TraleeToday.ie Editor, Dermot Crean, on why he’s hoping for a ‘Tralee’ victory today, despite not being a Rockie…
I’M not a Rockie.
I’ve never played for Stacks and I even hated them when I was a young U12 forward for Na Gaeil back in the mid 80s.
At that time, Na Gaeil was like a feeder club for Austin Stacks, with some great talent being lost to the Rockies.
Most of the time when we faced the black and amber at that time, we came out second best, so there was no love lost for the Connolly Park side on my part.
But over the course of the years, I came to be a reluctant admirer, based on their fanatical support, the history and the colour they bring to county final day.
So what’s the argument against a Stacks victory on Sunday for Tralee’s non-Rockies?
None.
A Stacks win will be the best victory for football in this town since 2002. Yeah, that’s right Stacks fans! Since that fantastic win for Kerins O’Rahilly’s, which I also celebrated just as much as I would today, if the Stacks win.
Yeah, yeah, I don’t get the hatred and rivalry between the clubs you say, but who would Tralee people think a more effective Kerry captain next year? Kieran Donaghy or Donnchadh Walsh?
With due respect to the industrious Mid-Kerry man – who I’m sure would also make an excellent boss – a skippering for ‘Star’ would focus the Stacks player more than any previous year and we would surely see the best year ever performances from the three-time All-Star.
Tralee is enjoying one of its best years in a while with winning the Entente Florale, Tidy Towns Gold and numerous players on the minor and senior All-Ireland winning teams.
We really should all be Stacks fans today for the greater good.
Mind you, I’m not a real Rockie, as I’m sure they’ll tell me later…
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