Dubs and Pádraig a dual tonic for Vinny

AGAINST THE ODDSA visit to Hill 16 to witness Dublin's finest in full flow followed by Harrington's heroics at Royal Birkdale makes for a perfect day

THE HEAVING swell of Hill 16 was a familiar setting to Vinny Fitzpatrick. He'd been there as a chiseller, a spotty-faced youth and a consenting adult.

Now, aged 50, overweight and almost toppling over in the throng, he was thinking to himself that he'd be better off with a comfortable seat under his backside and a bird's-eye view from the Croker stands.

"I'm getting too old for this," he thought.

Not that Vinny would ever dare express to the lads his reservations about changing the deep-rooted Croker itinerary. To do so would be to expose weakness and invite scorn. Hill 16 it was, and would remain so, now and forever, Amen.

So Vinny had duly arrived in Foley's on Sunday for the pre-match Leinster-final pint, together with Macker, Fran, Brennie and Kojak. Five middle-aged men wearing their snazzy, blue O'Neill's Dublin tops, ranging from Vinny's XXL to spindly Brennie's medium.

The talk over five lovely creamies had been mostly about a different boy in blue, a fine footballer, who was getting ready to step up to the championship plate that afternoon. As keen, if inadequate, golfers, the lads were divided on the talents of Pádraig Harrington.

Macker and Kojak felt Harrington was a choker who'd backed into Open success at Carnoustie; that he blew tournaments he should have won.

In contrast, Brennie and Fran felt the Dubliner was one of Ireland's greatest sportsmen and would be recognised as such if he defended his Open title at Birkdale that afternoon.

Vinny would definitely lean towards praising Harrington rather than burying him. If nothing else, he admired Harrington's even-handed approach to life's twin impostors success and failure.

Brennie, of course, had extra reason to sing off the Harrington hymn sheet, having backed him on the Betfair exchanges at 69 to 1 before he teed off.

"That wrist injury was the perfect distraction. It meant Harrington was more worried about whether he could play rather than trying to work on some aspect of his game. I only wish I'd had another nibble at 149 to 1 after he bogeyed the first hole on Thursday," said Brennie.

Macker offered a different perspective. "I'm telling you Harrington's overrated. He's only in with a chance because Tiger's not playing and the other Yanks hate the weather."

In an effort to provide balance and stimulate a financial interest, Vinny suggested they invest a score a head on Harrington to win.

"He's 5 to 2. At least it will cover our beer money for the day if he wins," he said.

Somewhat grumpily, Macker and Kojak handed over a 20 and Vinny, having collected the ton, skipped in next door to Boru Betting to place the bet.

As luck would have it, Angie, the vivacious manager of Boru Betting and Vinny's sweetheart, was on her own at the counter.

"Hi, love," she smiled. "All set for the match? Don't forget, I'll have roast chicken, spuds and all the trimmings on the table around half past seven. See you later."

Vinny planted a stout-scented peck on Angie's cheek before skipping happily back into Foley's for the rest of the pre-match ritual. "What a bird!" he thought.

Some two hours later, it was half-time at Croker and both Dublin, who were leading Wexford 0-10 to 0-7, and Harrington, who was trailing Greg Norman by a shot, were making heavy weather of things.

For Vinny, the two sporting events were causing his little grey cells to do somersaults. He was a Dub to the core, raised on heroes of renown - Keaveney, Cullen, Hanahoe, Moran. He had watched six All-Irelands in a row from 74 to 79 with his old man, Finbarr, amid the stench of urine, vomit and other body odours against an old crush barrier directly behind the goal on Hill 16.

He'd been there in that glorious summer of 83 when the defiant dozen hoodwinked Galway. And again in the 90s when the pain of several near misses was ended with a relieving win in 95.

He could reel off the teams of 74, 76, 77, 83 and 95 without hesitation and was utterly convinced 2008 would once more see the planting of a sky-blue flag on the towering, snow-capped peak of the summit of Gaeldom.

And yet, he was concerned at the labouring performance of his heroes, who were running into blind alleys against the unheralded Pikemen. As for Harrington, he'd been two shots ahead, and was now one behind - a fellow with a tranny nearby was providing updates.

"He's a bottler, big-time," scoffed Macker.

Excitable Brennie was quiet but Fran felt Harrington would pull through. "He's right where he wants to be, starting the back nine of a major. Others will get fazed by what's at stake. Not Harrington. He'll win handy."

Vinny kept his counsel. He liked golf a lot, and admired Harrington immensely, but he loved the Dubs - truly, madly, deeply.

"C'mon, you boys in blue, c'mon you boys in blue, c'mon you boys in blue," he belted out with a coltish enthusiasm not usually associated with a portly 35-year Hill 16 veteran.

An hour on, Vinny was floating on air as he scuttled down Clonliffe Road towards Meagher's to catch the end of the golf.

The Dubs hadn't just defeated Wexford, they'd destroyed them. "Three-thirteen in the second half, playing into Hill 16! It doesn't get any better," he beamed.

"Yes it does," replied Brennie. "'Harrington's going to win."

The last word from the bloke with the radio had Harrington leading by a shot playing the par-five 15th. As the five mates crammed into the bar in Meagher's, they saw Harrington drain a birdie putt.

"Two ahead, three to play. The drinks are on Harrington tonight," grinned Fran.

Vinny shook his head at the wonder of it all. A Dublin blitzkrieg and a superhuman effort from Harrington; the company of the lads and dinner with his gorgeous girlfriend to come. "Don't anyone pinch me. I don't want to wake up," he said to himself.

Bets of the Week

3ptsLevadia Tallinn to beat Drogheda Utd in Champions League (evens, Paddy Power)

1pt ewEamonn Darcy for top-10 finish at Senior British Open (16/1, Bet365)

Vinny's Bismarck

1pt LayGreg Norman to win Senior British Open (8/1, Ladbrokes, liability 8pts)