AN UMPIRE’S TALE
“I’d say I have umpired about 1000 games” says Joe Connolly in response to my query. That’s a lot of games I thought.
“I’d say the figure is closer to 2000, that’s a lot of shoe leather” says Peter Thew, Umpire Appointments Secretary, Cricket Leinster. The records are incomplete but Joe had been umpiring for at least 40 years before hanging up his coat in 2021.
Joe’s early years were in Rush Cricket Club where his father played. Joe, who stands at 6 foot 2, bowled quick off a long run up. Later on he converted into a canny off spinner. Following a family re-location he played for a short spell with the Civil Service Cricket Club in the Phoenix Park where he recalls Rory Yates Hale as captain.
Joe worked in Aer Lingus and with a group of others in the national airline decided to enter a cricket team into the Dublin Business Houses League in the 1970’s. Previously Aer Lingus fielded a side for a brief period in the 1950’s where they played on a pitch that is now Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church located behind Terminal 1 Car Park.
The Business Houses team prospered and so later on in the 70’s Aer Lingus Cricket Club joined the ranks of the Junior League, Leinster Cricket Union. Joe was Hon Secretary at the formation of the Club and continued in this role until the Club folded in the 1990’s. He was involved in all aspects of the Club and as he says himself he was part groundsman, fixtures secretary, tea lady and most importantly guarantor that eleven players took the field. The core of the team comprised of stalwarts like Johnny Behan, Don Geraghty, Joe and a few others. If short, Joe would recruit from Aer Lingus hockey or occasional players like former CEO David Kennedy or the odd high flying pilot.
The new home pitch was in the grounds of the Aer Lingus Social and Athletics Association (ALSAA) across the road from Dublin Airport. There was no square as such but a crease which was rolled. The ALSAA groundsman was not experienced in cricket and often the outfield was a bit grassy.
Despite the challenges, Aer Lingus were a “handy enough outfit”. They won the Junior Cup three times, 1981, 85 and 1990 and the Junior B League in 1988. “We had a decent bowling attack” says Joe.
Uniquely in the local cricket world, the Club spread its wings and toured Denmark, Sweden, played against the Nuclear Research Centre in Switzerland and joined forces with Aer Lingus London to play in Texas, USA. Joe has an endless store of stories and capers but of course what goes on tour …!
In the 1990s, Aer Lingus offered a big redundancy package. Over 2000 employees accepted. Sadly, this sounded the death knell for the cricket club which folded shortly after. Although, ALSAA has recently installed two new artificial creases [in between the gaelic and rugby pitches] which are well used mostly by the local Asian community.
By his own admission Joe was not a great bat and so when his team batted, he umpired. He liked to be involved. Thus began his umpiring career.
“Myself and Joe umpired many games together” says Martin Russell from The Hills. “As we were both from north Dublin it made sense to schedule us together. Consequently, we became good friends. We trusted each other and over a post-match pint or mineral, were able to discuss among other things, any errors that either one of us may have made. Like everyone else, umpires are human and do make mistakes. These chats certainly helped me and most likely Joe in our day to day umpiring but of course added to the overall enjoyment of the day.”
It was a hallmark of Joe in his officiating days that he was willing to umpire at any level and on any ground no matter the location. It is also true that he umpired up to 60 games a season, many of them mid week.
“Joe, you must have seen much change in the game over the years as umpire?” I ask.
“Yes” Joe replies “white ball, T20 etc but the game has essentially remained the same.”
“Behaviour. Any change there?”
“Well yes, more aggression now but look, it’s down to man management. Early intervention is key” says Joe.
I saw first hand how Joe nipped matters in the bud, defused situations before they got out of hand. Maybe a word in the bowlers ear on the way back to his mark. No fuss, no one noticed. At the same time, if matters escalated, as they can do, Joe was not afraid to intervene. Captains paid heed.
“Agh Joe, you’re too quick [to step in]!” snapped top Irish international Johnboy Mooney on one occasion after a quiet word from Joe.
“No I am not” replied Joe “the quicker I am the quicker it stops!” And afterwards, no issues and mutual respect between Johnboy and Joe.
Joe also engaged with players. The occasional word here or there, when there was a lull, the odd bit of banter. I asked him at the end of our chat [in the Grand Hotel, Malahide] what makes a good umpire. Obviously, he says, good decision making is key. Also having a rapport with players Is very important. But the word he used most was “respect”. He says that “earning the respect of players is the most important thing you have to do as an umpire”.
There are no shortage of anecdotes with Joe. He recalls one incident when umpiring a Senior 1 game with Bob Smith in Malahide. Joe was very much the younger, junior partner. Malahide pace bowler Bill Grimson had already somehow bowled 9 balls in the over. There had not been any no balls, wides. As the junior, Joe was reluctant to intervene but after the ninth delivery Joe crossed over from square leg and pointed out the situation to Bob. No, said the senior man, looking down at the remaining stones in his hand, there are still three balls to go! Grimson, who was bowling into a gale force wind, shook his head and finished out his longest ever over!
Joe had a parallel sporting life. Cricket in the summer, hockey in winter. Back in the day he was a goalkeeper with Lorraine Hockey Club who played in the Civil Service Cricket grounds in the Phoenix Park. Again, he took to the whistle and umpired many hockey games.
He was a level 2 international hockey umpire and adjudicated at a number of European Club matches and tournaments. Also for many years, he sat as a member of a three person Technical Committee for matches and tournaments in Ireland and all over Europe. Arising out of his involvement with the Aer Lingus Hockey Club Joe was also was engaged as an Umpire Manager for 10 years in the USA at events such as the Big Apple Tournament in New York and the Disney Tournament in Florida.
The fact that he officiated in different sports at a high level over such a long period of time inevitably honed his skills as an umpire particularly in terms of man management. There are few situations or personal traits that he had not encountered.
Joe, now 83, is still involved. Currently, he is one of two Umpire (Boundary) Assessors in the South, Peter Thew being the other. In 2012 Joe was made an Honorary Life Member of the Leinster Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association. Overall, an enormous contribution, particularly to the local cricket scene. As he says himself, he just loved to be involved.
*Photos with Kind Permission of Joe Curtis and the Irish Hockey Archive
