Croker’s Colman’s furore a true farce

WHAT nonsense was coming from Croke Park about the proposed game to mark the 150th anniversary of St Colman’s College?

To say that the motion passed at Special Congress a month ago rendered this proposed challenge game illegal was an insult to the great teachers and pupils of the famous nursery.

I’m sure this game was planned long before the challenge game and training ban was mooted. GAA legislation doesn’t become retrospective and it certainly wasn’t intended to debar famous institutions from celebrating their landmark achievements.

Few colleges, if any, have done as much for hurling as the Diocesan College in Fermoy.

The GAA should be bending over backwards to help them celebrate rather than putting obstacles in their way.

If St Colman’s decided to scrap the hurling game and put on a rugby or a soccer game instead, don’t you think the FAI and IRFU would be delighted to facilitate them?

Having been involved in another nursery, St. Brendan’s College, for many years, I know the time, effort, sacrifice and money, schools like St Colman’s put in for the love of the game.

They rarely ask for anything in return. It’s quite probable that St Colman’s never asked the GAA for anything before. Now is a once-off opportunity to show some appreciation for the great voluntary effort put in by priests, lay teachers, and students of one of our greatest nurseries.

I hope all those who are asked will be delighted to turn out and if there is any problem with the title “Challenge Game” — call it an invitational game, an exhibition or as they say in show business — “a gig”.

Whatever it is called, I hope it’s a resounding success.

I’d be there myself, only my club Kilcummin will be playing the East Kerry Senior final (O’Donoghue Cup) against the famed Dr Crokes. We haven’t won it since 1973 when I was honoured to be a (very young) member of the team. If we win on Sunday, the sports editor might have difficulty finding me on Monday. I hope you’ll understand!