Keeping the game alive

THE All-Ireland league recommences today and though attendances and incomes are falling, grassroots passion remains as strong as ever. Declan Colley canvasses the opinions of those at the coalface.

THE SUPPORTER

PADDY MURRAY, of the Sunday Tribune, is a passionate Blackrock supporter - and always will be. Having schooled at the famous south Dublin academy, it was natural his support would follow the fortunes of the school’s old boys outfit, Blackrock College RFC.

The term “once a ‘Rock boy, always a ‘Rock boy” is one that definitely applies to Murray who supports this team with the zeal of a true believer. And, while he mourns the glory days of the AIL, he believes the league is very much worth supporting.

“It is much easier for clubs to survive when they have that tribal element to their support, but the bottom line is that the AIL has become the proving ground for the players who will be the next batch of internationals and as such it is a fantastic showcase for them,” he says.

“Of course I remember days when we could fill a whole train going to Limerick or Cork for a game. These days, you’d hardly fill a car. I remember Stradbrook Road being packed with coaches on days when we’d play Young Munster - they were fantastic times.

“I wonder what happened all those people and where are they now and do they spend their Saturdays in the supermarket car park. I know Ireland has no real tradition of live sport on a Saturday, but in those days it was much different. The club scene has been emasculated in many ways and I cannot see a return to those days, but you will still get the hardcore supporters coming along.”

But he feels such hardcore support is not being properly treated - especially given the growth of a ‘prawn sandwich’ brigade on international days

“I was at Lansdowne Road not so long ago and John Hayes was being substituted. The woman beside me shouted ‘Good man Woody’ as he was leaving the pitch. Just because he was bald and wearing a green shirt meant to her he had to be Keith Wood. It was very embarrassing.”

THE PLAYER

DECLAN Coppinger has played in the AIL for 12 seasons, initially with Sundays Well and now with Clonakilty in Division Three.

Clon are one of those clubs, such as the Connemara All-Blacks, Nenagh, Ormond, Carlow, Naas and Barnhall, who have come through the junior ranks.

“Ours is a very community oriented club,” he says, “and, like many of the others who’ve come from being small, rural junior clubs, that is our strength. The main asset is that everyone in the town is practically involved and either partakes or helps out in some way.

“Our captain and President are father and son and we’ve a load of brothers playing, so it’s all very closely knit and that’s part of the buzz for me. But it is all 21 and 22 year-olds playing these days and while fitness and skill levels have increased, the overall quality of the players in the league has dropped.

“Even so, we made the league play-offs last year at Lansdowne Road and that was huge for me. I mean, I’m still playing because I love the game and the AIL is our game and it is our standard. It is simply down to a love of the game: the buzz of travelling North for a match, or meeting old friends for a drink after, or the sheer pleasure of playing. That’s what it’s all about.”

THE ADMINISTRATOR

WALLY Morrissey is one of those stalwart guys every club needs. Not that Cork Con, with all their influence and wealthy support, are short of candidates. Nevertheless, Wally is the essential clubman and Con are undoubtedly grateful to have his allegiance.

“The club game is the third tier now, behind the interprovincials and the national team and certainly finance is difficult and so forth, but club rugby is a very vibrant sport these days.

“The clubs will always be there and they will always have supporters, simply because there’s a great buzz from being involved. There is also huge pleasure from being involved in bringing players through to higher levels and it is also good to see the gospel of rugby spreading around the country, what with the likes of Nenagh Ormond coming into the senior ranks this year.

“The recent sponsorship announcement from AIB that they are to continue support for the league and involve themselves in other areas of support for the game is good and to be applauded. Initiatives like the All-Ireland Cup and the advent of amateur internationals for club players is fantastic.”

THE COACH

JOE Parkes is coach with DLSP and played with the club in the AIL in more youthful times. He rails against ‘Blazers’ who: “have tried to run the clubs their own way, rather than the best way.”

His passion for his club, his rugby and his players is all too evident.

“DLSP is like a parish club now for the Stepaside and Kilternan areas. We’ve spent €500,000 on new dressing rooms and other facilities - admittedly a share of this came from the Lotto - but our thing is to bring in the players and allow them play.

“The whole Leinster thing up here drives me mad. It’s all ‘me-me-me.’ Just look at the whole Brian O’Driscoll thing - that’s awful. It disillusions me because it’s nothing to do with sport.

“Leinster is all about a night out for people, it’s not necessarily about supporting rugby. It’s all about going back to Kiely’s afterwards, not the rugby.

“We play Midleton this weekend and I’m looking forward to that, because their passionate about their rugby and all they want to do is play. You go down to some of these places and they’re three deep around the ground. That’s what it’s about. It’s passionate and it’s fun and that’s what kids want these days.”

He feels that the lack of exposure the AIL gets in the media these days has had a bearing on support levels, but he reckons that the essence of what once made the league great, is still there.

“We get bugger-all coverage and that hurts, especially when you see the effort that goes in. But, I believe the club game is stronger than ever and I think it will continue that way - despite all the tinkering from the Blazers.”