Oh ro the Junior B’s.
It was a great day for the people of Portumna, between Jack Canning starring in Galway’s minor triumph over Kilkenny, and his uncle Joe landing a late blockbuster to become a hero of the county – Their Junior B’s looked to have had quite the day to top it all off.
The Portumna lads began their journey to Croke Park in the early hours of Saturday morning, but there weren’t too many sleepy-heads on board by the time local man Graham Fogarty took centre stage.
Photo L to R: Eamonn Larkin, Brian Dolphin, Gary Lynch, Michael Fahy, Colin Burke, Niall Royston, Craig O’Meara, Chloe O’Brien, Declan Madden, Graham Fogarty, Oisin Royston, Donal Donoghue, Hazel Treacy, Chloe Costello, Emily Foley, Ronan O’Meara.
Fogarty recently recommenced his hurling career with Portumna, after a brief sabbatical, and as is the case with all of our GAA clubs, the town’s Junior B side welcomed him back with open arms. There’s a place for everybody on the Junior B’s.
The 23-year-old’s absence made the heart grow fonder, and his return has rekindled the love he always knew he had for the game.
He was enjoying it so much, that he decided to write a song for the big day.
“I only went back hurling this year after four years out and I realise how much I actually missed the game. I’ve been loving my time back and it sort of inspired me to write the song,” said the Portumna man to SportsJOE.
“I promised the lads two weeks ago that I’d write a song for the way up to the match. I Don’t think anyone believed I would, but in the end it turned out to be a big success.
“It’s only junior B, but we have a strong bond among the whole team. We enjoy a good game but nothing beats a win, and more importantly the pints afterwards,” he continued.
In fairness to Fogarty, that’s a fine effort and has all the potential to become an anthem for the strong Junior B faithful around the country.
He’s no stranger to playing some traditional ceol, and the Portumna crusaders will be glad to find out that he has promised to write another song for the All-Ireland final
“I’d like to play a lot more than I do, I’m only a bodhran player and singer but would love to be in traditional band or modern band of some sort. I’ll be writing another one for the final.”
Hat-tip to Donal Donoghue for sending this our way.
