Inside Track: Geeney keeps it down as Louth fans turn out in force at Fairyhouse

Seán Geeney stuck to his word at Fairyhouse last Saturday afternoon. Acting as MC at the second running of ‘Wee County Goes Racing’, the normally garrulous one had the volume turned down.

This may, or may not, have been in response to what was written here last year after he’d filled the same role at the inaugural running of the Louth GAA event.

READ NEXT: Inside Track: John Murphy’s right – Oriel Park is alive again

It probably was, because after Inside Track, giving its opinion on this new venture appeared in print, he was on the blower straight away.

“Was it that bad”, he asked, and when told it was just a wee bit noisy, he said he would be lowering the tone the next time.
He did, confining himself to introducing the various speakers, and not touching at all on the presence of politicians and various other personalities.

But, then, while it was possible to have a conversion, there might just have been room for a little bit of Geeney brashness.
Still, nothing prevented the afternoon from lacking in fun. The grub was good, and after the first one, the pints were tasty.

No doubt those who left with more money than they started with enjoyed the day best of all. What the occasion proved more than anything else is that there is strong goodwill for Louth teams.

The attendance surpassed the organisers’ expectations, with the task of Colm Marry, Aoife Clare, Damien McCann, Jim Byrne, Aidan Connor, Pat Toner, Robbie Byrne and our man Geeney, made easier by the success county teams had this year – two Leinster football titles and an appearance in an All-Ireland final, and the hurlers winning their section of the National League.

What it could all mean is that backing will continue, especially for the new county stadium, where work is progressing at pace.

Mindful of the winner he turned out at last year’s meeting, Cleopatra’s Needle, Harry Rogers got good backing for his runner in the third race, Weston. No luck for the Ardee trainer this time. Victory instead went to the favourite, Paul’s Dream.

ou’d have needed a pin, and a very sharp one at that, to get the winner of the 6th race, sponsored by Frank Lynch’s accountancy firm. Hickey’s Hill went off at 50/1.

Another Lynch, Maire, who heads up the Michael Lynch clothes shop in Dundalk, was the meeting’s main sponsor, with major support also coming from Barry Oliver’s Protection & Prosperity – a name also linked to the Darver centre of Excellence – Powerscreen New England, IFM, Deeside Agri, Anglo Printers and bookmaker, Barney O’Hare.