Gusserane O'Rahillys played Rhode in the Leinster senior football championship quarterfinal today and were royally hammered, largely thanks to a brilliant performance from Offaly county star Niall McNamee. But it was their Twitter account that provided the most amusement throughout the match.
Those who weren't at the game were relying on the O'Rahillys Twitter account to provide us with updates, and by all accounts the tweets were as entertaining as anything seen on the pitch.
Eloquent in their description of on-field events, the O'Rahillys tweets allowed us to really put ourselves in their shoes, to feel the weight of every conceded score. Especially goals.
Leinster SFC
05mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 2-2(8) ouch!!— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
You could almost sense the exasperation. The man or woman using the account had no issues with using the account to express their own personal horror at what they were seeing.
Leinster SFC
20mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 4-7(19) unbelievable what's happening here— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
As for who 'Sacker' is - well, the neutral was very much left to imagine. One has an image of a heftily built corner-forward with a fine right foot and a left foot that's "only good for shtandin' on".
Leinster SFC
21mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-1(1)
Rhode: 4-7(19) Sacker from a free— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Even at 20 points down, there was still hope. This penalty save from Michael would be the start of a great, 'Liverpool-Milan esque' comeback, perhaps. But there was just a hint of desperation in the tweet.
Leinster SFC
26mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-1(1)
Rhode: 4-9(21) super penalty save by Micheal. Might spur things on??— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
By half-time though, a certain doomed realisation was beginning to set in.
Leinster SFC
Half time
Gusserane : 0-1(1)
Rhode: 4-10(22) Halloween horror here in Ross.— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
And eleven minutes into the second half, one got the sense that the tweeter had had enough.
Leinster SFC
11mins 2nd half
Gusserane : 0-1(1)
Rhode: 4-16(28) pain in me hole tweeting— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
A large cat apparently grabbed a couple of consolation scores for O'Rahillys as time ticked on.
Leinster SFC
13mins 2nd half
Gusserane : 0-2(2)
Rhode: 4-16(28) panther— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Leinster SFC
29mins 2nd half
Gusserane : 0-4(4)
Rhode: 4-22(34) panther— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Clearly the O'Rahillys Twitter operator is a man or woman of the people, not afraid to openly acknowledge great talent when they see it. Even when that talent is dismantling their own side.
Leinster SFC
20mins 2nd half
Gusserane : 0-2(2)
Rhode: 4-19(31) Niall McNamee worth the entrance fee alone— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
But the best tweet was undoubtedly saved for just after the sixty minutes of play. Brilliant.
Leinster SFC
Full time
Gusserane : 0-4(4)
Rhode: 5-22(37) All over. All I can say is we were well and truly Rhode.— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
The scoreboard told its own story.
All that was left was to wish their opponents luck in the next round. Why can't we all be so harmonious? A true lesson in sportsmanship.
Congrats to @RhodeGAA today. Super outfit and really hope ye go all the way in Leinster and beyond. #pureclass
— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Can the GAA please put this person in charge of their own official Twitter feed?
