Kerins O’Rahilly against Kilmacud Crokes – GAA Club All Ireland Football semifinal. A Kerry Dublin clash.
Nothing like having your parish involved in the closing stages of Club All Ireland – have to admit my Crokes connections. Amateur sport – all the players completely accessible in their clubs and parishes.
Great to have your Club playing here at HQ- Croke Park. Great surface for playing top level games mid winter. Though today is more like a spring day.
And The Glen v. Moycullen to follow.
First half exhibition of fielding from Kerry stalwart David Moran. But Crokes looking more threatening on the break. Two points in it at half tome – game in the balance.
Crokes finally got the goal that was eluding them. Thereafter they seemed to have something to spare. Right until the end when Kerins O’Reilly pulled them back to three points and threatened goal to no avail.
Competitive all the way
For Kilmacud Crokes a chance in two weeks’ time to go one better than 2022.
M2m Day 5 – Excitement, relief, achievement, never again, can’t wait for the next one, once on a life time, fatigue, pride – and lots more thoughts for everyone
Letterkenny to Malin Head
Nice to be only cycling 80km in a day. But what a finishing route – legs may be hurting, but brilliant sunshine as we headed out across beautiful Donegal. And the route has a couple of testing hills 0 to check that each of us still have something in the tank.
The stop at Malin village was very special – a chance to relax, reflect – before the hype/ excitement of Malin Head itself. Lots of photos, ice-creams, chat. And then the 14km winding route out to Malin Head itself.
Malin Head – no way to avoid a sharp, nasty 150m climb – everyone made it. Wonderful to be clapped and supported all the way to the top. Lots of friends and relatives there to support. But that feeling – that you have done this – a group of 90 people – 10 working for 5 days to make sure the other 80 can sit on their bikes and cycle and get it done.
The celebrations
Down to the Seaview Tavern. Surrender the bikes to our support crew – still working. Chance to relax, catch up with supporters, rest the bodies. And an outstanding Munster Final as a bonus. And then back to Buncrana for the end of M2M2022 dinner – with some outstanding speeches/ recitations from Brendan, Liam and Jim. Great evening.
So what next?
We have seen what can be done with lots of preparation and support – moving 80 cyclists from one end of the country to the other in 5 days – safely. We have experienced what it is to be part of something like this.
I feel very privileged to have been a participant. This was my third M2M – and they have all been fantastically rewarding experiences – testing myself, building new friendships, raising money for Breast Cancer Ireland and development of our club, seeing how other people tackle challenges. Mostly, though, just being part of something very worthwhile.
Kilmacud Crokes a stronger club than ever – with all these new bonds and friendships. We will finalise all the amounts collected and handover funds to Breast Cancer Ireland and the Club in the next few weeks.
We are all a lot fitter – and much better cyclists. So – we need to get out there and enjoy cycling and every other exercise. As we were reminded last night – M2M is an event within KC Wheelers – we want people cycling regularly and enjoying it. Up the Crokes.
Finally – a few memories of 2016, 2018 and 2022 (all seems like one to me)
M2M – Day4: Longest day – kilometrage, hours in the saddle, strong wind, burning sun – great day!
Why do we (or why do I?) do this?
Left Kiltimagh at 8.00am and pulled into Letterkenny at 8.30pm (and faster groups may have done this in a couple of hours less). Even allowing for breaks quite a lot of close and personal time for my rear end and the saddle! So what do this? Probably all have our won reasons:
because it’s there
because someone asked or challenged me
to raise money for great cause
because that’s what I do every two year (except during covid)
because I want to do it both ways (or more)
for the craic, friendship, comradery, sense of team…
…and lot’s more
For me – first time because I was asked/ challenged, 2nd time – to do it the ‘other way’, this time – well -just made sense (if that’s possible!).
Sunny and windy
Some highlights
Without doubt – getting there. And the last climbs out of Ballyboffey and before dropping down into Letterkenny were definitely sent to test us. But all the cyclists came through.
Late lunch in Bundoran – much needed – and thans for making mor sandwiches when we were well behind the clock.
The 99 in Ballyboffey – later in the evening.
The views of Benbulben and Mullaghmore.
But most of all – congratulating (and being congratulated) by all your fellow cyclists after completing the 188km windtunnel event.
On a personal level found it much easier to negotiate the Barnsmore gap in the company of other cyclists than late at night with the sunlight failing (back in 2016).
The continued high standard of support from the great crew – important for supplies, repairs, moral support, keeping us safe on the road.
And remembering previous trips in 2018 and 2016.
Looking forward to Day 5
Can’t wait to get back on the bikes at 9am and make our way out to Malin and Malin Head. Bring it on.
This time we stayed in Lehinch and headed for Kiltimagh. 6 years ago we went from Ennistimon to Ballina. Much bigger group now, weather just as good – this was a shorter spin (but tomorrow we will make up for it as we have 180km to our next stop in Letterkenny).
