VOMIT Tour to Ireland, January 2009
(Larger photo)
By Marc Kennedy
The MUNSTER vs Sale Sharks Match
We visited several pubs in downtown Limerick before the match
just because they were there. The atmosphere was great in
Limerick before the game; a nice city with plenty of venerable
buildings, including many castles and churches. Several members
of the Abbeyfeale Old Boys arranged to meet us at the clubhouse
of the Bohemians rugby club at Thomond Park. Guys like Maurice,
Gavin, Richard and son Philip who would be our water boy at
our match the next day in Abbeyfeale, among others, made us
feel right at home. One of their old, old boys walked by Wee
Bob and myself, pointed, and said, “hooker, and prop/hooker…”
then walked away for get a beer. Well, we were happy he didn’t
say “embezzler” and “sheep-shagger…”
Limerick is home of the late Richard Harris, devout Munster
fan, as well as the scene of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes.
Incidentally, Harris panned McCourt’s books calling the poverty,
despair and loss of described in Limerick as overblown, adding
that while the actor’s family and friends suffered hard times
during the depression, they were still loyal to the city.
Though the recent economic downturn has taken a little of
the roar out of the Celtic Tiger there was still plenty of
evidence of building and renovation around the Limerick vicinity.
Certainly the Limerick denizens were of good spirit and friendly,
even more so after the walloping they gave the visiting side.
Munster Blows Out Sale 37-14
The Sale Sharks were in the match until close to half time
but Munster began to pull away early in the second half and
the visitors never got close. The match ambiance was magical.
About 26,000 fans – singing, cheering nearly non-stop, crammed
the stands, which for us were mostly covered as it rained
on and off once the match started; this prevented us from
developing full-blown pneumonia, at least until the next day.
The only time the crowd quieted was when either side prepared
to kick a penalty or conversion. As the kicker placed the
ball, the entire stadium went dead silent. You could hear
a dog bark in the distance or a car drive past the park. It
was a marvelous and unexpected treat. When some pillock in
the crowd wouldn’t shut up, the crowd hushed him until he
muzzled his babble hole.
While the crowd, stadium and match were terrific, one aspect
was disappointing. We were anticipating a great performance
by Sale’s terrific No 8, Sebastian “the Animal” Chabal, who
was such a force in France’s showing in the last World Cup.
Unfortunately, Chabal was a non-factor. Instead of energizing
Sale, he detracted from their play, looking more like a spokesmodel
for L’Oreal with his long locks flowing in wind than a world-class
player.
Match Report
Abbeyfeale Golden Oldies 17, VOMITs (Wisconsin Old Boys) 14
Despite a forecast of 80 mph winds, snow, sleet and possibly
a rain of frogs, the match was still on for the next day in
Abbeyfeale about an hour southwest of Limerick. Abbeyfeale
is the ancestral home of the Cantorna brothers’ mother’s parents.
Thus the link and our reason for playing in Ireland in January.
The Abbeyfeale Golden Oldies figured the match might be called
off due to the lousy weather, so the night before they decided
to seek the pre-match wisdom found at the bottom of a Guinness
glass. Frantic phone calls were made when we turned up around
1 pm at O’Rourke’s Bar prepared to play at the Abbeyfeale
pitch about 100 yards from the back door. The game was on.
At O’Rourke’s we met the rest of our squad: three of Shawn
Smith’s former teammates (whose names escape me) from the
Ripon RFC in Britain – a back, a prop and a 2nd row -- and
a former Condor, Barry Holzer and friend Frank Black, who
both work in Europe and play flyhalf and fullback respectively.
The VOMITs were represented by: Capt. Bernie Cantorna, his
brothers Sean and Jamie, who both played for the Condors,
Mike Ferdig, Greg Zukowski, Erik Goetz, Rick Stoughton, Joe
Wornson, Luke Milligan, Wee Bob Jafferies and myself. The
latter two were named as reserves even before we had 15 players…and
before we came down with the pulmonary plague.
Game conditions: It wasn’t freezing but it wasn’t over 40;
windy and rainy. Muddy. But just as we took the pitch, the
sun came out and momentarily the rain stopped. Nice omen.
The match didn’t start well for the visitors though. It didn’t
take Luke long to draw first mud; about ten seconds and his
jersey went from red to chocolate. Abbeyfeale took advantage
of a few of our miscues and scored a try about 5 minutes in
with a series of nice forward moves.
The VOMITs began to feel some rhythm, with Ferdig, Goetz,
Wornson and other forwards gaining ground, and backs Luke
and Sean Cantorna making breaks up the middle. One of Luke’s
breaks set up the English winger for a try, giving us a 7-5
lead. I believe that was the halftime score. After halftime
Abbeyfeale tallied again, but a few minutes later flyhalf
Barry cut back and scored and converted giving us a 14-12
lead. With just a few minutes to go, Abbeyfeale picked off
an errant pass and scored the winning try.
The halves were only about 25 minutes long, and despite the
conditions, everyone had a blast. Even Wee Bob and I got in
a few minutes.
Note: One thing that those planning the soon-to-be WRC clubhouse
– make sure there is HOT WATER available. Showering in cold
water after playing in near freezing conditions is a bit rough.
There was shrinkage!
The post-match shindig in the Abbeyfeale clubhouse was outstanding
as well. We hung out there for several hours trading gear
and stories, some of which were actually true. Thereafter
we rotated from one bar to another with our hosts leading
the way. Though I didn’t make it much past midnight as the
cold medicine kicked in, I understand that some of the WRC
stalwarts joined some octogenarian ladies in some late-night
disco dancing at one of the pubs.
At the post-game soiree in the clubhouse, Bernie made a few
speeches, thanking our hosts and guest players, and was given
a token of appreciation from Abbeyfeale, made out to the “Pennsylvania
State University Old Boys” -- which is the college team Bernie
and Shawn Smith helped coach. Oh well. It’s the intention
that counts. And we intend on inviting the Golden Oldies and
their men’s club to visit Madison in the near future.
Note: Bernie also announced a Man of the Match and a Dick
of the Day, but humility and sense of perspective prevent
me from describing the award further. That will be up to someone
else on the tour.
Stay in touch,
Cheers,
Marc
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