Never have northerners had the right to feel so smug over their southern siblings, especially when it comes to the GAA.
Gaels from the six counties were out yesterday evening with a hurl in their hand, a ball under their arm and a spring in their step.
The craic flowed but so did the excuses, from, “I was getting sub 20 minutes in my 5ks before Christmas there, but sure the beer ruined me”, to, “The old knee is playing up, might just stick to the ball-work for now and not risk the sprints.” A tale as old as the sport itself.
The only thing tighter than our hamstrings were our jerseys, but we blamed the washing machines because surely we couldn’t have gained weight after doing those 30-minute Zoom sessions every other Tuesday.
Even though the sun was shining, everyone had their gloves on, determined to get some use out of the new pair that was bought months ago. Not to mention the latest boots all on display, without a speck of dirt on them and still filled with the magical illusion that the adverts were right and these do make you faster!
Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/SportsfileReality bites hard however, as it didn’t take long for the lungs to fill with air, the quads to seize and that alarm bell to ring in your head that goes, “Hang on a minute, are we absolutely certain this isn’t a heart attack?”
Cue the water breaks and teammates patting you on the back, encouraging you to keep going. The balls are soon introduced and after a couple of dodgy touches the circuits in your brain start to reconnect with your hands and feet – it’s all coming back to you now.
Already the stress of work, lockdown and family life are pushed to the back of your mind. Kick-passing a floating ball through the air is liberating, catching one is satisfying and even hitting someone shoulder-to-shoulder after months of social distancing fills you with all the giddiness of a toddler who’s allowed sweets before dinner.
The novelty of outdoor sports has returned and although it might not be long before our calendars become overbooked with training and matches, there is a new appreciation for our sport. Not once but twice in the space of a year we have had Gaelic games ripped away from us, leaving us in the unknown of when and if we will ever be allowed to return.
No one has suffered more from this than children. Natural balls of energy who need exercise and social stimulation, were forced to stay inside and told that they weren’t allowed to play with their friends.
The last lad was so excited he forgot his hurl!
The best video of the year, from @McQuillanGAC Ballycastlepic.twitter.com/yAnHxheokX
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 13, 2021
We can finally mark the end of that, as a sea of miniature hurls and tiny footballs were thrust back into the eagerly waiting hands of smiling kids, desperate to show off the skills that they honed in their back gardens.
Reading about “trouble up north” is a phrase that is unfortunately too common, even in 2021, but the only trouble with northern gaels right now is a few stiff legs and mucky football boots.
Nothing a kick-about with some friends wouldn’t fix.
