The last line of defence

A number three can hurl a lot of ball, make vital interceptions, thunder out of defence, but cannot afford any mistake in front of goal. The full-back can win lots of ball but all the full forward needs is one.

TRAVELLING to matches these days by limousine or plane is not out of the ordinary. When I began attending inter-county games the mode of transport was the ‘excursion train’ or overcrowded car.

I have memories of being bundled into a black Consul driven by Mick Ryan, a family friend and former Tipperary great of their three-in-a-row team from the 1950s.