The hour of six has just passed when the alarm throbs on the bedside locker in Castlebar. The birds would be chirping if they weren’t so heavily weighed down by raincoats and wellingtons, but nothing can prevent a dart of adrenaline rushing through my veins as the eyes open and I realise what excitement the day has in store.
Today’s adventure will take me to Derry with my buddies from Ballina Rugby and the brain is already thinking about the fun and stories that trip will create.
The females in the household mumble their complaints and goodbyes as I gather raingear, microphones, chargers, spare clothes and head out into the elements. Of course, I’ll have forgotten something – that’s the nature of the beast, but I just can’t figure out exactly what it is as the door closes behind me and the day beckons me forward.
Soon, the chariot is headed for Ballina and the start of the adventure. I know I have to be there in time to get a seat near the front of the team bus – if I don’t, the trip will be a hellish mix of cold sweats and sickness.
The trip to Pontoon and onwards through Knockmore is buffeted by squalls and rain – Hurricane Deirdre is on the way and she has sent some friends ahead of her to check out the natives.
When the chariot pulls in to the Tumble Jungle carpark, the team bus is already there waiting for us, calmly throbbing in readiness for its journey north. Archie McMahon, the man who will guide us to Derry, is already immersed in ‘Ballina banter’ with Mickey Murphy and Ivan Heffernan. It’s a mix of codding, cajolery and tomfoolery that is unique to the men of the Moy and they’re in full flow as Archie welcomes us aboard.
Thankfully, nobody really wants the front seats, so I can relax and enjoy the craic as the rest of warriors gather out of the darkness. They’re not saying a lot but there’s a sense of fun and excitement running through them as they clamber aboard.
Amazingly, ‘Fairytale of New York’ is booming out of the onboard radio as Archie noses the bus away from Tumble Jungle and one wonders if there just might be some alien reality-show producers above the clouds guiding our every move and organising the sound-track to our lives.
The flock of seagulls taking shelter on the St Muredach’s pitch tells us all we need to know about the weather conditions as we move through a sleepy Ballina and take the road north. The wind buffets the bus whenever it reaches exposed sections, but steady progress is made and most of the gang on board are grabbing some shut-eye.
Our physio Gerry Maye and logistics guru, Davy Hunt have gone on ahead – like scouts in a John Wayne movie. They’ll have base-camp set up for the lads when we stop in Letterkenny for a stretch and some food.
Social media messages are already flowing in from around the world and some of the good wishes carry their own climatic information as we learn that the sun is shining out of the heavens in Nigeria and it’s sweltering in Australia. Messages from Scotland don’t include a description of the weather, but I presume it’s like our own.
We get through Sligo handily and move past Leitrim and on into Donegal as messages flow in from our supporters who are behind us on the road. By all accounts, our mighty band of fans will pack the sidelines again today as they have done all year.
As the team bus noses its way into the carpark of the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny, one of our own, David Brady, tweets a message of support, poignantly recalling the last time Ballina played in Derry.
“Good luck to all today. Will never forget as a youngster playing in @CityOfDerryRFC in 1993 on the evening of Greysteel Massacre as word came through. Lovely people and no borders in rugby.”
David’s words reinforce the joy we’re experiencing today – a bunch of friends on a roadtrip to play rugby, however, we all take a moment to remember those not so fortunate at this special time of the year.
Soon, we’re ensconced in the most unusual warm-up area I’ve ever experienced. The plan had been to stretch muscles and minds in the grounds of the hotel, but the wind and the rain put paid to that, so Plan B is introduced with the assistance of the hotel manager, one of our own, Michael Naughton!
Plan B consists of the lads warming up in the spectacular function room, however the fact that it hosted a wedding yesterday and is getting ready for another today makes the setting a little unusual to say the least.
Some of the boys in long-term relationships are picking up a few tips as they eye the decorations from Friday’s celebrations and one or two are spotted taking sneaky pictures of balloon-pyramids and sweet-carts. Con Rooney and Mickey Murphy come under particular pressure at this stage but they’re well able for it.
