Larry’s Travelling Shop had just pulled out when the landline rang.

"Ballybore 213," answered Nancy, "Davy, old stock, I was roaring to bring on Kennedy to win a few puck-outs. I’ll put on himself."

I first saw Davy playing an Under-14 challenge in Bodyke, and although nine goals went over his head, I knew he had what it took. He never let the backs settle. The best seven year-old prospect I’d seen since Skehan.

I’ll put the video I shot of that up on YouTube before the final. Now, though, he was serious. "Noel," he said, "I’m looking for the edge."

"You’re onto the wrong place, my friend," I joked, "but Bono’s in the book, and he’ll have the number you want…"

"Noel," he interrupted, curtly, no laugh, "If I don’t get these lads underground soon, they’ll blow up. Literally blow up, Noel."

And that’s why at the crack of dawn Thursday, Nancy and I were parked in Inagh as the Waterford bus pulled in.

They’ve had trouble with drivers before so Nancy drove the Sunny and I took over the bus. Davy sat up proud in the tour guide’s flip-back seat, and peppered me with questions all the way to Ballyvaughan.

Who’ll I put on Brennan? Would Dan work centre-back? What’d this yoke give you to the gallon? Any chance Considine would stop praising me so much in the paper? Could he not wait until I’ve the All-Ireland won it itself?

He was wound up. As the treasurer paid for the tickets, I took Davy to one side. "There’s only one man here in danger of blowing up," I told him, between the eyes. "Settle. Or Cody’ll eat you. Literally."

The break away from Waterford worked a treat. A bit of fun. I’ve brought dozens of teams down The Caves – drills in the Blast Tavern, the Midsummer Cavern for a seven-a-side, video analysis in Bear Haven. It was from the sevens in the Cavern that I went to Guinness with the idea for Hurling Cubed.

Anyway, we were all going through the Mud Hall when I set to work on their minds. "Mullane," I roared, "what drives you to wear the jersey?"

"I loves Waterford, Noel" he replied. Good.

"Dan, what’s your goal?"

"One second, Noel," he replied, whipping off his t-shirt, "I’ve that in Hebrew under me oxter." Excellent.

These lads are on the ball. They want the best. In Cascade, they told the tour guide they would go no further with her, and demanded a replacement. They’re single-minded.

When Cody hears I had them in the Caves, he’ll be a worried man. What can I do? I’m here to help people who are stuck.

Conor Counihan, leave it until after ten Tuesday evening. We’ll soften Mickey Harte’s cough, and trim his beard, too, if that’s what he wants.

Noel gives and goes. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; visit www.knowledgeablenoel.com; Skype (knowledgeable.noel); and Facebook (Knowledgeable Noel.)

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment