The Supporter: It's a dog's life at Manguard Park

As you’ll all know, one of the earliest accounts of the game of hurling was to be found in the Táin Bó Cuailgne, a legendary tale from Irish literature which describes the exploits of the Ulster hero Cú Chullainn.

His name meant “Hound of Cullen” and he was so named after he killed a fierce guard dog by driving a hurling ball down his throat.

I toyed with naming the Hound of Hawkfield “Cú Chullainn” in the absence of any better intelligence regarding the doggo who provides such great entertainment value at Manguard Park each weekend.

I’ve landed on the name “Bran” for him though. Bran was Fionn MacCumhaill’s trusty four-legged companion and given that his master was said to have made the Hill of Allen his home and final resting place, it would seem appropriate that our friend patrolling the playing fields in the Hill’s shadow would be named in his honour.

Bran seems to be ecumenical when it comes to football and hurling. He’s happy as Larry whenever a crowd gathers to play ball in his back garden. The lads on the gate have a very clear “NO DOGS ALLOWED” sign but legend has it Bran was really of human stock and turned into dog form by Fionn. He’d bring a strong case to the CCCC.

On Saturday our boy (or girl in which case we’d refer to her as Scéolan, Bran’s sister but we’’ stick to Bran for simplicity) took a paws-on role in the Éire Óg Corra Choill warm-up before taking up his favourite position behind the town end goal.

He couldn’t keep his eyes off the game as the sliotar pinged from end to end, pacing from left to right behind the goalposts for the best view. But once a couple of Naas goals went in, Bran felt the need to intervene and give Éire Óg some on-field coaching.

As the game developed further, and with star man Paul Dolan missing from the Éire Óg ranks, you wondered would they not just give the hound a jersey, with Naas disappearing out the gate.

He’s cute this fella, though. His breed may be renowned for loyalty, but our Bran took to pucking in with the Naas substitutes during the half-time break.

He was back for a few more appearances during the day. He has Pitch 1 well sussed at this stage. There’s a gap in the fencing to the left of the town end goal which he’ll use to get his messages on, and if he needs to give advice down the Milltown End there’s a whole section unfenced. Pawfect.

Our boy was in for the long haul on Saturday and the inclement conditions didn’t bother him. After Naas handed Éire Óg their drubbing, he was back for Confey’s er, dogged, win over Celbridge and once more for Ardclough’s surprising enough win over Coill Dubh as the group stages of the Senior Hurling got going.

I imagine our furry friend was on the couch on Sunday afternoon like the rest of us marvelling at the skills of Clare and Cork in that epic All Ireland Hurling Final. It was a magnificent game but as you might expect I have a few thoughts on it.

Firstly, wouldn’t it have been great to have the Joe McDonagh or Christy Ring Cup Final as a curtain raiser? Now I understand the reason the McDonagh is run off so early is that the finalists go into the Liam McCarthy but (a) they shouldn’t and (b) why not let the Ring Final precede the main event then?

The issue I’d have is that practice makes perfect they say but the likes of Kildare and other “non-elite” panels get far less time “in camp” and therefore far less coaching and preparation than the Corks and Clares of this world.

The Christy Ring Final took place on the 2nd of June and the McDonagh six days later. That’s 49 and 43 days before the McCarthy Final respectively. Makes absolutely no sense and contributes to the county hurling championship in Kildare starting way too early and dragging out for far too long.

Secondly, isn’t it outrageous to expect two teams after an epic 75-minute final like that, given the speed and physicality of hurling, to turn around and play a further twenty minutes? With such a huge prize on the line. Surely the GAA should rethink that and opt for replays for the final (again).

Thirdly, and harking back to Jim Gavin and this column last week, surely the goal of the Football Review Committee should be to look at hurling and see what rule changes in football can bring the game even within a country mile of the same level of excitement. A game of all-out attack, raw physicality and man-on-man contests.

I’m not sure how Bran rated the fare. Perhaps he’s more of a big ball aficionado. Rumour has it he might be in the running for the senior manager job. The old dog for the hard road back to Division 1 and Sam Maguire? There’s been the odd nod and wink and a wag of the tail.

The whispers swirl as they always do at these times, particularly with no information coming from official sources. We don’t know who is picking the manager and what their credentials are, what the process is or when it might conclude. I’m told that Simon Cowell is coming over next week. Maybe he has the final say?

A fella swore blind during the week that the aforementioned Jim Gavin was nailed on for it and the whole Football Rules Committee was only a ruse to bring in rules the Kildare lads might win a game with. Could be something in that.

Jim might indeed have been in the box seat but of course that was before Joe Biden saw the light on Sunday night and pulled out of the race for one White House as he heard the new White House in St Conleth’s Park was a fancier version.

The talk is he has Stephen Rochford on board from his native Mayo and it’s all systems go.

We wait with baited dog breath. Wuff!!!

Cill Dara Abú