Posted by UTP on March 01, 2001 at 13:50:24:
In Reply to: Re: IT WAS 21 YEARS AGO.... posted by JDP on February 28, 2001 at 09:04:25:
Can remember Noel flying up the embankment
in the school yard playing that foriegn game
the Brothers abhorred.Seem to recall him been
got at once by Bro Denis or Richard about it.2
stout republicans who hated the game of soccer.
You remember JDP playing into the shed goal
and taking corners from the steps.All the stray
balls ended up on the roof or in Mrs Tighe garden.
At least twice her windows were broken.
Part of the fun was to get the ball back before
she noticed.Fair play to her though she never
held on to it for too long.If the ball ended up
in Collerans or Glynns you wouldnt be so lucky
as the high drop prevented you from getting back
up.Youd have to ask the Spanners to get it when
they went home.
Noel was a hero to us all because he led the
gang to our right to play soccer and his brother
Pat also played in goal.In fact I heard he was
sent off once for giving the name Pat Jennings
to a ref once who thought he was taking the P.
His namesake at the time was playing for Spurs.
Mick Palla Walla Walsh was also a pioneer of the
soccer revolution away from the GAAA.Hughie Mc
Gartland at the time along with Henry Downes were
very much involved at that time.
Mick Walsh of course had a very famous 1st cousin
Mickey who played for Blackpool,Everton and I
had the pleasure of seeing him score against the
USSR in Lansdowne Road years later.
Mickey once played in Celtic and injured his
ankle.He had to tell his club that he hurtit playing tennis.He also won goal of the season
on the BBC and would be worth up to 7m in todays
transfer fees at the time.
When he left the UK he ended up in Portugal
playing and his attempts to start a family were
unsuccessful until they tried fertility treatment.
Mrs Walsh ended up with 5 babies in one go.
Digressing from the subject somewhat back in
1970 St Geralds reached the final of the
All Ireland and had to withdraw because the
school refused permiision for them to play.
Ironically in the year of our Lord 2001 there is
no soccer played in St Geralds.What a shame.