We wouldn't dare try and perpetuate any lazy stereotypes about the great Dublin divide of northsiders vs southsiders but bleedin hell Michael Darragh MacAuley doesn't half sound like he knows his way around a rugby pitch. We jest of course and we can only assume that the quite simply farcical angle at which he wears his cap in the video below is his attempt to distance himself from any such comparisons.
But enough about that, we're here for a race. Northside vs southside. Johnny Cooper vs Michael Darragh MacAuley. The rules are fairly simple. Get them in the relatively neutral territory of the Phoenix Park and then send them on their way - in the wrong direction.
In theory, it's fairly simple. Bernard Brogan gathers two teams in the Phoenix Park and gives them a location (not exactly a million miles away) that they have to reach without the use of GPS. Cooper and MacAuley are two proud Dubliners, so you'd expect that they'd know the city like the back of their hand but then there's the great divide of the Liffey to take into account.
The Na Fianna team were sent off towards the south with Drimnagh Castle the destination and the Ballyboden selection were sent off towards the unchartered north with Clontarf Castle as their aim.
And it must be said that, regardless of the outcome of the challenge, the Ballyboden team deserve a significant pat on the back for brand awareness. That crisp eating action at the 0.40 mark of the video is absolutely textbook. 10/10 as far as we're concerned.
As soon as Michael Darragh MacAuley was finding it difficult to get out of the park, it was fairly clear which direction this challenge was heading in. And although it had absolutely no bearing on the final result, it's good to know that Jack McCaffrey has a lovely phone voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScRGJScgdfY
