Of rivals and assistants
Armstrong-Ullrich ; Borg-McEnroe; Ali-Frazier; Real Madrid-Barcelona... So much of sport is defined by its great rivalries. And here's another one: Tipperary-Kilkenny. In hurling, that most ancient and authentic of Irish games, the rivalry between the two counties is epic, and the enmity is illustrated by a story that I heard last Wednesday night following the Munster Hurling Under-21 semi-final, which was played at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
THE SCENE: Lisbon, Estádio da Luz
THE OCCASION: The evening of the enthralling England-Portugal Euro 04 quarter final, which Portugal won 6-5 on penalties with misses from David Beckham and Darius Vassell proving decisive in the shoot-out and Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo nervelessly converting the winning spot-kick.
As the English spectators stream out of the stadium, a Sky TV reporter is asking them if they feel dejected.
Football fan: "Not at all — I'm Irish. I'm from Tipperary."
Sky reporter: "But would you not support England when Ireland aren't in a championship?"
Football fan: "No way."
Sky reporter: "Why not?"
Football fan: "800 years of oppression."
Sky reporter: "Is there ever a time you'd support England?"
Football fan: "If they were playin' Kilkenny!"
Classic. And now, from rivals to assistants. Sincere thanks to the Rainy Day wife for keeping this blog running last week while I was down on the farm. Well done! And thanks, too, to the Rainy Day mother, father, sister and brother for the food, the generosity, the entertainment and the kindness. Tomorrow, here, we'll be back in political mode because the dictators and the fascists have been busy in our absence slaughtering the innocent and spreading their evil ideologies.
