Notaí CLG Tulach an Iarainn 24/03/20

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Published: 24 March 2020

Notaí CLG Tulach an Iarainn sponsored by Goalpost Ireland.

COVID-19: So week one of shutdown has elapsed. Strange when you see that field is getting it's first cutting and the nights will be getting longer and no activity in the field. To any club members that have to self isolate, we hope that when the epidemic ends one can shake hands, talk closely or even give a hug to those. Everyone has to listen to the HSE guildlines. Feel free to use to the field but it has to be with family members. 

Help Needed: If anyone in the community is in need of help during the crisis feel free to post on the Tallow GAA Whats App or Tallow GAA Facebook and we will do our best to help. Anyone older who hasn't access to this should try and contact someone in the club and we will try to resolve it.

Johnny Geary Interview Part 3:

"The Meadowfresh Man"

He ran, he rattled, he pulled, he tackled, he's the meadowfresh man.

America trekking, a session a becking, Kilruane ah feckin!!, he's the meadowfresh man.

The aggro's a batting, Portlaw selector could get a flaking, he's the meadowfresh man.

Natural colour hair fossil, we know it's the bottle, he's the meadowfresh man. 

PRO: Erin's Own in the county final. A much altered Tallow team from the ‘85 final team... 

 J.G.: Yes after relegation in 86 we reached the 87  Intermediate co Final against Erins Own in Walsh Park. Erins Own had Damien Byrne and Chuck O Connor both top intercounty men at the time. We struggled to get the win but did in the end. It was a very different team from the 1984/85 team with a few players retiring and a number leaving the club. 

PRO: Upon promotion we played in four consecutive semi finals. We lost each one to the eventual County champions. Regrets? 

J.G.: I think we probably should have won 2 of those and probably should have won another Co title with that team but it wasn’t to be. 

PRO:I remember your later days. The shin guards; the belts! A game in Abbeyside against St Saviors around 96...  You were stretched....

J.G.: Yes unfortunately as we got a bit slower Fada we were getting a bit more prone to picking up injuries so I had a good few in those years. I decided it was time to call it a day soon after that, I still played a bit of Junior when they needed a few bodies. 

PRO: How competitive was the Tallow team when you retired? 

 J.G.: We were reasonably competitive, probably mid –table but  had fought relegation for a few years to remain in the senior ranks.  

PRO: Did you play much football for the club? 

J.G.: Yes played a lot of football at under age and we won a lot of football titles in those years. We never really concentrated on Football in Tallow It usually provided a break from the hurling but would have had some good players down the years but I think we were a forgotten outpost when it came to selection on inter county underage teams. 

PRO:You have had a go at management. How has it altered from your earliest times to your most recent? 

J.G.: When I finished hurling in the min  90s I got involved with the management end of it with the seniors and was involved for 2 other stints the last being 2016/ 18. I found it completely different this last time ( probably my age ) I'm not sure is it as enjoyable anymore from players and management point of view and there is now huge commitment involved with a much higher fitness level. Unfortunately the fixtures structure is chaotic – starting training in Jan for possibly one Championship match at the end of March, early April and not playing Championship again till July /Aug. Players train to play matches and the enjoyment of that, not wait in the wings for Inter-county fixtures to finish. I think it is something the GAA need to address or players will find sports with  more structured outings. It is also putting huge financial burdens on Clubs paying trainers etc for this extended period. 

PRO:You had a fairly hairy encounter on the line against Portlaw in 01 in a relegation game. What happened?

J.G.: Ya, lets just say there was a bit of a misunderstanding on the line with a few Portlaw men when things were getting heated both on and off the field. I think we met up a few years later and had a few pints and a good laugh about it. 

PRO: What are you future hopes for Tallow GAA in the coming years both on and off the field? 

J.G.: Tallow was always recognised as a good hurling parish and always has decent hurlers. I hope we can put the structures in place to get the best out of what we have and compete at the best level we are capable of. We are short on numbers but if we can get a few quality players coming through every year  ultimately you would love to see another senior hurling championship come to Tallow. We are amalgamated with Shamrocks at under age as Cois Bhride who are currently doing a lot of work at underage and there is tremendous work also being done by Neil Moore, Tommy Ryan and Tieran Murray at schools level so hopefully the future will be bright. 

PRO: Finally who was the best player you played with and against?

J.G.: While John McDonnell and Tom McSweeney were very “Sweet hurlers” I think Liam O'Brien was the pick of the bunch I played with him when he eventually got going (which could take a belt from the opposition or one of ourselves.)  Pat Ryan of Mount  Sion or Eamon O Shea of Kilruane McDonaghs /Tipp were probably the best I played against. 

  PRO; Your best Tallow 15 that you played with ?   

J.G.:                            

                                                        Martin Murphy 

Jim O'Donoghue                              Liam O'Brien                  Kieran Ryan 

Connie Curley                                  Mick Beecher               Timmy Sheehan 

                         John McDonnell                                  John Fitzgerald 

Ray “ Pigeon “ O'Brien                      Philly Curley                  Paul Curley 

Seamus “ Trasher “ Treacy               Pat Murphy                    Pat Daly