James Flynn should be sent to Eurovision.
You’d imagine that Kerry fans would be slightly be hesitant when writing All-Ireland final songs after the ‘Five-in-a-Row’ debacle of 1982.
In case you weren’t around then, the chorus of a song released in the build-up to that final had the refrain:
“Five-in a-row, five-in-a-row, never again will there be five-in a-row”
But one talented man from the south west has laid claim to arguably the most hummable tune this side of the M50 in the build-up to next Sunday’s All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Dublin.
James Flynn has taken the old classic Irish tune ‘Golden Jubilee’ and put a football twist on it to make it our current favourite All-Ireland song in the lead-up to next Sunday in Croke Park.
The song, called ‘Headin’ to Croker’ contains lyrical gems such as:
“They call him the Gooch Cooper, his dummies are no jokes
Ask anyone who’s played against the Kingdom or the Crokes.”
James, who’s from Killorglin, also makes a bold assertion on how much Kerry may win next week’s clash with their age-old rivals by in the chorus:
“We’re heading upto Croker, of the Dubs we have no fear
With Cooper and O’Donoghue we’ll win by four points clear.”
We got in touch with James this afternoon and he explained the unique background to the song.
The song has become a viral sensation since it was uploaded to Facebook on Saturday and we’d be surprised if Kerry win next week that this isn’t sung by Kieran Donaghy after he takes possession of Sam Maguire.
Headin to croker !!! Was bored for an hour. Hope ye enjoy it. Feel free to share it
Posted by James Flynn on Saturday, 12 September 2015
The full lyrics are:
Here in county Kerry for football we’re renowned
The greatest ever on the field is from Killarney town
They call him the Gooch Cooper, his dummies are no jokes
Ask any one who’s played against the Kingdom or the Crokes.
Chorus:
So pack up all your sandwiches ,role the flag up good and tight
Jump on the train or take the car, you can even go by flight
For we’re headin up to Croker of the Dubs we have no fear
With Cooper and O’Donoughue we’ll win by 4 points clear.
An experience like no other, down your spine you’ll get a chill
When you hear Molly Malone ringing from the hill
But Kerry will be chanting from the Cusack and the Hogan
When Mark O’Se doesn’t give an inch to their hero Bernard Brogan.
We have a squad of players for Sam they will fight
Murphy, Lyne and Young and corner back Enright
But you can’t beat experience he’s well over 34
but running like a young lad is Mahony from Rathmore.
With fifteen on the field and more to come on
Fionn Fitzgerald Tommy Walsh and up front Barry John
Maher and Moran are sure to hold there own
And the man who runs all day, is Walsh from Cromane
A super sub from Glenbeigh, he can jink and jive and jolt
He’ll run at their full back line, they’ll think he’s Usain Bolt.
And if the Dubs run at us there’s one man they won’t pass
He’ll meet them with a shoulder and put them on their ass.
A traditional centre back who never lets us down,
Of course it is young Crowley, from the banks of the river Laune.
Final minutes will be tense, the game will come alive
Brian Sheehan under pressure will kick a 45
We hope to see Paul Galvin, and if the Dubs we beat (bate)
We’ll be coming home with Sam again and title 38.
Chorus
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