I met a guy in Jack O’Rourke’s bar last night and he said; “What happened yea? Yea were rubbish against Namibia, and against Georgia.”

I had met this same guy a couple of years previously just before the Heineken Cup final and he all decked out in the red of Munster and brandishing a ticket for the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. How quickly allegiances can change.

He was right however. We are rubbish at the moment. The rot appeared to set in against Scotland. It got progressively worse against Italy. And now we seem to have hit rock bottom following the so-called mismatches against the World Cup minnows.

To put it in persective. The last two matches were probably the two worst performances in the history of Irish Rugby.

And the worst part of it is that nobody seems to know why. Eddie O’Sullivan is baffled. The BOD hasn’t got a clue. And even the Abbeyfeale rugby aficionados, those knowledgeable group of guys who profess to know practically everything about the game, are totally bamboozled by the whole thing and are seeking solace in drink.

Meanwhile, France looms large on the horizon. And that eighty point drubbing of Namibia will have done their confidence a power of good.

The pundits figure that Ireland will probably play much better against the French. Paddy Power does not agree. He goes 1/6 France and 7/2 Ireland. And you can get 1/1 Ireland with a 14 point start.

Friday night will be a defining moment in Irish Rugby, and also for the future managerial prospects of Eddie O’Sullivan, and for the careers of many of his players. Eddie is tipped to manage the next Lions tour. Paul O’Connell is mentioned as a possible captain.

One rumour doing the rounds is that this is all part of a grand master plan by Eddie O’Sullivan to lull the opposition in to false sense of security. If this is the case, then it has certainly worked – on all of us!

Friday night will be “Ireland’s Call”. Let up hope that they can rise up, as in days of yore, and answer that call.

COME ON IRELAND!

Meanwhile, some semblence of order was restored on Sunday night as the Kerry fans arrived back from the All Ireland and noisily strutted their stuff around the main bars of our peaceful little village.

We are starting to get a bit tired of this annual invasion. Have they nothing better to do than go up to Croke Park every year and win another title. Wouldn’t you think they’s get a life?

And pity the poor Cork goalkeeper, Alan Quirke. A usually reliable custodian, he had a nightmare between the posts and was actually missing in action for all three of the Kerry goals.

During my brief playing days (back before they even thought of The Ban) we played with gansies for goalposts and teams were picked in rotation from the best to worst – and the worst (usually me) was placed in goals with strict instructions not to vacate my position but to stand firm come hell or high water.

In the closing minutes of the first half on Sunday, with the game finely balanced, Alan advanced to the verge of his square to contest a ball that his full-back was already competing for. The Gooch fisted to the empty net. It was the beginning of the end.

In fairness, Kerry were by far the better team and would have won anyway. We congratulate them (through gritted teeth) on annexing their 35^th title and we look forward to crossing swords with them in next year’s Munster championship.

Some day soon, we will wipe that smirk off of their faces – so we will!

PONY RACING

The Abbeyfeale Horse & Pony Racing Association, under the direction of Chairman Tom Cahill and Vice Chairman Colm Relihan, presented cheques to various local organizations at a function in Ann & Donal’s bar recently, following a successful race meeting in July. The following amounts were presented; St Ita’s Hospice, Newcastle West – €6,259. Abbeyfeale Youth Club – €400. Fr Casey’s Ladies Football Club – €400. Fr Tim Galvin’s Mission – €500. Tom Cahill thanked everyone for their continued support, and he paid particular tribute to all the sponsors and to the Relihan Brothers for the use of their lands at Kilcara.

And best of luck to all who are travelling to the Listowel Races this week. The races run from Monday to Sunday – so plenty of time to lose your money. And watch our for the three-card-trick lads!

PLOUGHING;

The All Ireland Ploughing Championships take place in Tullamore on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 25^th, 26^th and 27^th September. A bus will leave The Square on Wednesday 26^th September at 6am for Tullamore. Contact Peg at 068-31232 for further details.

KNOCK;

The Legion of Mary Pilgrimage to Knock takes place on Sunday 30^th September. A bus will leave Mountcollins at 6.45 pm and will travel to Knock via Abbeyfeale at 7am. Tickets available from Rose Flannery, Mountcollins, Sean Broderick, Abbeyfeale or Peg Murphy, Abbeyfeale.

SOCCER

: Abbeyfeale Utd A defeated Adare Utd 2-0 in the first round of the FAI Junior Cup. Eamon Leahy and David Roche were the Abbeyfeale scorers.

RUGBY;

Abbeyfeale defeated Muskerry 15-12 in the first round of the Munster Junior Challenge Cup. They play Castleisland in the second round at The Grove on Sunday.

GAA;

SFC. Monaleen 1-9, Fr Casey’s 1-7.