Euro 2008 kicks-off this Saturday 7^th June in Austria and Switzerland. None of the so-called “home” nations of Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland have qualified. This is a sad reflection of the quality of teams being produced here at present. The Premiership is arguably the best league in the world, and three of the four semi-finalist in the recent Champion’s League play in it. However, there are only possibly four teams with any hopes of actually winning the Premiership and these teams are liberally laced with foreign players, most of whom will be competing in Euro 2008.

Hard to imagine that it is now 20 years since Euro 88 and the start of the Charlton Era.

Garry McKay propelled us into the finals with a late winner against Bulgaria, and Ireland actually topped a group that also included Scotland, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Our first game against the “auld enemy” brought Abbeyfeale to a standstill. And Christy Moore perfectly summed-up the mood of a nation’

“With their union jacks those English fans

For victory were set,

Until Ray Houghton got the ball

And he stuck it in the net!”

It may not have made up for the previous eight hundred years of torture and torment - but it went mighty close. And remember Ronnie Whelan’s strike against the Russians? We were just 8 minutes away from a European semi-final spot when Holland put us out with a fluky goal.

Italia ‘90 is considered by many football purists to be the worst World Cup ever. We couldn’t care less. We emerged from the Group of Death to beat Romania in that unforgettable penalty shoot-out, and then we marched on Rome and an audience with the Pope. We came within an ass’s roar of making the semi-final of the World Cup before Salvatore Schillaci drove a dagger deep in our hearts and we were out 1-0 to the Italians.

We had our revenge four years later in the Giants’ Stadium in New York when Ray Houghton again found the net. Holland eventually put us out of the competition

It all seems a very long time ago now, and it does not look as if we will be repeating those glory days any time soon. Euro 2008 will undoubtedly produce some memorable matches, but without local involvement, it will not create the same interest this summer.

Thank God for Munster - and the GAA!

BANK HOLIDAY

The town was busy over the bank holiday weekend. The weather was reasonably good, although the occasional thundery downpour of rain caused some flash-flooding. Traffic through the town was heavy, with many punters heading for the two-day race meeting in Listowel.

KNOCK:

A pilgrimage to Knock takes place on next Sunday 8^th June. For further details contact Sean Broderick, New Street or Peg Murphy on 068-31232.

WALK;

A sponsored walk will be held in Abbeyfeale on Sunday 8^th June in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children. The walk will leave from the Square and travel via the Railway Bar on to the Great Southern Trail to the Devon Road and return by road. Sponsorship cards are available from 086 1505315 or 087 6177777.

FASHION

A Charity Fashion Show organized by Annette’s Boutique will take place at the Devon Inn on Tuesday 10^th June at 9pm. Proceeds from the show will go to the Butterfly Club and Cystic Fibrosis.

ICE CREAM DAY

A Down’s Syndrome Ice Cream Day will be held on Wednesday June 4th in Meenkilly School from 2-3pm All are welcome.
SHUTTLE;

The Space Shuttle, Discovery, was visible in clear skies over Abbeyfeale for a couple of nights at the weekend before it docked with the International Space Station on Monday.

GAA:

Abbeyfeale Vocational School won the Munster First Year B football championship with a comprehensive win over Colaiste Dun Iascaig, from Cahir.

Fr Casey’s play Claughaun on next Friday 6^th June in the county senior football championship

GOLF;

The Bank of Ireland Nines have resumed at Abbeyfeale Golf Club and continue each Thursday evening with the draw at 7pm.

SOCCER:

The Limerick Desmond League side, captained by Abbeyfeale man, John Kelliher, won the Oscar Traynor Inter-League Trophy following a penalty shoot-out against the Limerick District League on Sunday. This competition decided the best league in the country, and thirty teams from the various leagues started out last October

GAA RESULTS

Leinster SFC: Meath 2-13 Wexford 2-14; Laois 0-15 Wicklow 0-13; Ulster SFC: Donegal 1-12 Derry 1-14 Ulster SHC: Down 4-16 London 1-16. Munster SHC: Clare 2-26 Waterford 0-23.

Limerick will now meet Clare in the Munster hurling semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds in a few weeks time. Meanwhile the footballers are preparing to face Cork on Sunday week.

RUGBY

Ireland face the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday morning hoping to be the first Irish international side to defeat the New Zealanders. Roy Keane is an interested spectator at the All Black training sessions as part of his UEFA Pro-Licence Course. The game will be broadcast live on Sky at 8am on Saturday morning.

And we send greetings to all our Abbeyfeale exiles domiciled in New Zealand. Most of them are heading for the match, so give us a wave on TV. And if you take any good pics of the occasion, e-mail them on to us at Dromtrasna@hotmail.com and we will include them in our PHOTO ALBUM.