Effin' Eddie is up for the match
16 November 2011
Sperrin Og face the infamous Effin' Eddie of Aherlow this Sunday, in their All-Ireland Final
Greencastle supporters to meet GAA legend ‘Effin’ Eddie
By Ronan McSherry
Although he lacks the political correctness of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, through the forum of the internet the voice of ‘Effin’ Eddie Moroney has become a GAA ‘legend.’
On Sunday at the Ladies Junior All Ireland final supporters of Sperrin Óg from Greencastle will get to meet the famous Aherlow man up close. He will be travelling to Dublin with his family from north Tipperary to support his beloved club.
‘Effin’ Eddie sprung to fame in 1993 when an outrageous commentary he did for his club, while nursing a hangover, was put on the internet. The previous night he had been at his father-in-law, Mickey O’Brien’s, funeral and according to Eddie, gave him a “mighty send off.” The commentary has received tens of thousands of hits on Youtube. Just log onto Youtube and type in Effin Eddie.
In December of 2009 he was presented with a ‘Legend of the GAA’ award by the President of the Association, Christy Cooney, at a function in Croke Park.
With his wonderful Tipperary accent, the famous lines in the commentary included, “My false teeth are coming out. I can’t keep them in. Ref for Jaysus sake that’s a f**kin penalty. The b*****. He must have no wipers in his glasses.”
Most neutrals felt the ref was excellent but Eddie was unequivocally biased in favour of his own team Aherlow. At one stage he took a drink out of a bottle of lemonade, burped on air and said, “I’m getting weak, Oh Jaysus I’m going to get
sick. I had some feed of beer last night.”
As his beloved club wins the final, his commentary ends with the immortal line, “This is definitely probably the greatest day in Tipperary in GAA circumstances.”
However he will not be commentating on Sunday’s game, however, by all accounts his voice will be heard fro the terraces.
Speaking to the UlsterHerald from his home in the rural Glen of Aherlow, he said, “This is the first time in the history of the club ever we have been in an All Ireland final. The official boys will do the commentary. I had a daughter used to play for the team but she went to Australia earlier this year. We are looking forward to it, big time, and please God it will be a good game. “We are a small club under the Galtee mountains. Whichever team wins it will be a great sporting day out for everyone. To win will be the ultimate but someone has to lose.”
Recalling that day when he came to national attention in 1993, he added, “It is unbelievable the attention it got. We gave my father-in-law a great send off that weekend and were celebrating the football win in Aherlow until the Tuesday.”
While Greencastle supporters will be hoping he does not have cause to celebrate come Sunday evening, they will have to opportunity to hear up close the famous voice one of the great characters of the GAA.