Ryan takes a trip down memory lane

GAELIC GAMES NEWS ROUND-UP:FOR MANY people this week the Vodafone All Star tour is a trip down memory lane. Brian McEniff was interested to know what we thought of San Francisco at the welcoming banquet in Johnny Foley's tavern near Union Square on Wednesday night, or was it early Thursday morning?

The body clock was playing tricks but not enough to dampen the good spirits of the touring party.

It was 1971 when the 1992 All-Ireland winning Donegal manager first landed in northern California in the lingering trail of the Summer of Love. McEniff immediately struck up a firm relationship with the city, returning in four consecutive summers to help promote Gaelic football. This included the inaugural All Star tour back in 1972.

Dublin footballer Shane Ryan was not born then, but there are plenty of stories from his hurling father Jack (an All-Ireland winner with Tipperary in 1971) and grandfather Séamus Ó Riain, who was chairman of the Tipperary County Board at the time and GAA president from 1967-70.

"He told me he was on the very first tour in 1972 and he said it would be a great idea to come back, he loved it so much over here," began Ryan, speaking just off the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel.

"They got to see a good bit of the city. They were here for nearly two weeks. He had a great time. Granddad was on the tour as well because he was with the Tipperary team, who were the All-Ireland champions at the time."

Ryan comes from serious GAA stock when one considers his maternal grandfather, Séan Ó Siocháin, was also on tour as then general secretary of the association.

To bring up something topical we broached the new Dublin management's bedding-in process. Ryan was injured for the recent regional trial matches but he attended them and thought they were a sound idea.

"We've had a couple of meetings now, talking about what we're going to be doing in the New Year. But we like what we hear at the moment so we'll put it into practice when the New Year comes."

And, considering he is surrounded by Tyrone boys this week, not to mention manager Mickey Harte, any reflections on that nightmare All-Ireland quarter-final? "It was baffling, that's a good word for it. No one can really explain or understand it. We just didn't turn up on the day."

Before take off from Dublin airport Tommy McGuigan strayed from the pockets of players in the departure lounge and was duly cornered for an interview. The young Tyrone forward was more than happy to oblige, after a whirlwind year that saw him go from fringe panellist to All Star tourist.

McGuigan's call up was at the 11th hour after Brian Dooher cried off. With a push from elder brother Brian, currently recuperating from yet another operation, a last-minute scramble was made to make the early morning flight.

"Initially, I said 'Aw, no. I'll leave it. Too short notice'. But all the Tyrone players were telling me I'd be crazy not to go. I talked to Mickey (Harte) and then got my bags packed at seven o'clock last night and went down the road at three o'clock this morning.

"When Brian said I would be mad not to go (the older brother was in Singapore a few years back), I knew I would be missing out on a chance of a lifetime. These chances don't come along every year."

Next up for this brilliant Tyrone squad is the dangling carrot of back-to-back All-Ireland titles - an honour only achieved by Kerry in modern times.

"Many of these players were the first to win the All-Ireland, now they want to be the first to do it back-to-back. It would be some achievement," added McGuigan.

And then a flight attendant, standing two feet from us, clicked the intercom once more: "This is the VERY last call for flight EI147 to San Francisco. Could all remaining passengers PLEASE board."