Tom McGurk 2007 Championship Predictions

30 August 2007

Tom McGurk, presenter on RTE Radio and a regular presenter of RTE Television's rugby coverage give his predictions for the 2007 All-Ireland championships and recalls memories of playing against Maghery in his early days.

from rte.ie, 2007

Tom McGurk

Obviously now well-known for the oval ball, but it all began behind the hedges in Tyrone changing into size 12s to play midfield for Brockagh Robert Emmets. The ball was really leather then, the full-back wore a cloth cap and everyone feared the local Maghery team with nine McGeary brothers and six McGeary cousins on the team. (Not to mention Mrs McGeary on the sideline.)

Back in those dark days in the North, the GAA was the purgatorial gates through which we watched the souls in heaven down in the 'Free State'.

Every September back then, it was the visiting crowd in the kitchen around the Aga, mother's sandwiches, apple tarts, gallons of tea, the dog put out and Mícheál Ó H on the steam radio in the corner.

I can still see the scene now, hanging forever on the walls of memory, like some Holbein glimmering in the shadows. Thank you GAA.

SFC winners for 2007 & SHC winners for 2007: Tyrone and Waterford, of course.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/players_league.html