Inside Track: Jim’s hors de combat but still with a keen eye on Oriel
Inside Track with Joe Carroll
If Jim McCourt, a long-time Inside Track correspondent, was in full health he’d still be making the trek up to Oriel Park.
He’s put many decades of support for his beloved Dundalk FC behind him, and would be vying with another great aficionado, Packie McGuinness, for the title of most Oriel visits had circumstances allowed him.
Jim’s been up the Dublin Road on a number of occasions in recent years. He quips: “I think I have a season ticket for the Lourdes Hospital.”
Thanks to the best of medical care he’s back on song, not able to make it up the Carrick Road, but, for some time now, enjoying all of the pictures from Virgin Media, for whom he has praise, unlike RTE. And if it’s not on the screen, he’s tuned in to Dundalk FM.
Two missives came in from Jim last week, the first telling of his current wellbeing, and commenting on Dundalk’s fortunes.
And on the latter, he makes the point, like many others, that had Ciarán Kilduff’s side not had such a bright start to the league they’d be in deep relegation trouble, in danger of making a quick return to the second tier.
He has praise for the work Kilduff is doing, however – and, again, as is being said quite often, the loss of Arubi and Kenny was a huge blow.
It was after the pair transferred that it all began to go wobbly, though he says most of the troubles of recent times have been at the back.
That was before the game with Bohs. Jim was on again the following morning, and this time was concerned. After the 2-1 defeat, his fear is that the team would be dragged into a play-off situation, trying to stave off relegation.
“The last three games are going to be tough, against Galway, away to Derry and then at home to Rovers. If we lose all three we’ll be in trouble.”
That, however, is a worst case scenario. Dundalk remain in the top half of the table, on the same points as Derry, but with a game extra played. Galway, with a game in hand, are three points behind, and the others with relegation worries further behind.
Although beaten in games they would have won, showing in front at some stage in most of them, Kilduff’s outfit can avoid the trap door.
But for Inside Track, the good thing is, Jim McCourt is still able to punch out lots of words. Keep them coming this way, pal, and keep reminding us of how well Waterford hurling team, Ballygunner – representing the club founded by your uncle, James McGinn – are fairing out.