THE MAGIC OF THE MONS

When I started my tour around the country I knew they'd be one or two grounds I'd come across some good hospitality. Genuine football folk, with a desire to show their club not only to me but the rest of the country.

Little did I know Gortakeegan would rate so highly on the feel good scale.

I wrote extensively about the bull that could have snuffed out my life on my April 25th visit to the ground (indeed it made a Monaghan programme piece as well) but I was happy to re-live the near death (slight exaggeration there) experience with the packed audience inside The Bagster Bar when my Just Follow The Floodlights Tour rolled into the little ground just off the Clones Road.

Luckily I had Billy Bagster in tow. The charismatic Dubliner had kept me riveted on our drive from Palmerstown which stories of Brian Kerr, feuds with Pat Devlin and a dossier of info on many managers so there was never a chance Mr Bagster was going to disappoint when he took to the microphone after Monaghan had put away a determined Wexford Youths side.

He admitted a chat with Johnny Walker and a few of his Scotch whiskey friends the night before had made him slightly weary but he became reborn when given a microphone and the stage.

Later he was joined by Roddy Collins (whom Billy insists stole his fashion sense – check photo) and both spoke glowing of my book.

All I could do was blush, and smile, and grin as the books sold out completely on me. My favourite part of the evening came with a presentation to Anne in the Canteen for the gastronomic delight that is the Mon-Dog. An award richly deserved. I would have loved to have stayed there all night but I have been asked up again for their end of season bash, which if things go the way they are now, could be very interesting indeed.

The drive back in miserable weather to Palmerstown, and then back to Waterford was simply awful but when I showered, changed and had a wee nip of whiskey I settled in for the remainder of the night looking forward to reading my book only to remember I’d sold it up in Gortakeegan!

The next morning I had to go buy my own book.

A truly depressing experience!