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Earlier this week we featured the brilliant missive sent to the Irish Times by Paddy Monahan in regard to the Kilkenny/Dublin game at the weekend, it epitomised the GAA and what games like that mean to Sons and Fathers up and down this small country.
Today we have another sports related letter, this time about the oval balled game, dealing with the big news of the week, the Gatland decision. Where do you stand?
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Sir, – I’m an avid sports fan but I haven’t felt like this in a long, long time. Any time I think about the decision to drop Brian O’Driscoll from Saturday’s Lions squad I feel physically ill; like the bottom has dropped out of my stomach. I feel profoundly disappointed that one of the greatest Irish athletes I have ever seen has been denied the opportunity to put one final, crowning moment on an amazing career. And what’s worse: he deserves to play.
However, those who are planning on supporting Australia on Saturday are missing the point.
This is what sport is all about. This is why we love it.
The infuriating feeling of powerlessness and injustice is intoxicating. Without lows like these, we’d never enjoy the highs as much. Without moments like these, would we have celebrated O’Driscoll’s last minute try against Australia in 2009 or his hat-trick against France in 2000 with such blind enthusiasm? At those moments of ecstasy, nothing was wrong with the world.
It’s what sport is all about. It’s why we love it.
On Saturday morning I will be cheering on the British and Irish Lions. I’ll be cheering on Sean O’Brien, Jonathan Sexton and Tommy Bowe. Let’s hope they can deliver the series victory to the man who wants it more than anyone. He deserves it. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT BEIRNE,
Coundon Court,
Killiney, Co Dublin.
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h/t James O'Brien
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