I give you a few stories about Liam Spratt of South East Radio (possibly already posted up here somewhere in the past but whatever):
Spratt was commentating on a Wexford hurling league match in New Ross a good few years ago, with Ned Buggy alongside him as co-commentator. Anyway, Spratt was commentating away and then went completely silent for about 30 seconds. The silence was broken by him shouting: “A goooaaaal. A great goal for Wexford. Fantastic goal there Ned. I didn’t see it or who scored it as I was talking to Liam Griffin there. Did you see the goal Ned?” Buggy replied: “Eh…no Liam. I was actually looking at you talking to Liam Griffin.”
Wexford were on the verge of sealing their first real Leinster football championship scalp in years against Kildare in 2004 (great day ) and Spratt was revelling in it. He was particularly warmed by his apparent sighting of Nicky Lambert, who had earlier been stretchered off with a suspected broken leg, on the sideline: “Wexford on the verge of an historic win over Kildare. And look at the subs lining up on the sideline cheering on their team-mates. And isnt it great to see Nicky Lambert shouting encouragement to the boys after that awful injury he suffered earlier. Is that Nicky Lambert? No sorry its not Nicky Lambert, its actually a Kildare player.”
At a match in Parnell Park bemoaning the Dublin traffic with Billy Byrne beside him as co-commentator: “Awful traffic on the way up today. Was it bad on your way up, Billy?” “About the same as you, Liam. I was in your car.”
Great clip here of the Clare FM legend Syl O’Connor at the very end of the u21 All-Ireland last year. Anthony Daly helps out - http://www.clare.fm/node/78
spratt the hoore, 2001 v. westmeath the night wex park opened;
“john hegarhty bearing down on goal, the keeper comes to meet him, A GOAL, A GOAL FOR WEXFORD! JOHN HEGARTHY has put wexford through to the next round of the leinster championship…oh actually i believe the ball has gone wide…”
Not sure what’s up with Kevin. There’s always been a strong interest in GAA in Wexford town. In fact, Sarsfields and Faythe Harriers are the current senior football and hurling champions respectively. I believe the association was formed for ALL Irish citizens though boggers do try to monopolise it.
“…And it’s a lineball for Wexford. There’s a break in play now while Seán Flood receives some attention… [size=“2”]And while there is I’d just like to offer my sincere condolences to the Murphy family in Clonroche on the sad passing of Mary last weekend… She was a loving wife and mother and all were fond of her in the community… Herself and her husband Tim were always involved in the local scene and especially the GAA…Mary always gave her time up for others and I still remember the time when I met…[/size][size=“4”]GOOOAAAALLLL!!! A GOAL FOR WEXFORD!!![/size]”
[quote=“count of monte cristo, post: 448241”]
spratt the hoore, 2001 v. westmeath the night wex park opened;
“john hegarhty bearing down on goal, the keeper comes to meet him, A GOAL, A GOAL FOR WEXFORD! JOHN HEGARTHY has put wexford through to the next round of the leinster championship…oh actually i believe the ball has gone wide…”
[/quote]Class! :lol:
Just on Spratt, the funniest time I’ve heard him is previewing Cheltenham from the course or a local hotel. He has no clue about Horse Racing and would be relying on lads to give him information for the radio. I remember listening to it online a couple of years ago and he was tipping up horses than hadn’t run in about 10 years and you could hear lads bursting their holes laughing in the background. He goes over every year with a few lads I know and spends most of his time looking for lads to talk to GAA about rather than watching the racing.
Cc: of @mickee321. Syl and Tommy on Clare FM are doing a magnificent job of calling Clare v Wexford, in association with Matt Waters Fruit and Veg and Geraghty’s Spar grocery store and off licence on the turnpike in Ennis. What a day for doing some light gardening while watching a game on the radio. This is the sound of summer.
Syl just threw in a mention for the RNLI who are having a ramble for charity next week. “What en organayyyshun, en organisayyyshun det’s dere, en hoopefully we never need it.”
No local radio GAA commentator will ever match Gerry Russell of Midlands 103.
Midlands 103 also has Jack Nolan and Joe Troy who are both decent but incredibly biased (probably a given for local radio anyway) but Gerry is the king.
Regularly mixes up players, teams, scorers, scorelines. Basically, you get a very vague idea of what is actually happening in TEG Cusack Park (where Gerry actually seems to live) based on Gerry’s interpretation of events.
) and Spratt was revelling in it. He was particularly warmed by his apparent sighting of Nicky Lambert, who had earlier been stretchered off with a suspected broken leg, on the sideline: “Wexford on the verge of an historic win over Kildare. And look at the subs lining up on the sideline cheering on their team-mates. And isnt it great to see Nicky Lambert shouting encouragement to the boys after that awful injury he suffered earlier. Is that Nicky Lambert? No sorry its not Nicky Lambert, its actually a Kildare player.”