Our columnist Frank Brandon on the dramatic assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump; on a much more positive note, he reflects on last weekend’s exciting sport, nationally and locally…
The shooting of Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania last Saturday night has rightly made headlines all over the world.
Naturally, there has been widespread condemnation from everywhere about the heinous act, with huge question marks over the ease with which the shooter managed to get access to a roof so close to the former President.
As a former (and looking more and more like a future) President, Trump has round-the-clock Secret Service protection, and security at his rallies is really stringent. Everyone is faced with extensive screening; bags are searched and everyone has to go through metal detectors.
And so the big question is: how did Thomas Matthew Crooks manage to get up on a roof only 150 yards from Trump? Why had the Secret Service not secured the area?
I’m sure there will be a lot more to come out regarding the whole incident, which will undoubtedly only give more impetus to Trump’s campaign. The fact that Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter, was actually killed, shows how close Trump may have been to being assassinated.
How three of my weekend sporting wishes came true
In the world of sport, there was a weekend of unparalleled excitement, drama, and finger-biting finales in several different contests – at the end of which all us Galway folk were left on a high.
On Friday afternoon, in my position as one-third of the management team of the Creggs Junior B side, I indulged in a bit of daydreaming and thought how great it would be if Creggs won their Division 5 league final that evening against Elphin, Ireland won the rugby, Galway won the football, and (only because of my regular visits to Spain over the years) Spain won the Euros.
By 9.30 pm on Friday night, my wish-list was down to three; a very good Elphin team put us to the sword and the cup headed out of Creggs.
Overall however, we had had a great year with the Junior Bs, and having been promoted to Division 4, we were no way downhearted. And so we went and had a few pints to celebrate our very enjoyable season.
Our statistician, Ciaran Browne, informed us that we had an 86% winning strike rate during the year, so when the contract for Alan Curley and Ciaran and myself is up for renewal, we think we have a very strong case! Unless of course Davy Burke moves on, and the Rossies come knocking on our door!
I used to fancy the Galway job, but due to recent results I have to admit that Padraic Joyce might be secure for now. So if the Rossies come calling, we would have to consider it carefully.
After my mild night out following the Junior B final, I found myself up at eight o’clock on the Saturday to watch the All Blacks (luckily) beat England. The game served as a sort of aperitif to the main course that was Ireland against world champions South Africa – and if ever a game lived up to expectations, that one certainly did.
After the disappointment of the previous week’s defeat, in which (in my opinion) Ireland were at the receiving end of a number of questionable refereeing decisions, aided by an appalling TMO, our lads came flying out of the blocks and really unsettled the world champions.
And yet, despite a huge first-half performance, we allowed the Springboks back into the game, and as we headed into the last minute we were two points behind. Then, step up Ciaran Frawley, and in a real Roy of the Rovers moment he dropped the most amazing goal to win the match by a single point.
After such a long and arduous season for the Irish players, it was the best possible way to bring their tour to an end – to beat the world champions in their own back yard was a fantastic achievement.
So that was leg one of my remaining three games; all I needed now was for Galway and Spain to step up.
And so, at four o’clock on Sunday afternoon, I anxiously watched as the ball was thrown in to start the All-Ireland semi-final. The tension and anxiety as it headed towards the end left me with no fingernails at all! Donegal, under Jimmy McGuinness, have turned into a serious outfit, and to beat them was another major achievement.
And so it was now up to Spain, and the truth is I didn’t watch the final of Euro 2024 at all. But thankfully that result went the right way too.
For my sporting weekend wishes, three out of four wasn’t bad!
Family allergy scare
For all the attractions, distractions and drama of last weekend, the truth is that for our family, that period was dominated by an allergic reaction that our granddaughter, nine-month-old Hayley, had to something she ate – presumably something to do with eggs.
She had to be rushed to hospital on Saturday. I have never ever seen a rash almost cover every part of anyone, from head to toe, and I cannot deny that it was a very worrying time.
Thankfully though, it was just an allergic reaction, rather than a serious medical problem, and as I write this on Monday morning she is almost back to normal as the invasive rash has more or less disappeared.
The big challenge now is to find out exactly what caused it; although eggs are the main suspects, there is also the worry that other stuff could trigger a reaction.
However, all, thank God, is well for the moment. The panic, for now, is over.
And finally…
The Gods were definitely smiling down on the recent Creggs GAA Club draw for two All-Ireland tickets to both the hurling and football finals, with Galway and Clare now having both reached their respective finals.
If you want a chance to go see the two matches (as well as having a night in the Gibson Hotel), you can buy tickets from members of the committee or online at creggsgaa.ie!
Tickets are €10 each, three for €20 or eight for €50. To be in for both draws you better buy them this week, as after Sunday, there will only be the football to go!
I wish you luck, and hope whoever wins them sees a Clare/Galway double!
