd.