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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

An All-Ireland football final for the ages ----One of the greatest games as Dublin defeat Kerry

Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at 05:24 PM

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I have just witnessed one of the greatest sporting occasions I have seen and I have witnessed Olympics, World Cups, Super Bowls in my time.

This event was all the more remarkable because it was a game played by total amateurs, who were not compensated a penny for their endeavors.

I am referring to the All Ireland football final played in Dublin's Croke Park between age-old rivals Kerry and Dublin with 'the Dubs' victorious by a single point 1-12 to 1-11.

Over 80,000 were on hand to witness the latest chapter in Ireland's anceint game, often described as a cross between rugby and soccer.

Actually. it is an amazing game in its own right.

All 32 counties in Ireland participate as well as a team from London and one from New York and all the players have day jobs, but train and play like highly prized professionals.

At stake is the pride of the county, the town, and the local village even.

Think texas high school football in terms of the ferocity and pride in the local place

It is sport at its finest a billion light years away from the pampered super millionaires of soccer, baseball and football.
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Read more:

Dublin finally win the All-Ireland title thanks to last minute point from goalkeeper
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Here there are no gleaming Mercedes driven by the players, no WAGS, women who stalk the top players looking to make a kill.

Rather there is a homespun reality that is as beguiling as it is appealing.

The hero of the day for Dublin, the goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton who ran almost the entire length of the field in order to kick the winning point from a free.

He is so camera shy that he refused to appear for the after-match presentation of the cup and just quietly went the dressing room.

By day he is a schoolteacher and will be back in his classroom this week.

His insistence on anonymity is as rare as a hen's tooth in an era of ego inflated super stars.

The battle rolled on for seventy minutes in Dublin on Sunday. Dublin and Kerry are the polar opposites. In the blue corner, Dublin, are the city team, with fanatical followers who follow the team to every corner of Ireland.

In the green and gold corner Kerry, the rural champions, 'culchies' in the vernacular, playing 'the Jacks' as the Dubs are dubbed.

At stake was county pride but also something deeper for Ireland.

At a time of deep national trauma with institutions such as banks and Catholic Church exploding in pieces, the GAA, Ireland's leading sporting organization has become a touchstone of Irish society.

The organization is widely praised for it involvement in every aspect of Irish life, helping young children become athletes and better citizens and providing a focus for millions all over Ireland.

The game yesterday was broadcast all over the world to expatriates everywhere from Sydney to New York.

It was a marvelous occasion , one the Irish diaspora felt part of and an example of the greatness of the Irish heritage and spirit.

A day to remember for sure.

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NARROWBACK | Sep 27, 2011, 04:41 PM EDT

i'm not saying Dublin broke any rules but dont they have anyone else that can take a free beside the goalie. It slows down the pace of the game and delayed time to have the goalie run out 3 times especially during injury time running out the clock. Again Dublin won fair and square but i would like to see that made a rule in the future

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irishfrank | Sep 22, 2011, 11:30 AM EDT

SAM IS HOME UP THE DUBS

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GeorgeDillon | Sep 20, 2011, 02:58 PM EDT

I am very happy to see Dublin, city of my ancestors, once more champion of all of Ireland. Dublin, especially the working-class communities where GAA is strongest, has been ravaged by huge waves of Mass Immigration. Whole neighborhoods, such as North City, Phibsborough, Blanchardstown etc. have been overrun by people who have no links to Ireland other than using it to get a job or collect welfare. Wonder how many foreign migrants went to the game? None, maybe? You see, the great majority of foreign migrants know nothing and care less about Ireland, its history, its culture, its music, its language. That's their own business, but the problem is that within a decade or two those people will be in the majority in Ireland. Irish-Americans need to realize that their ethnicity is vanishing in their own lifetimes.

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ancavker | Sep 20, 2011, 11:00 AM EDT

The GAA has been a wonderful part of Irish life for over 125 years. Yes they had the ban on foreign games, they got rid of it. Always some Irish criticizing or knocking their own. Of course if it was Man United than all would be well. As my Aunt always says the Irish are an odd bunch, indeed they are.

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Towngate | Sep 20, 2011, 04:17 AM EDT

Thanks Divilment: for the sensible reply. I am fully aware of the GAA's narrow and exclusive input into Irish Community life ~ I'm only asking a serious question, which must puzzle a lot of outsiders and Members too: "What do they do with the Millions they rake in?!; Do they pay Taxes?, and are they publicly Accountable? ... JUST ASKING!

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Ernesider | Sep 20, 2011, 03:13 AM EDT

Kerry had it won and we all know that. Age and a wee bit of carelessness done them in. But for me Kerry will always set the standards in Gaelic football. Could never stand Dublin and it'll be years before they win "Sam" again despite their youth. The pale moon was rising ...

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sirpeter | Sep 19, 2011, 05:49 PM EDT

Creakygate is a Dub and even when Dublin win he has to still get a dig in at the GAA.Even though the GAA has been a resounding success over the years he still has to take a dump on it.He doesn't see the support the players get at club level at all.

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Taho1221 | Sep 19, 2011, 03:33 PM EDT

Niall, Sinn Fein have chosen you to replace Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister?

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greensod | Sep 19, 2011, 02:14 PM EDT

If Kilkenny does not field a football team,then a lot of misinformation was sent out, on the airwaves all over the world.I tend to agree with the writer that they do not,but I am not positive. What I do know for sure is Kilkenny dowm through the years have been a power house in the art of hurling.

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ancavker | Sep 19, 2011, 01:04 PM EDT

The Gaelic games are still alive and continuing to do well 80,000 people turned out for the game, not too shabby. Congrats to the Dubs condolences to my beloved Kerry. Who needs Manchester United!!!!

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Bernadett | Sep 19, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT

WELL DONE DUBLIN HEROS EVERYONE.WE ARE DUBS, WE ARE DUBS WE ARE SUPPER DUBS.Thank you for a great day.

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divilment | Sep 19, 2011, 12:39 PM EDT

@Towngate Not sure if GAA books are open to public scrutiny, but a lot of the profits made are ploughed back into providing facilitites at local level for clubs in cities, towns and villages across the country.

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joan1954 | Sep 19, 2011, 12:37 PM EDT

Thank you DPBailey from a South Texan who happens to love Gaelic Football and recognizes Texas with a capital "T".

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pmunited | Sep 19, 2011, 12:04 PM EDT

One minor correction - Kilkenny does not participate in the All-Ireland football competition. It is the only county that does not participate. They have a little success though in the other major national sport, hurling.

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antoman | Sep 19, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT

@Towntroll- A chara, can you not do your own googling?

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