What I did notice this time was the ease with which all the cyclists climbed out of Ennistimon. All the training has paid off – and the consistent encouragement of Donie and Linda!
Lehinch onto Kinvara.
Beautiful weather. Down Corkscrew Hill into Ballyvaughan. And from there pressed on to Kinvara for an idylic stop and a well earned coffee.
M2M also about the hard yards
Yes – the company is great, the craic is mighty, some of the scenery is fantastic. But getting from one end of the country to the other also requires effort and focus on safety. The 2nd half of the morning – cycling from Kinvara up to ClareGalway had all of us working hard – hard months of practice paid off as ‘up and over’ was called again and again. Great gathering of all the cyclists in Claregalway – sharing stories from the road and encouraging each other And our support crew always there to help.
And the planning never stops – cyclists across different hotels (right bags in the right hotel), on the road stops, departure times, coordinating early breakfasts, meeting up with people as we travel through the country.
And then back in the saddle – tough afternoon on busy roads up to Knock and left for Kiltimagh. And I think plenty of us feeling the effort after 400km in the first three days.
Dinner in the Cill Aodain Court Hotel – Kiltimagh
Once again we all sat down to dinner. And Liam O’Carroll treated us to ‘The West’s Awake’. Congratulations to the manager and the staff on an excellent meal. This is one cyclist who polished everything off.
Mizen to Malin Day 2 – took us from Killarney, CO. Kerry to Lehinch, Co. Clare.
Catch the ferry
Nothing changes – ‘lads we need to be out of here by 8 sharp – in order to catch the ferry at Tarbert. If you miss it you’re on your own’. Well we all made it comfortably – in fact we caught the noon ferry instead of the 12:30 ferry.
and quickly off the ferry and on to Kilrush for lunch…
Safety
When you look to move c. 80 cyclists from one end of the country to the other – safety is the number one priority. Everytime we came to a potentially tricking road crossing or travelled through a busy village – we had outriders in place making it safe for all. We talk about safety everyday – and pushed to have all complete safety training ahead of the cycle. It’s just core to what we do.
Hosted by the Burke family in Quilty
When I did my first M2M in 2016 this was a highlight; in 2018 we were travelling in the opposite direction and pressing to catch a ferry – did not get to stop. Today was great – and probably could have done without the second slice of Rhubarb tart. Wonderful hospitality in informal surroundings out in the garden looking out over the Atlantic. Thank you from all the cyclists.
Lehinch
Have had many a good day and night here – in particular golfing at the famous links. Many of the cyclists availed of the opportunity for a refreshing dip in the ocean. Missed this this time. Staying in two hotels – our support team worked patiently to get bags delivered across the two hotels. Excellent dinner had by all – and, once again, most headed for the bed by 10pm.
Met at 4.30am at Kilmacud Crokes and headed off by bus for Mizen Head. No masks – all the old slagging in full flow, even before sun up. Just great to be heading off with nearly 100 people to do something worthwhile together. Stopped for breakfast at Skibereen and arrived at Mizen Head c. 11.00am.
Day 1 cycle
Blessed with fantastic weather as we sped through Cork and Kerry (slightly slower climbing to Caha Pass and Moll’s Gap!). Scenery in West Cork and Kerry never fails to amaze – and in sunshine like Wednesday hard to beat it anywhere. Four groups on the road – and we met up at various stops on the route.
Tired bodies arrived in Killarney at 7.00pm. Dinner at 8, preceded by Liam O’Carroll’s Rose of Tralee and ‘de Banks’ – and almost everyone gone to bed by 10.00pm. After a 4.30am start, 5 hour bus journey, 120km cycle – and the promise of a 7.15am breakfast and 8.00am departure the next day – not that surprising.
Highlights of Day 1
The weather, the craic with your mates, getting our team on the road and cycling hard and safely. always love cycling through Cork and Kerry – top of the Caha Pass and Moll’s Gap on a day like this is very special.
And loved the chat on the bikes – when not climbing. and I have blown past my initial fundraising target of €2,000 – headed for €3,000.
and thank yous
To all the support team – keeping us safe on the road, moving our luggage, providing water, fruit, food at all our roadside stops. And in my own case – thank you the our physios in the group – lots of support, help dealing with the limits of my ageing, ‘slightly’ inflexible body.
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Without doubt – getting there. And the last climbs out of Ballyboffey and before dropping down into Letterkenny were definitely sent to test us. But all the cyclists came through.
Beautiful weather. Down 
And then back in the saddle 
– tough afternoon on busy roads up to Knock and left for Kiltimagh. And I think plenty of us feeling the effort after 400km in the first three days.
And Liam O’Carroll treated us to ‘The West’s Awake’. 
Congratulations to the manager and the staff on an excellent meal. This is one cyclist who polished everything off.
Missed this this time. Staying in two hotels – our support team worked patiently to get bags delivered across the two hotels. Excellent dinner had by all – and, once again, most headed for the bed by 10pm.
and arrived at Mizen Head c. 11.00am.