50-year itch: Epic grudges, Irish style

“LIFE is too short to hold a grudge, also too long,” a wise man once reflected, clearly outside the earshot of Angelo Mosca and Joe Kapp — the two septuagenarian ex-football players, who made news worldwide this week when they brawled at a Canadian Football League alumni lunch, over an incident that happened in 1963.

Sure, the news Mosca had launched a book last month left a faint whiff of festering rat in the air. But you couldn’t help but admire the energy of these fellas, fostering bitterness almost five decades. Which got us thinking, which incidents closer to home may one day cause mayhem in a retirement village?

1. Cheeky Backhand — Neil Back v the Munster pack.

2. Thief of St Denis — Thierry Henry v Ireland.

3. Carry On Over The Line — Martin Sludden v the whole of Louth.

4. Smiling Assassin — Clare defence v the laughing Nicky English.

5. Fingergate — Gary Kirby v Wexford.

6. Cheated in Brussels — Eoin Hand v Portuguese ref Raul Nazare.

7. Dog with a Bone — Paul Kimmage v Lance Armstrong.

8. Spear of Destiny — Brian O’Driscoll v Tana Umaga.

9. The Keady Affair — Galway v John Denton & GAC.

10. The Row That Claimed McHale — Mayo v Meath.