Woodlock’s winning dream

HE IS sick and tired of losing, is James Woodlock, sick of waiting around on the field and watching the winners already well into their celebrations as they accept the cup, tired of the feeling that evening, the next day, the next week, the feeling that just eats and gnaws its way into your marrow.

“I’ve lost two senior county finals, two county U21 A finals, an All-Ireland senior final, an All-Ireland U21 final, Mid (Tipp) finals, two minor A county finals,” he says, listing them off, “I’ve lost enough. I’m sick of losing and there’s no place for losers’ medals anywhere.”

The worst of all came a few weeks ago, the All-Ireland final, beaten by Kilkenny on a day when Tipperary couldn’t seem to buy a break. That was the culmination of not just one, but two years of ferocious effort in Tipperary, and of all the players, James took the defeat particularly hard. That he works as a Garda in Kilkenny hasn’t helped his recovery either, but then again, “Going around with two flags out the window (the week beforehand), I didn’t do myself any favours I suppose,” he says, wryly, “I was hoping to be going around the week afterwards with them as well!”