My first time seeing Nudie play in person was against Laois in 86 in the League Final. Monaghan were going for back to back, Laois were coming all the way from what was Division 4 back then. My Dad and his brothers spoke of Nudie in hushed tones, and whether Browne or Aherne be able for him. I expected to see a giant when the day came but there he was, in all his Nudieāness. And then the first kick out came and he soared, and landed and danced. He was a right butty fella but he was a lovely footballer.
Thereās a grand wee Laochra Gael (S6 E6) about him on YouTube.
Thereās a great spread of heartfelt condolences from friends, colleagues, team mates and plenty of opponents on the RIP. He appears to have been universally popular. RIP.
McGann is perhaps best remembered for his conversion attempt against the All Blacks at Lansdowne Road in 1973, with scores level in the dying moments. Ireland had never beaten the All Blacks and McGannās kick, from near the touchline, missed by mere inches.[3]Some accounts say the kick was on target until a gust of wind blew it wide, while McGann has remained convinced that the kick had gone through the posts.
I already had the key parts of that watched before you posted. That was the Irish rugby culture I knew and loved. The proper Lansdowne roar. Pitch invasions. Hip flasks. Moral victories. A delightful Welsh accent with GRAVITAS on commentary.
Sublime.
Cliff Morgan commentated on a game the following Saturday too.
Bill McLaren was meant to be on commentary duties for Barbarians v New Zealand 1973 the week after. He pulled out ill with a heavy flu and sore throat the day before and was replaced by Cliff Morgan.
The same fate befell Mervyn Davies and Gerald Davies. They were replaced by Derek Quinnell and John Bevan.
Garda Cannon was a survivor of the Garryhinch Ambush where members of the Provisional IRA lured GardaĆ to a farmhouse in Laois and detonated a bomb. The date was 16th October 1976.
One of a couple of occasions in the history of the Irish state whereby the IRA deliberately targeted and killed members of the Garda Siochana. Garda Michael Clerkin of Monaghan, 25 years of age, was killed instantly, while Garda Tom Peters was permanently blinded and deafened as a result. Gardaās Cannon, Bohan and Thornton were badly wounded.
Such was the power of the blast, the entire house was demolished.
No one has ever been convicted or brought to trial for it.
