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Another Married Christmas! (Pictured: Marrieds captain Brien Merriman, Club President Brendan Carr, Man of the Match Mick Jordan, Mens club captain Eddie O'Malley Snr.)
€3000 Raised in Christmas morning match!
In some of the frostiest conditions encountered in many a year the marrieds revealed their secret weapon to go up 3-0 by half time and to become eventual 4-2 victors in the end. Captained by Brien Merriman they have secured bragging rights for the second year on the trot. It is surely a new record for the same captain to win two years on the trot.
The mens club captain Eddie O’Malley was taking it easy on the pitch but it was apparent his tactic was to be psychological warfare on the inexperienced singles. Before the match he set the rules (to suit the married’s I may add) that 50/50 balls were a no no for competition and so was running (he claimed for insurance reasons)! Additionally, the end score was to be carried forward to strokes to give the crowd a bit more excitement. Graham Shaw and Joe Brennan were the guest umpires appropriately dressed as Santa and....Robin???
The Umps blew the whistle and singles captain Jason Kehoe could only slowly shake his head in disbelief as the marrieds secret weapon and old boy Mick Jordan ran at the singles from the half way line to set the first goal up nicely for Brendan Carr within the second minute. On his Christmas debut, Sam Williamson, son of married goalkeeper David Williamson, asked the singles captain Jason: “Who is that guy playing for the other team? I thought the first team players weren’t allowed to play because of the Neville Cup final tomorrow!”. Jason sighed “Ahhh master Williamson, that the Jordan fellah, a defenders worst nightmare...”
All but four of the singles had ever seen the Wexford legend that is Mick Jordan in action and dismissed the frosty haired veteran at their own peril during the warm up. It was only after the first ten minutes that it became clear that the singles were going to have their hands full. The target men up front for the marrieds were el presidente Brendan Carr and ump. legend Ray O’Connor. Feeding them the ball was ex Pakistani international Nazir Munir, international umpire Ciaran Bolger and Devin Kehoe (sporting a grizzily adams beard). Clearing the backs was Noel (Christmas) Kennedy, the un-yielding John Kepple (JK) and Tim (“hit the ball as hard as ya like”) Lyne. Jordan got the second and the third goal.
Three goals to Nil and the singles were getting desperate and were looking for additional players despite having fourteen on the pitch (No joke!!) Eventually they came back with a flicked goal by Clive Kennedy into the (imaginary) net. The Marrieds hit a ball out from the right back and three passes later the ball was on the end of Ray O’Connors stick which he firmly slotted past the decimated Karl Crosby and into the goal. This was eventually followed by the singles second goal by Sam Williamson but it was all in vain as Santa and Robin blew the final whistle.... End score 4-2.
As for the score being carried on to the penalty stroke competition!? Men’s club captain proposed, seconded and carried the motion that it would probably be better for the crowd to keep the full time score and tuck into the mince pies waiting in the hall! How convenient!
The backroom staff done a super job with the refreshments and the players were lavished with sausage rolls, mince pies, pate, seafood, chocolates and all kinds of drink when they went back to the sports hall.
Brien gave a speech which had the hallmarks of twelve months preparation and was rapturously applauded by the crowd and the on-looking Merriman family.
Jimmy (Titanium hip) Leonard presented the eagerly awaited Man of the match award to none other than that Mick Jordan fellah! Ecstatic applause ensued, baby’s were kissed and autographs were signed!
Brian Hogan told us how important the collection was for St. Vincent De Paul and disclosed that the grand sum of €3,000 was raised from the match.
Our President of six years Brendan Carr had some significant news in that he informed the gathered crowd that he would not compete the equivalent term of Uachtarán na hÉireann in taking on another year as president. He has presided over what will probably be known as the greatest period the club has ever known success wise. It will take some doing to bring the same amount of innovation and passion he has applied to the role over the years.
A great tradition a fantastic morning and a Merry Christmas for all!
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