It’s not until round 13 that these two teams meet again, and no doubt it will be a big event. Every time the two grand finalists meet in the following season it always draws a lot of attention from AFL fans.
Gaelic football is no different.
I was talking to Tadhg and Chris McKaigue and they invited me to come along with them to watch a game of Gaelic football in the city. I hear so much about the game yet I’ve never actually sat down to watch a full match. I thought, “Why not? Let’s see what Tadhg and Chris keep fussing about.”
We headed off to an Irish pub in the city that would be showing the game. It was Cork versus Kerry, and as my sensational introduction has hinted, it was the grand final rematch. A passionate Irish crowd was building ready for the game, and despite Tadhg’s efforts not to be noticed, it didn’t take long before the crowd realised the company they had. (Suggestion for next time Tadhg; maybe don’t wear a top that says ‘Kennelly’ on the back of it).
I sat unaware of the significance of this game. Sure, I knew that it was a grand final rematch, but I was oblivious to the fact these two neighbouring teams are the two powerhouses of the competition who detest each other. It was an Irish version of Carlton versus Collingwood. I felt like the odd one out, so I tucked my t-shirt into my pants and tried to mix in with the Irish crowd.
In the grand final last year Tadhg played for his beloved Kerry. Tadhg was the instigator in a scrap before the start, and the game continued with that ferocity until Kerry ended up winning. We all hoped another scrap would start up for this game too, and I’m sure a part of Tadhg wishes he could be out there to start it all.
As the telecast came on the big screen it panned across the packed stadium of Kerry’s home ground. It was a capacity crowd of 60,000 and your typical Irish summer’s day - grey and overcast. The national anthem was sung and I started to realise how big this game is.
I could see how important this game was to Tadhg. He sat with his eyes glued on the tv, fists clenched, white knuckles, and the only thing distracting him were the barrage of text messages from his friends back home in Ireland.
At the Swans we have our chants, the most popular and unique being the long SYYYYYYD-NEEEEEEY chant that starts up to fire us players up. Kerry fans have their own unique chant. The fans stand with a clenched fist and passionately scream at the top of their lungs, “For the kingdom!”
As the game was about to start dozens of Irish started yelling out “For the Kingdom!” Tadhg screams out, “For the kingdom” so I yell it out too in my Australian accent which seems to raise a few eyebrows. As people continue to scream it out I kind of felt that I was in some Irish version of Braveheart and we’re getting ready to charge the tv.
The game starts and it doesn’t take too long to learn the rules which differ between our games. I find it frustrating that you don’t get rewarded for a mark like you do in our game. If you receive a switch kick in defence, or if you pull down a contested mark from a long ball into the forward line it doesn’t matter, it’s always “play on”. It’s a close game, with the lead repeatedly changing between Kerry and Cork. I find myself getting into the game more than I thought I would.
I admire the Gaelic players who play this sport and receive no money whatsoever, despite the massive amounts of money the game generates. The game is physically demanding, with both teams only allowed five rotations on the bench per game. Similar to our game, it requires speed, strength, endurance, foot and hand skills, and a 360 degree awareness.
With not long to go, Kerry are down by a few points. Tadhg and Chris look concerned. The siren goes and Kerry player “The Gooch” has the chance to take one last shot on a tight angle to draw the match. He goes back and walks in on an arc and curves the ball through the goals. Kerry fans are ecstatic! The Cork fans are shattered.
The Irish competition is in fact a knock-out competition, so with this game being a draw there is a re-match of the game this weekend. It will all happen again, and no doubt Chris and Tadhg will be glued to the tv. Here’s hoping “The Gooch” can have another sensational game and get the Kerry boys a win. “For the Kingdom!
