Normally the Webwagon can go anywhere. When we were invited by old senior stalwarts Joe Cunningham and Stevie McKenna to join them for some quality “Bro-mance” at the far side of the world, well we just couldn’t refuse. We chartered a private jet however, courtesy of www.theplunkettsgac.ie and headed due south……..way south, to catch up with two of our favourite sons.
Lads you’ve been away from the mountains of Pomeroy for some time now. Have you been involved with any GAA clubs during your travels across Australia/New Zealand?
Joe - I have been away for about 10 months now. Me and Stevie started to play with a local Christchurch team. There’s not many teams out in NZ but we have played a few tournaments in the last few months, mostly against the Irish farmer boys that are based outside the city. All trainings and matches are played on borrowed rugby pitches so its not the greatest set up to say the least but there are a lot of dedicated people trying to push the sport on here and if me and the boy can do anything to help this we will.
Stevie - I been away for nearly 3 years now and I started off playing for McAnallen’s in Sydney, I had to join up with the bro (Cathal). The first year we made the championshp final and were narrowly beaten, the standard of football it pretty high in Oz mostly due to a lot of good Tyrone imports, we won the league in our second season with all the bros in tow (Damien, Cathal and me). The set up is pretty good as well, we had a GAA field unlike what we have here in NZ. In NZ I won a tournment not long after I arrived, I’ll show off the medals when I get home, a super medal with a stick on badge like the one’s I won when I was 12.
What is the standard of GAA like?
Joe – There are a few good players over here in NZ but when me and Stevie are classed as two of the best and two of the fastest then you can see that it might not be the best standard!! We have a few Kiwis playing for us to but I think they are still geared to playing rugby as Stevie found out at the first training. Stevie did one of his ledendary McKenna dummys and lets just say he didnt get the chance to do it a second time!!
How have you adapted to life down under? Do you miss the home cooking?
Joe – Life has been pretty good out here so far, there’s plenty of work and the Kiwis are a bit like us Irish which means there’s plenty of booze as well. The earthquake was an experience I wouldnt want to repeat every week but its all part of the experience, as the saying goes what doesnt kill us makes us stronger. As for the cooking, this young McKenna can rustle up a fine meal!
Stevie - I have found it easy enough to settle in over here, all the people are so easy going and easy to get along with and having family and friends from home makes it a lot easier. Another big difference is the weather, there are no dark/freezin nights up in the top field doing all the pre season work. In Oz our pre season was having a box of beer after the 1st training session for all the boys to meet up and get to know each other. I definitely do miss the saturday morning fry though!
On the footballing front, surely there is nothing like a competitive match in Plunkett Park on a Sunday. Do you miss those occasions?
Joe - I definitely do miss running out on to Plunkett Park on a Sunday afternoon, it’s only when you come to a different country that you realise that you can take a club like Pomeroy for granted. All the work that is done behind closed doors to keep everything ticking over and all the facilities we have and not to forget the facilities that Seany provides on a Sunday evening after the matches.
Stevie – You can leave Pomeroy and play for other teams but Pomeroy will always be number 1 in my book. I’d love nothing more than to don the Plunketts jersey and grace the Park and in the words of Raymond Monroe inject a bit of pace back into the side.
Have either of you any desire to get involved with any coaching whilst you are away?
Joe - I have missed training the ladies teams since I have left but I am very pleased to see that they are doing so well this year with the minors winning the league but I know I have left them in good hands with Flea and Lorraine. I would have liked to get involved over here as well but with work/drinking etc I dont think I could give the committment that would be required.
Stevie - I have never thought of coaching at this stage in my career, maybe after I can pass on my extensive knowledge of the Gaelic Game.
Exiles become a very close knit group. Do you feel that unique sense of Irish community and camaraderie?
Joe – Yeah I think it would be a fair comment to say that the irish stick together no matter where in the world we end up but the Kiwis are a lot like us in that they enjoy the craic and a few beers as well.
Tell us about some of the local Tyrone Gaels that you have met?
Joe – I haven’t met too many other Tyrone lads out here in NZ but I came the whole way out here and am now living with a lad that lived a mile up the road from me at home, a Rock man named Dean McAleer but we’ll not hold the Rock part against him.
Stevie – When playing for McAnallens, from the team of 15, we had about 10 Tyrone lads from a O’Neill cup winning captain from Dromore to the cousins and neighbours from the Lough. I met a lot of great lads that will always be good friends even when I’m back playing against them for the Plunketts
Have family and friends been keeping you up to date with all things Na Pluinceidi?
Joe - With Mummy Cunningham and Mummy McKenna it’s never to long after the matches that we are filled in on the results and who should have been subbed and who didnt get on! Another big help to us exiles now is the Pomeroy website, all the latest news and club goss, ye’s are doing a great job so keep it going.
Have you taken up any other sports? Rugby, soccer, Aussie Rules or cricket for example?
Joe - I haven’t really played any other sports while I’ve been over here, if you ask me there’s no other sport like Gaelic, stick to what your good at, well in my case I should say to what I know! It’s hard not to get sucked in to the rugby over here though, we are in NZ after all and we are loyal supporters of Crusaders in the Super XV competition.
Stevie – The one good thing about leaving home is that I get to follow my other true love….Cricket! I was lucky enough to play 1 game but it didnt work out too good when I was put out for a golden duck (thats the 1st ball by the way). In Sydney the rugby league was the number 1 sport were I followed the Paramatta Eels.
Our Senior ladies have been doing very well. Our Senior men started well but are suffering from injuries and suspensions. What are your hopes the the club in 2011?
Joe – The year has started well for the men and ladies. By all accounts the girls could do the double and with a mix of the young and the experienced players I wouldnt expect any less. The same could be said for the men, a lot of the younger lads(kezzy nugent) have now come on and along with the oldies (Marty McCreesh) it would be great to see some sucess coming back to the Plunketts.
Stevie - The All Ireland sucess from 2005 now starting to fade from the memory and we need some new memories to
fill in the gaps and maybe we will come back and cash in on the sucess!!
That’s the lot folks, good chatting to ye’s – “noho ora mai”.
Indeed lads, the pleasure was all ours. Let’s hope we see you back on the green sward of Plunkett Park……..some day. Good luck to “Scuba” Steve and “Super” Joe on their travels. Keep safe boys, and to all our exiles we wish you all the happiness and luck of the Irish. See you all again further on up the road.
