September road

Compiled by DAMIAN CULLEN

Compiled by DAMIAN CULLEN

The Rattler's wit: Finally brought to book

THERE are not many events that could have come up against Saturday evening’s Champions League final and still have been recorded as a resounding success.

The attendance at the Down versus Armagh tie certainly suffered (though some seem to think it was the Kings of Leon in Slane that affected the numbers!).

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September Road was part of the large attendance in the ballroom of the Anner Hotel in Thurles as a book on Mickey Byrne was launched at the same time as Messi was weaving his magic.

Known as The Rattler (apparently because he often told his team-mates to “rattle them” when the opposition were on the attack) Tipp’s greatest right corner back is a true legend of the game.

Several pleas from the microphone had to be made to try to control the crowd who had come to honour the 87-year-old Thurles man.

While his hurling prowess has diminished since he won the last of his five All-Ireland medals, the Rattler’s legendary wit and story telling only sharpened in the years since. One of my favourite stories he tells is of a league game in Cork.

“We had as goalkeeper, little Jimmy (Maher from Boherlahan). There was a shemozzle at our goal and little Jimmy was bundled into the back of the net, and they put his hat down over his eyes.

“When the dust settled, he lifted up the cap, and he saw (Jack) Lynch running out to the 21. So he followed him out, and he left the bas of the hurley under his neck, and said, ‘by Jesus, Jack, if you come in there again, they’ll be another by-election in Cork’.”

The book is written by former editor of the Tipperary Star, Michael Dundon.

Now, if Messi had ever come up against The Rattler . . .

When the scores came: How Cork Offaly came back to threaten the favourites . . .

How unlucky are Limerick? The season hasn’t even started for the county’s footballers and already they’ve lost their star player for the season – John Galvin. And now may well be without the services of Stephen Lucey for next weekend’s handy opener at the Gaelic Grounds against Kerry next weekend.

The defender was carried from the field with a hamstring injury during a challenge game at the weekend between Limerick’s hurlers and Galway – which, incidently, the Connacht side won, 1-19 to 1-13.

Not your usual blitz: Statham hurls some justice

A few years ago September Road reported on TV programmes and movies which featured Gaelic games – from a recent Law and Order to 1950s Hollywood movies.

Well, there’s a new entry and, well, while it’s set in London, let’s just say it’s unlikely any clips from Blitz will be used by the promoters of the 2012 Olympic Games.

It’s about murder, battery, foul language and general lawlessness, so you can see where hurling fits in.

It stars Jason Statham as a cop who dishes out justice with the pause for thought of Judge Judy.

No one stands in his way for long, as evidenced by an opening scene where he approaches three youths who are breaking into a car.

The film is adapted from a book by Irishman Ken Bruen, so naturally enough, Statham’s character, Brant, is walking along a London street with a hurley.

“This lads, is a hurley, used in the Irish game of hurling, a cross between hockey and murder,” he tells the not-overly impressed trio.

He then makes sure they can never follow their dreams of playing for London in an intercounty game. Within seconds, the youths are lying on the pavement in agony.

“A word of advice, girls. If you pick the wrong fight, at least pick the right weapon,” Brant tells them before sauntering off.

The brutality with the hurley is so obviously inspired by (we’ll let you insert your own least favourite player or team here).