Legend growing as the years fade

Christy Ring and the song of the ash. Another showing of the nostalgic Louis Marcus film on the legendary hurler was timely this week on TnaG given yesterday's climax to the hurling year at Croke Park.

The position of Kilkenny's DJ Carey is still in the making in hurling folklore.

Carey and Ring. The Kilkenny man's athleticism and speed, the Cork man's longevity in the game and heroic standing. Comparisons stink.

Ring from Cloyne wore out the adjectives of the media of the day as Carey does now when his dander is up.

Cloth capped, barrel shaped and squat Ring's physique was taut, that of a manual labourer or a man of the land. Not trained with pyramid runs and stop watches but hard muscled, mighty limbed and with exquisite skills.

He showed us with sinuous whips of his hands his impressive wrists and the hurl humming around his body. They say Ring could mind himself. That came through.

In the documentary, made in the 1960s, Ring's fading years were framed with Ford Anglias and three wheeled bubble cars. With boatmen ferrying Cork supporters across the Lee and kids in their Sunday First Holy Communion clothes, Marcus captured much more than a hurler.

Ring took us through the array of hurling skills, some of which now appear to be virtually extinct in the crowded acres of Croke Park. Picking up the ball on the run, the overhead double and cutting from the sideline which Ring demonstrated with the skill of a Tour golfer with a wedge in his hand.

Ring's legend will only grow as the years fade. Already poems have followed including this by Theo Dorgan. "I saw Cuchulainn in his latter years, Great knots of muscle in his shoulders, The basilica of his skull in the afternoon.

I saw him drive younger warriors from the field, by the fierce power of his eye on the frozen ball." Carey has ground to gain.

England striker Michael Owen also showed us things in Michael Owen's Soccer Skills, (Friday BBC 2). Owen made greater boasts than Ring.

"During the next six weeks I'll tell you everything you need to know to become a complete player," he says in the first episode.

Dressed in grey Owen was clearly buying into the earnest young pro image, the one several of his club mates have vigorously resisted.

The Liverpool player has the advantage of not yet been photographed during a night club celebrity bust up in Bootle. His day will come no doubt, but the BBC have developed an interesting skills programme, with mini-lectures from Dr Rav Niak on the importance of things such as warming up and down. Two drags on a untipped Players doesn't do anymore.

Dr Niak even produced a skeleton of the foot to show how the bones flex when a ball is struck properly. That's where it's at the centres of excellence these days in places like Lilleshall and Bishamabbey, far from Ring and his crusty old boots.

Roy Keane on the Late Late Show. Hollow cheeked. Skin head. Aston Martin driver.

"I watch all the United games," said Kenny to the midfielder. Never would have caught Byrne saying that. More like: "Manchester United-is that a big club, Roy?"

Kenny buys into sport. He always has and it will probably be a bigger feature of the new Late Late than it was before. He's so comfortable with it that he revels in it, drops names too.

"I was talking to Alex Ferguson during the week . . ." To be fair Kenny pulled a few chains.

"You used to call Peter Schmeichel the tea lady," he offered trying to get a rift going.

"Don't worry I've called him worse," says Keane. "It was probably going back to Forest when I had a few run ins with him before I went to United. But I suppose you could say that about most of the team."

Keane came across as a cute hoor. Still in touch with the lads from Rockmount in Cork his mean image was softened somewhat by the bouquets thrown by his non-celebrity childhood friends. But even the midfield enforcer thought it was going a little mushy.

"I didn't understand why people wanted to knock me and if they did I wanted to knock them," he said. That attitude is tempered when he socialises now. But it's still with him on the pitch when he plays and that's why Alex Ferguson would clean his boots to keep him at Old Trafford.

"The chances are I'll stay at United," he said letting people know that's what he wants. If he doesn't stay it will be seen as penny pinching United driving him away. Cute hoor.

Keane was at Anfield the following day beside Denis Irwin. Sky showed us the two sitting in the stand grim faced watching their team play Owen's team. Three goals before midday. Four before 12.30. Not a bad start to a Saturday.

"Awful goals. Awful defending," said Andy Gray in summary.

Referee George Gavin was wired up for the first time in a Premiership match in order to communicate clearly with his linesmen. Nicky Butt handled the ball in the box late in the first half and Ryan Giggs was virtually stripped in the penalty area in the second half. Not a peep or consultation.

Ronnie Wallwork came on for United. Wallwork faces a possible life ban for allegedly doing something unmentionable to a referee in Belgium. Andy Cole was sent off and David Beckham's petulance rose up again. There were also two own goals. Awful goals. Awful defending. Great television.