An Old Woman of the Road called to our door one day last summer and said that if we crossed her palm with silver she would read the tea-leafs.

We invited her in, and she gazed intently into the murky recesses of my ancient mug before predicting that I would soon go on a short journey and inherit a small amount of money.

This prophecy has proved eerily accurate, because I recently travelled down to Lal Browne‘s in Church Street and collected my modest Cheltenham winnings on the well-backed Dunguib.

She also said that Kerry would win another All Ireland but could not tell me when, and that Man Utd would also win something sometime soon but, like the Third Secret of Fatima, she was prohibited from revealing what it might be.

On the global front she foresaw Hillary Clinton winning the US Presidency and, more worryingly, she said that Enda Kenny would be the next Taoiseach of Ireland. (well, what do you expect for 50p said the wife)

The Old Women of the Road had long made her escape before it suddenly dawned on us that we always use tea-bags!

I was reminded of the wily old soothsayer again last Saturday evening as Stephen Jones lined up that closing penalty in the Millennium Stadium. Who could have predicted that, after 61 years, Ireland’s hopes of the 2009 Grand Slam would come down to the final kick of the final minute of the final match on the final day?

And, as Jones stepped up and swung a boot, you could feel the wind suddenly whipping up a gale far out on the Irish Sea and surging inland on a tidal wave of national fervour to gently cushion the ball and cause it to drop short of its intended target.

However, we should not read too much into that closing kick. O’Gara’s first half miss was just as crucial. And it is what went on over the entirety of the eighty minutes that ultimately decided the outcome of the game.

It was a fascinating duel. Both coaches had obviously done their homework and studied the videos. Warren Gatland coached Ireland for three years with considerable success and indeed gave several of the current squad their first cap. Declan Kidney’s record speaks for itself.

And so Ireland ended a 61-year wait for Grand Slam glory and also landed their first Six Nations title. They also added a Triple Crown for good measure after recovering from a 6-0 interval deficit. But they were forced to hang on amid a nerve-shredding climax as Jones missed a 50-metre penalty with the game’s final kick. Out -half Ronan O’Gara’s drop-goal won the game for Ireland after Wales led 15-14. O’Driscoll touched down for Ireland’s second-half opener, before wing Tommy Bowe added a second try just two minutes later. O’Gara slotted both conversions, but Wales, remained in contention through four Jones penalties before his late drop-goal gave Wales a 15-14 lead entering the closing stages. However O’Gara slotted over a fine drop-goal as Ireland emulated the achievement of Karl Mullen’s team of 1948.
O’Driscoll was awesome and was deservedly voted Man Of The Match. He is a certainty for the Lions and may even regain the captaincy. O’Connell was also tremendous and must also be in contention for the captaincy in South Africa.

On the day, they were heroes all, and their names now enter the realms of rugby folklore. A great day for Ireland!

IRELAND: Kearney; Bowe, B O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Fitzgerald; O’Gara, O’Leary; Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, Ferris, D Wallace, Heaslip.
Replacements: Murphy for Kearney (66), P Wallace for Fitzgerald (76), Stringer for O’Leary (69), Best for Flannery (68), Leamy for Ferris (blood, 7), Court for Hayes (blood, 27)
Not Used: M O’Driscoll.

Wales (6) 15. Pens: S Jones, 4 Drop-goal, 1 S Jones

Ireland (0) 17. Try: Bowe, O’Driscoll. Cons: O’Gara 2. Drop-goal: 1 O’Gara .

*Quote of the week must surely go to Jackie Coyle, a member of the victorious 1948 Grand Slam team, who was asked how his men might fare against the present Irish lineup.

“I think it would be very close.” remarked Jackie

He paused, and then delivered the try-scoring pass.

“Of course,” he continued “half of our team are over 80 – and the other half are dead!”

*And congratulations to boxer Bernard Dunne who became the new WBA Super-Bantamweight World Champion at the O2 Arena in Dublin in the early hours of Sunday morning after defeating Ricardo Cordoba with an eleventh round knock-out,

CEILI;

A ceili with music by Taylors Cross ceili band will be held at the GAA Clubhouse in Abbeyfeale on Saturday, March 28 next. Doors open 9pm.

SOCCER;

Abbeyfeale Utd A 1, Killeaney 1. Abbeyfeale Youths 3, Pallaskernry 0.

Football

                                                                            GAA

Fr. Casey’s Under 21′s have qualified for the West final after they drew 1-08 each with Newcastlewest last Saturday in Abbeyfeale.

Limerick footballers returned to winning ways with a one point victory over Down. The hurlers were narrowly beaten by Galway.
Allianz NFL Div 1: Donegal 0-11 Tyrone 0-8; Mayo 0-9 Dublin 0-9; Derry 0-13 Galway 2-7; Kerry 1-12 Westmeath 0-6; Div 2: Laois 0-23 Fermanagh 1-14; Meath 0-12 Monaghan 0-12; Kildare 1-10 Armagh 1-12; Cork 1-16 Wexford 0-7; Div 3: Roscommon 1-10 Tipperary 2-13; Louth 0-18 Longford 0-12; Limerick 2-9 Down 1-11; Offaly 1-16 Cavan 0-13; Div 4: Antrim 3-19 London 0-4; Sligo 2-8 Carlow 0-8; Wicklow 1-15 Clare 2-9; Waterford 3-7 Leitrim 1-10. Leinster U21 semi-final: Dublin 1-10, Westmeath 0-9.
Allianz NHL Div 1: Galway 1-14 Limerick 1-12; Dublin 0-15 Waterford 1-11; Kilkenny 5-17 Tipperary 1-12; Clare 0-16 Cork 2-13; Div 2: Down 0-14 Offaly 2-21; Carlow 3-12 Antrim 1-15; Kerry 0-12 Laois 0-17; Wexford 3-15 Westmeath 2-14; Div 3A: Mayo 0-12 Armagh 0-7; Kildare 3-15 Derry 1-17; Meath 2-16 Wicklow 1-19; Div 3B: Donegal 3-19 Tyrone 0-9; London 3-12 Fingal 1-10; Longford 1-8 Louth 3-18; Div 4: Leitrim 0-15 Cavan 0-12; Fermanagh 2-8 Monaghan 2-15; South Down 2-10 Sligo 1-13;