Stillorgan 8 Lansdowne 27, Sportsground Clonskeagh. 30/01/10

A Day of Wonder
The Gospel according to Niall ó h-Éalaithe


Sometimes you think back to a match and your over-riding memory is of the feeling you experienced.
I am not speaking here about peculiar goings-on at the bottom of a ruck, but of how it felt to watch something joyful unfold. This passage was recorded from the testimony of one who bore witness to glory and was transfixed in wonder.


Mark 28:7
On that day in January the Sun danced in the heavens and the faithful followers assembled full of hope for a miracle, but not expecting the blinding brilliance that followed, like the recent apparitions at Knock.
The “green shoots” promised by the great preacher O’Bama were still nowhere to be seen, in fact there was barely even grass. It was more of a lake of mud on which the two tribes stood.
(You couldn’t call it a Bloomfield anyway because that has henceforth become a synonym for crunching tackles.)
Yet regeneration and renewal was everywhere as Lansdowne emerged from the bitterest fallow winter after months of toil and biblical cursing in the potting shed that is the Monkstown gym.
Mark and Fred dug deep within themselves and planted the roots of a scrum that stood solid all day like the columns of Saint Peter Geoghan’s Square in Rome. Just like in the new testament Andrew stood alongside his brother Peter.
The talisman Smithy came on as an “impact” substitute who smashed down the infidel defences. He picked and ran all day as if it were fruit from the vine.
There were no doubts about Thomas Crone who instilled great fear as he marched through the enemy ranks, bouncing them off his skull-cap.
At his shoulder towered a hungry Saint Paul who left his foes for dead like a bad Samaritan.
Go Harvey, Go! we prayed in encouragement as he ran in a try from the half-way line.
The opposition were left standing in embarrassment like a bunch of still organs.
Ed Bruce played the part of the bearded shepherd who had spent too long on the mountains looking for mutton lost in the bush.
Somebody gave Adam the cold shoulder and he walked off into the wilderness. Never a man to go easy, St. Michael Deasy beat the opposition boys like an angry Christian Brother and ignored their pleas for mercy. Even after IRFU investigations into his cruelty he still refused to step aside for anyone.
Conor McKenna’s sins were many, but he received some grace and absolution for his zeal near the 5 metre line that set up a try. He charged down and seized an attempted clearance as if it were a harlot trying to escape her stoning. Clearly his years of training with the nuns have taught him to do it out of habit.
Millan dished out swift and skilful passes like communion at a vigil mass. Altar-boy Allonso has learned that letting it drop to the floor is a sin and that he’ll be made eat whatever falls, whether it’s dirty bread or balls. He received great praise from the gathered congregation.
Keith’s control of the game was masterful. He made it look as easy as a pillow-fight in Lourdes. He had help from his bearded brothers Oisin and Chip who skulked around the back, mopping up balls.
Rory Gavin and Gearoid Carvill faced up to our enemies like Davids to the mighty Goliath. They employed the wise tactic of taking well-aimed shots and then away running as fast as they could. Shane ran faster still.
As the light in the sky faded, Gants knew that time was nearly at hand, but he decided to lead us once more into the promised-land. His smile told us that this wasn’t heaven yet, but it was still divine. And later as they sat down by the dropping well for supper the tired disciples said to captain Gantly, "Tell us what Heaven's kingdom is like"
He said to them, "It's like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky."
Naomh Ronan who had sailed from Aran also heard the message out on the wing. That very night he did plant small seeds in all the birds he could catch.
And they too were filled with wonder and prayed that he would come again.

He told them he would call.


1. Peter Geoghan
2. Mark Forrest
3. Fred Tottenham
4. Paul Harvey
5. Tom Crone
6. Ed Bruce (Pack leader)
7. Adam K
8. Michael D
9. Millan Alonso
10. Keith Herman
11. Rory Gavin
12. Ross Bloomfield
13. Eoin Gantly (Captain)
14. Shane McElveen
15.Oisin O‘Cuinnegain
Subs
Paul Smith
Conor McKenna
Gearoid Carvill
Ronan Gibney
Chip Barnes
Andrew Tracey