From Garda escorts to Jason Sherlock flying by helicopter to make games, the weird and wonderful of the GAA Championship never ceases to amaze, and yesterday's clash between Athy and Raheens in the Kildare Senior Football Championship proved no different.
Athy were taking on Raheens in the Kildare SFC quarter-final on Saturday afternoon. While Athy enjoyed a healthy start that saw them heading in at the break three points the better and re-emerging with a near-immediate goal, the 2020 champions were at risk of faltering, as they had before the break.
In need of experienced players, the Athy management called on former Kildare star James Eaton to steer the ship into the semi-final. While he did just that, with Athy going on to earn an eight-point win over Raheens, it was Eaton's outstanding commitment to attend the match that was earning him all the praise.
13 November 2011; James Eaton, Athy, Kildare, in action against Sean Pender, Edenderry, Offaly. AIB Leinster GAA Football Senior Club Championship, First Round, Athy, Kildare v Edenderry, Offaly, St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
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James Eaton praised for post-management cameo in Kildare SFC
While on any other day a club may expect their former county star to provide much-needed answers on the pitch, James Eaton had already been managing his own team Barrowhouse in Laois that day.
Despite Eaton's side Barrowhouse losing in the Laois JFC quarter-final, the former Kildare star made the trip back across the county border to tog out for his club side in their most important fixture of the season.
Speaking about the incredible commitment, current Kildare and Athy footballer Kevin Feely was full of praise for his clubmate:
He's done that (helped finish the game off) literally everygame so far, he started the last game and that was fully desvered as well.
Barrowhouse, the team that he is managing would've lost in a quarter-final earlier today at one o'clock so unbelievable for him to come and tog out with us again and come on and have such an impact.
It shouldn't take James to come on and do that (manage the game) but thank god we do have him when we need him, he's been unbelievable for us this year.
While Barrowhouse may be just over the border from Athy, it's an incredible commitment from Eaton, which embodies everything weird and wonderful about club GAA.
Eaton, who previously played for Kildare at inter-county level played a pivotal role in ensuring Athy's success as they eventually stormed to a 3-15 to 1-13 win in Kildare.
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