Having received early notification from referee administrator Jill McCullough that my assignment for Saturday 24th September had just been cancelled, I scanned the ‘Fixtures & Appointments’ for ‘Referees’ on the ‘Domestic’ section of the Ulster Rugby website for an alternative fixture. It was to my surprise that I saw an available fixture which immediately grabbed my attention though one I thought which may not have interested too many other ‘whistlers’ – Tir Chonaill versus Inishowen.
Having refereed competitive rugby fixtures at every home club’s venue in Ulster including other such memorable grounds as Sheephaven Bay in 1995 (even before Jill herself was a stalwart at Ulster Rugby!!) and Newry (my home club when I received a call about 14.45 one Saturday afternoon in 2008 from a club member to say that the referee for their league fixture against Cavan had failed to show asking could I help out) and the hallowed turf of Ravenhill itself in 2000 when I was assigned as referee at an Ulster club final, I wished to ensure that I complete a recently revised ‘full set’ of venues.
I phoned Jill and received the usual text message and email advising that I had indeed been given the game and importantly that the home team’s venue was ‘Dungloe’.It was warm and sunny and I felt optimistic expecting swift passage as I left home for Donegal as I had checked a ‘route-finder’ for directions required and expected journey time.
Time passed quickly as I headed on through Aughnacloy, Ballygawley and Strabane and then into Ballybofey. By this stage, I’d been on the road for over two hours. I located the correct road to Finn Town and found the scenery from there on to be quite breath-taking. I wished I had sufficient time to stop and enjoy this better with its spectacular mountains and rural settings but I had a pressing engagement and knew I’d better keep on moving.
I had to stop in Finn Town as things had taken a slight turn for the worse and my confidence for the first time started to wane. I’d noted all the road-markings and sign posts were in Irish language. Thankfully a stranger put me on the right road to Dungloe (or as the sign-posts were now marked ‘An Clochán Liath’).
I soon lost signal on my car radio for my usual channel of choice and I found the radio auto-set itself to Donegal’s own local Highland Radio. I’d read about this station having read ‘Around Ireland With A Fridge’, based on author Tony Hawk’s adventures and travels in Ireland when he was amused having heard this station read a list of local residents who had recently passed away!! I was soon astounded to hear that the game I was to referee was listed on their main Saturday afternoon’s sports bulletin.
I stopped to speak to a few local Aldi and then Lidl shoppers having reached Dungloe and asked for directions to their nearest rugby club. I was greeted with astounded looks, a few audible gasps and eventually directions to the local GAA club. It was around this time I felt for the first time that I really was in a different part of the world than the one I’d just left.
I also knew time was pushing on. I decided it would be easier asking for directions at the local Gardai (police) station. I soon found the station albeit closed. I pushed an intercom button at the station’s front door and spoke to a Garda based in Glenties. He didn’t know where Tir Chonaill’s rugby club was. When prompted, he agreed to phone Highland Radio. At that, an off-duty police woman exited the station and after I asked her for assistance having explained my dilemma, she agreed to ask at the “sweetie shop” (I chuckled to myself ‘that’s obviously local coded language for boozer’) for directions to the rugby club. To my astonishment, she returned almost ten minutes later and advised that “Tir Chonaill Rugby Club’s 6 miles down the road directly beside Donegal Airport in Carrickfin.”
“Result!” I thought to myself as I got back into my car and drove off.
Whilst the views across to the Atlantic continued to be as stunning as those of the Donegal Mountains just a few miles before, with houses decorated with their own mountains of stacked turf, I couldn’t help but feel panic set in as I became increasingly aware that time was now totally against me. (“What’s new O’Gorman?!!” I hear cry those who also referee and know me well.)
Almost 20 minutes and 14 more miles further down this same road, having picked up signs for the ‘airport’, I soon caught my first sight of Tir Chonaill Rugby Club. Under the watchful eye of Mount Errigal in the distance, I can honestly say that it easily enjoys the most spectacular setting of any rugby club in Ulster. The second thing that instantly amazed me was the quantity of locals who’d turned out to support their local club. Being used now to the proverbial ‘one man and his dog’ on the touchline for the games I now referee, I was surprised to soon find the pitch virtually enclosed with on-lookers and well-wishers.
Having left the changing room, I was soon informed that I would be refereeing Tir Chonaill’s first ever home adult fixture under the auspices of the Ulster Branch. I was also soon educated with such vital statistics that “With 6 clubs Donegal is now the third biggest county in Ulster in terms of its number of rugby clubs!” I was also immensely impressed by the friendliness and warmth of welcome extended to me by both Tir Chonaill and Inishowen folk throughout.
I heard a patriotic Welshman in a familiar red rugby shirt, a bearded Brummie and other posh English accents as well as a Limerick man from Garryowen, a Jock and even a few folk from Donegal all voicing fervent support for Tir Chonaill. Despite the fact that for the majority of those present, rugby may not have been their first sporting love, I was amazed that not one player or spectator from either side questioned a decision of mine on the pitch. Not that many, if indeed any of my decisions were questionable in the first instance, you’ll understand. And my goodness, what a racket they made in support of their local team!!
The game itself was hard-fought with Inishowen enjoying a lot of territory and possession whilst Tir Chonaill maximised their opportunities being clinical in successfully making all their kicks at goal. All players’ enthusiasm and commitment were commendable. The players themselves seemed physically bigger than usual and I even managed to get trampled a few times. Although not the game’s final score, Tir Chonaill’s supporters went ballistic when their 1st XV scored their first home competitive try. It struck me that this was the brand of rugby I’d first been drawn to more than twenty years previous, an amateur game where playing was important but enjoyment and camaraderie of participation in whatever role you could fulfil was everything.
After the game, players and spectators alike enjoyed drinks, sandwiches (and even chocolate bars!) pitch-side put on by the host club. With a warm sun still shining overhead, it was such a relaxing scene. I only wished I had taken a camera to better capture these moments. Most others had begun retiring to the nearby hotel for showers, soup and even more sandwiches as well as a few customary pints of Guinness (official sponsors of Irish Rugby!) when I watched as a small herd of about ten or so cattle meandered down from neighbouring fields to graze on the same pitch where only minutes before 30 two-legged specimens of prime ‘Donegal Beef’ had grappled for, passed and kicked an oval piece of cow hide. Had these sweating, hairy beasts been told the fundamental importance of ‘entering through the gate’ or ‘staying on-side at the hind-most hoof’? How ironic, I thought, obviously not.
As I drove home, I was not five minutes behind the wheel and again tuned in to Highland Radio. I was expecting updates of the latest Premiership soccer matches and what did I hear from their sports desk? “And in local sport news just in, at Carrickfin in the Minor League North it has just finished Tir Chonaill 16 Inishowen 36.” I was relieved their reporter did not continue with an assessment of how the referee had performed.
I’d like to thank Eugene Doogan and all those at Tir Chonaill for the memorable experience of visiting their rugby club. I hope to return soon although next time perhaps better prepared to savour all the local delights that abound. I’d encourage prospective visiting players, coaches, spectators (and referees) to ensure they don’t miss out on a trip in the near future to Carrickfin and Tir Chonaill Rugby Club.
