Black and white flags are fluttering in the breeze throughout Middletown. Why you might ask?
Only if you haven’t heard that the local hurling team is through to an All Ireland club final in the the AIB GAA Hurling All Ireland Intermediate Club Championship.
Middletown Na Fianna played Effin in the semi final GAA fixture on Sunday January 22.
Effin, which hit the headlines recently when the town denizens were blocked from Facebook because of the name off the town, are the reigning Munster club champions and were expected to do well in this match and in the Championship. Middletown were hoping to become one of the very few Ulster hurling clubs to actually make it to an All Ireland club final. The match was pretty intense, with Middletown going in ahead at half-time, but realising that Effin were renowned as second half team, as their display in the Munster final had proven. Middletown however produced their best display of the season to come out on top 3-14 to 2-10 winners.
And what is the mushroom connection you may well ask. Well, Middletown being the home of Reen Compost may be the giveaway – for Stalker understands that Reen operative Eamonn Long has been heavily involved with the training of the Middletown team of hurlers, as part of the management quartet who have put in a lot of intensive work with the team over the long season. Indeed Eamonn was still hoarse several days after the match, with his vocal chords strained both during and after the big game.
The team will now go into a Croke Park All Ireland final where they will meet Mt Leinster Rangers, the reigning Leinster champions , on Saturday 11th of February.
Good luck to the Middletown lads in their endeavour to bring the top silverware back to Armagh.
If the team win Eamonn may be voiceless for quite some time.
