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Bridie O’Shea believes in
the Power of Prayer.
Bridie O’Shea, the doyen of Dr Crokes
supporters, is firmly convinced that talent, innate skill,
dedication, preparation & good fortune are still not enough to
ensure success on the playing fields.
The missing link is divine intervention, “
and that’s as crucial in an under-12 match as it is in a first
round O’Donoghue Cup game, or in any final,” says Bridie.
She should know. When Dr Crokes were
crowned All-Ireland Club football champions in Croke Park on St
Patrick’s Day 1992, she thanked the Good Lord. She played every
movement in that game while her fingers moved furiously along
the rosary beads. The crucifix was clasped in the other hand.
Her son Seanie, captained that team and her
other son Pat scored the crucial goal in that 1-11 to 0-13 win
over Dublin’s, Thomas Davis. Tradition continued.
Way back, her father Paddy Healy won All-Ireland senior medals
with Kerry in 1913 & 1914.The man beside her on the
Ard-Comhairle box in 1992 was the Mayor of Killarney, better
known as Murt, her husband, the former great Dr Croke footballer
and Killarney hurler
.
Big days are rare enough, but Bridie has
seen much success with Dr Crokes at National, Provincial, County
and East Kerry level. She knows the agonies of defeat also,
“sure you’d be disappointed if Dr Crokes didn’t play well in any
match at any level, but you get over it very quickly. There will
be another match tomorrow or probably even this evening”.
That’s Bridie, the most constant Croke
supporter. “It is all part of our lives, just as much a ritual
as having our meals.Since my own father’s time I’ve been going
to matches. Murt played for many years and then all the lads
were kicking a football or swinging a ‘camán’ in the front
garden from the day they could walk”.
The ‘lads’ of course are her family Sheila,
Margaret, Bernie, Mary, Seanie, Pat and Tracey. No stereotyping
for Bridie. “ Our boys and girls were all the same in sport”.
She did not have the opportunity to play
herself in her younger days, as it was then frowned on for women
to participate, but her chance came in later years; she lined
out in goal for Dr Crokes ladies when they were short against a
Tralee team. She was a star player for the ladies ‘Crokes v’s
Crocks’ at the annual club field days.
Whenever there is a Croke team playing,
Bridie & Murt will make it off. “ We love games and will follow
the Black & Amber anywhere. Some days we even manage to get in 3
games, especially when the juvenile season is in full swing”.
She knows referees have a very difficult
job and she is never shy about giving vocal support to the
knights of the whistle. On the ref’s part it may be human
fallacy, an injudicious call,or not having the properties of
by-location attributed to Boyle Roche’s bird, or eyes on the
back of the pole to see what illegal action happened off the
ball . Bridie suspends the Sorrowful, Glorious or even Joyful
mysteries to assist the ref. “Yerrah, ref did you see that. No,
not that fella, it is No.4 started it. They are only young
fellas playing for the love of the game. Give us a break”.
Back to negotiating with the Lord, time
ticking away, two points down, no fancy board at these small
games to tell you how much injury time is left. Depending on the
ref’s watch! There’s surely another goal in Pat. Seanie will
forage around the middle of the field, Pat will do the rest.
Green flag raised. Another successful Late Late Show for Dr
Crokes. Another prayer answered.
All is well. Normality is restored. Must
remember to give a few bob(or euro) to the friars after 10
o’clock mass tomorrow morning, in acknowledgement of favours
requested and delivered.
Bridie is a trojan worker for Dr Crokes
club and continues to work on any committee or project “to keep
the thing going; sure Dr Crokes are at it since 1886 and we all
must play our part in continuing that tradition”, she said.
And that tradition continues. Herself and
Murt have 20 grandchildren, just 20 more reasons why they will
be “at every match we can, as along as the Lord spares us.”
Rejuvenated Bridie moves on to the next
generation cheering on her beloved 20. Must check I have them
all; Bridie rattled off their names like a litany of saints!
Dicksons…Michael & Nicola; Guerins .. Ciara, Dara & Shona;
Reens..Patrick,Mark and Paul; O’Gormans…. Michelle, Michael &
Kevin; O’Sheas..Rheann, Tara, Liselle, Mark, Amy, Leah, Gavin,
Rebecca & Brian.
And the next Dr Croke match is on_...
Bridie O’Shea will be there. Maith thú, Bridie .continuing the
118 year old Dr Croke tradition.
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