Looking over the large canon of work in the Sportsfile library of sports photography an intriguing trend starts to emerge; witchcraft. Specifically the witchcraft undertaken by many sports stars up and down the county who appear to have the ability to make whatever sphere they have available to them float.
Join us, as we take a look at how Irish sports stars nationwide have developed the skill of making balls levitate.
1. Paddy Durcan
Paddy Durken using the dark arts as Marty O'Reilly looks on, petrified with jealously.
2. Bryan Sheehan
Kerry's Bryan Sheehan taking the piss with a 'look, no hands!' approach.
3. Aidan O'Shea
Aidan O'Shea showing he's equally capable of making an NFL ball float as a GAA one.
4. Roisín Daly
Tippearary camogie star Roisín Daly shows the lads how its done.
5. Johnny Coen
Johnny Coen stoically looks on as a sliotar nonchalantly hangs in mid-air.
6. Thomas Clancy
Thomas Clancy mixes steely determination with the ability to move things with his mind.
7. Oisín McConville
Oisín McConville summons the ball from the ground in the against Tyrone in the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final.
8. Shane Walsh & Eoin Doyle
Dublin's Shane Walsh and Kildare's Eoin Doyle combine to great effect to suspend the League Cup.
9. Serge Betsen *Bonus Rugby Example*
It seems the phenomenon has also affected the rugby world, Serge Betsen doing his best Charles Xavier impression here as he wills the ball into the air.
10. Conor McCallister
Slaughtneils' Conor McCallister gets extraordinary height on this effort, he's clearly been practising.
11. Shane Williams & Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy and Shane Williams defy gravity despite terrible conditions.
Of course the occurrence might seem novel now but what if all Irish sports stars were to pool their ability and use it for evil? They could have the nation on it's knees. Bring back witch trials, I say.