The lads based in Dublin have arrived and vividly describe the driving conditions and some of the motoring skills they encountered on their trip to the north west. Out on the dance floor, seven or eight of the gang are enjoying a skills game where they move two, sometimes three footballs from one to the other without dropping any. It’s not long before shrieks and laughter fill the air as David Newman joins the fun ‘to show them how a Welshman does it,’ and there’s a sense that today will be a good day.
In a corner of the function-room, JP Leonard, Kieran Lindsay and Darragh Whyte are immersed in what looks like a deep-meaning conversation. They might be discussing the stock market or the possible ramifications of Brexit on the world economy – but I doubt it. More than likely, the three of them are waging ‘banter war’ as only they can.
At the side of the stage, Gerry Maye is the most popular man in the room. A queue forms as the hugely talented physio goes to work, creating his own unique brand of magic and soon all is right with the world.
The man who quietly makes sure everything runs smoothly, Daragh Quinn, announces that it’s time for food and the response is immediate. Carbs are quickly locked and loaded – laughter continues to ring through the group and it’s time to head for Derry.
As the bus noses it’s way out of Letterkenny we hear that John Rush and the supporters’ bus is close behind and thoughts turn to the task awaiting us across the Foyle. We know City of Derry would love to take the scalp of the league leaders and are well aware a battle will be fought in Craig Thompson Stadium.
It’s not long before Archie expertly deposits us outside the front entrance of the impressive match setting and it’s time for business. The clubhouse is wonderfully welcoming and warm. The supporters’ bus has arrived and the crew are soon lathered in laughter with the hosts in their sumptuous surroundings.
Martin Boland and Ian Stone exchange presidential greetings and a great sense of camaraderie spreads across the proceedings.
Down in the business lounge, there is an absence of laughter. Two sets of warriors are getting ready for battle and everything else is put on hold until the final whistle blows.
There is a colour clash, so Ballina will wear the green and red uniform instead of the usual green and navy, but that doesn’t faze Davy Hunt. He has everything prepped perfectly – hanging the shirts on the hooks all around the wall and placing shorts, socks and training tops under them.
Gerry Maye and Davy work well together. They not only do their designated jobs very effectively, they’re also on hand to look after the most unexpected of requests. One of the lads needs duct-tape for some unknown reason and Gerry has it; another snaps a boot lace and Davy has a replacement on hand straight away.
Suddenly, I realise what I’ve forgotten – my leggings. In my haste this morning, I packed the top half of my rain-gear but forgot the bottom. There’s no need to worry – Davy produces one immediately and Gerry says he has more if that one doesn’t fit. The two of them truly are amazing!
Soon, it’s time for JP and David to gather the squad together for a pre-game meeting and I slip away. It’s time to get the layers on, top it off with rain gear and then get ready to commentate on the match. Our friends in Tumble Jungle and The Erris Times enable all the senior games to be broadcast live and it truly is a great service.
I locate a match program, try to memorise some of the City of Derry names and take a moment to think how lucky I am to be on the periphery of this great adventure. The opportunity to witness this great adventure makes the hair stand on the back of the neck and I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that this is going to be a special day.
Then, the phone rings – it’s Mid West Radio looking for a scene-set. Michael D McAndrew is on the other end of the line and I try to give him and the listeners a sense of the excitement we’re experiencing in Derry. Thankfully, I don’t forget to mention those who perished in Greysteel the last time Ballina were in this venue. It’s important not to forget those terrible times and ensure they remain in the past.
When I get off the phone, the boys are out on the training pitch warming up and soon they’re on the main pitch getting a feel for it before the fun begins.
I find a spot on the bank near the dugouts where the 4G is excellent and get wired up to let loose to the world. The wind is howling and the rain is sheeting across the ground as the App clicks in and we’re live!
I try to set the scene as best I can and out of the corner of my eye I see Martin Boland and many of the Ballina supporters leaving the warmth of the clubhouse and making their way to the side of the pitch to welcome their team into the arena. Their actions send a great jolt of adrenaline through the veins and moments later, Fergal Tully leads his men onto the field of battle.
This is heaven; there’s nowhere else I’d rather be; let’s get ready to rumble!