When ‘big ones’ backfire badly!

Back in the Game
Cormac O'Malley

I’M a narky fecker on the pitch. I always want to have the last word. Sure, you’d think at 35 years of age I’d have learned, but no. I’ve always been the same, but it’s never too late to learn new tricks as I found out recently.
At the weekend we [Ballina Town] played Ballyheane in Castlebar and there were times it was a bit tetchy; nothing overboard, just the usual full blooded hunger to win from both sides.
But when we found the back of the net to put us three up in the second half I foolishly turned and — giving it ‘the big one’ as they say —  celebrated in front of the Ballyheane bench who had been very vocal throughout. It was childish stuff.
I have to admit that I got my comeuppance when one of the Ballyheane subs absolutely nailed me after that with slagging.
“That’s right number two, it’s all down to you isn’t it?,” he started. From there, every time I touched the ball he was in my ear, sarcastically praising everything I did. And I have to say, the fecker got to me!
It did spur me on a bit because there was no way I was going to make a mistake and give them the satisfaction of having one over me. I had to hold my hands up and acknowledge I had got what I deserved, and the two of us had a laugh about it at the final whistle.
It’s great to end a game with a smile on your face, and that’s easier when you’ve won and played the full game. But I have to say that’s been the stand-out thing for me this year, the sheer enjoyment of playing.
I’ve mentioned in this column before how great it is to be back playing, for the clarity it gives you in terms of getting fit and sharp through training. And now that the soccer season is in full swing with games coming thick and fast, it really is a joy to be back in the midst of it.
The competition is huge, the standard is very high, and being top of the Super League helps too! But it really is good fun.

On the Gaelic football side of things, I played my first full sixty minutes recently for Bonniconlon and it was made even more special by togging out alongside my brother and brother-in-law who transferred in this year to the club for the first time.
The over-riding emotion again was that it was just great fun to be out playing football, and enjoying yourself. Sometimes we can get bogged down in the ups and downs of games, beating yourself up in the analysis.
And while that is very important to incorporate into your game if you want to keep improving, I realise that it’s not the be-all and end-all either.
At the end of the day sport started out for all of us as a bit of fun, kicking a ball around the garden, playing with friends, running around with a jersey ten times too big for you, and falling in love with the sport.
When you lose that, it’s time to step away, and that’s why I’m doing my best to enjoy every minute of what will be my last few years playing. And sure look, I’m even still learning new things as well – I’m keeping my celebrations muted from now on!