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The GAA says the club is the most important unit of the Association. It’s where we start and where we end. The highlight of the Club year is the championship and if you’re lucky enough to be involved at the business end it can be a truly special time for players, supporters, mentors and the wider community. But why?
The Club JerseyYou’ve lived with that jersey since you were a youngster, the older players you looked up to wore the same club jersey as you did. Seeing it now on the big day, brings a lump to the throat.
The Buzz in the Local PaperSeeing the lads in the paper, the slagging, the made up profiles... First medal won? Men’s Wimbledon Singles. Biggest Influence On Your Career? Tony Hawk. We get to know who has the biggest collection of cosmetics in the kitbag, who snores, who is a torture to sit beside on the bus and who’s the biggest slabber in the dressing room.
Food After TrainingPlayers can eat what they want all season after training whether that’s Benny’s Burgers Belly Buster Special with free onion rings or Papa Paolo’s Overpopulated Pepperoni Pizza. But come the championship the club takes food matters in hand. Whether it’s Mooney’s gourmet Sarnies, a soupçon of coriander on with the tuna and pepper or Ma Rafferty's legendary sausage rolls. Hot tea too by jaze. How do we survive all year.
The Banter Panthers at MatchesThe craic at the championship is always mighty. Standing at the wire isn’t the same as the terrace or god forbid the seating section. There’s a question now, what do you do if you’re seated behind a gobsh*te for an entire game. The open terrace beckons!
The TalentNot the talent outside the wire, nothing like the glad eye across a crowded bank to do your bit for cross parish harmony. You’ll end up in one of those O’Neills half and half jerseys!
You Know Everyone!Ollie Cannng put it well a few years back:“You know everybody, you know all the guys around you, you know the parents and everybody that’s involved and that’s the thing about it, it’s a real community, real community atmosphere. When the club team is going well everyone in the parish gets behind the club team and it gives everyone a great lift.”
They’re the Lads will Carry you to Your GraveAntrim/Cushendall legend, hero and hurling soul brother (& Bruce Springsteen fan!), Sambo McNaughton gave a unique perspective on who your club mates really are: "The lads you play with on the county team, you become friends with and get invited to their weddings. But the lads you play with on your club team, now they are the lads that will shoulder you to your grave. They are your friends for life.”
Players You Grew Up Become HeroesYou remember when you couldn’t get on the u10 team because you were too chubby, or when you’re friend couldn’t make the u16s because he was too skinny, or the sister who could strike a ball like an Angel but couldn’t get near the club camogie team because she was too nice…? Where are you all now? You’re on the team! You remember each other, too fast, too slow, too fat, too skinny, too crazy, too soft. It’s not about making the underage team, it’s about the championship, the club jersey and being at your best when you’re best is needed.
Tyrone legend Sean Cavanagh said: “With the club its the boys you were playing with from school, guys I have been playing with from seven or eight years of age. You don’t get that with county football.”
The ParentalsYou ever watch a parent when their youngster does really well. And I mean REALLY well. The beaming pride, the modesty, the word's not spoken, the gentle pat on the back, well done son, or good girl. Listening to the glowing words of others, maybe the same slabbers that weren’t too kind during an earlier match. As one manager said to us, you’re trying to win this for yourself but you can never make your parents too proud of you. Never a truer word said.
You Never Know Where You Might End UpI know players that never thought they would see the club jersey in Croke Park and the next ting they were running out in the Big House itself wearing the damn thing. Walt Disney said, if you can dream it, you can do it.