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'The Ardmore Roar': Nicholas Lenane pens brilliant poem ahead of Ardmore's All-Ireland Final

'The Ardmore Roar': Nicholas Lenane pens brilliant poem ahead of Ardmore's All-Ireland Final
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Ardmore native Nicholas Lenane put pen to paper prior to Ardmore's All-Ireland Junior Hurling Club Championship Final appearance at Croke Park. The end product is 'The Ardmore Roar' which he spoke about and recited in studio with Dermot Keyes on The Saturday Show.

https://soundcloud.com/wlrfmwaterford/the-ardmore-roar-by-nicholas-lenane-the-saturday-show-february-3rd-2018

The Ardmore Roar
Ardmore is awake
Excitement in her homes
I feel the ground shake
Anticipation in my bones
_
Croke park ahead
For the blue and white legion
Champions of Waterford
This magical region
_
It began in reflection
Last September
Then came redemption
And a year to remember
_
We marched through the county
With many a test
Emerging victorious
Waterford’s best
_
Pride restored
We set our eyes on Munster
Power and strength
All we could muster
_
We charged on Limerick
from the sunny South East
Our hurlers done the trick
Another hurling feast
_
Hurling talent
A gift from the skies
Flavin, Keatings, Gartlands
We watched our young players rise
_
Next was Bodyke
In Carriganore
Another step closer
To hurling folklore
_
We swarmed on Mallow
Like an Atlantic storm
And just like that
Legends were born
_
Down to 12 men
The miracle of Mallow
But these men are giants
Impossible to follow
_
Club legends
Hennessys, O’Donnells, Prendergasts,
Munster title medals,
Glory at last
_
Ogham stones, monasteries
Hurling mastery
Another chapter
in our glorious tapestry
_
The village was hopping
As we racked up the wins
Pints in the Tower
Debates in Quinns
_
An All Ireland semi final
Against the men from Donegal
Another victory
A four goal haul
_
The primary schools are buzzing
Children screaming
Tactics on the street corner
Old men dreaming
_
St Declan looks down
A smile serene
‘Oh my God’ he says
‘What a team!’
_
We think of those who’ve passed
Gone on ahead
They whisper kindly
‘Keep the head’
_
Now we’ve a chance
a shot at National glory

For a club like ours
An incredible story
_
Carrot fields are empty
The nets have been taken in
Dublin is calling
Let the journey begin
_
Hurling in our hearts
Fire in the blood
The rain is coming
Prepare for the flood
_
Storm clouds gather
In the darkening skies
Starling murmurations
Seagull cries
_
With the strength of Sampson
And the might of the Tower
The storm is raging
In all its power
_
The army is ready
We’ve all got the fever
Our leaders are steady,
Mr.Putin and Vladimir Vealer
_
And now we’re knockin’
Gonna break down the door
Cos the place will be rockin’
WITH THE ARDMORE ROAR!
_

Nicholas has previously written and recorded poetry to celebrate Waterford's endeavours to win the Liam MacCarthy last September.

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LISTEN to Ardmore take on Fethard-on-Sea in the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Club Championship Final LIVE on WLR thanks to George Corbett SKODA, with commentary team Kieran O'Connor and Stephen Frampton. Throw in is at 2pm in Croke Park. Coverage starts at 1.45pm on WLR.

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