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This week is the biggest week in the sporting calendar.
In years gone by the week of the all-Ireland hurling final has always been special. I remember in 1993 one of the Sunday publications had a pull out with 'Hurling's greatest day' on the cover. That game was Kilkenny v Galway also, with a notable memory from the final being Galway's Padraig Kelly getting man of the match despite being on the losing side. I never envisaged or thought about seeing Limerick there, but obviously we were there the following year and in 1996.
A lot of magical memories along the way. Eamonn Taafe's goal in 1995 to send Clare to victory, Jamesie O'Connor's epic winning point v Tipp in 1997, Brian Whelehan going from win back to full forward in 1998 to score a bucket load ...... the list goes on & on. The highest level I ever played the game myself was a schools Munster Final & I remember being called into a squad for a Harty Cup match. The lad over the team gave us a hair on the back of the neck type speech about how in days of old, students who were on the Harty Cup could look forward to special results. Not sure if that was true but it made us think.
The players nowadays are giving up so much to play for the County. The professionalism of the competitors had made the game different but as enjoyable as years gone by. As this week unfolds there will be interviews, opinion and a rising tide of fever pitch before the big day. There will be up for the match and then come Sunday at 3.30 the singing of the National Anthem will have everyone ready for Hurling's greatest day.
When we lost in 1996, I remember a chap saying to me that he had a keyring which had an image of Croke Park on it & the words 'The Field of Dreams' written underneath. He said it made him emotional looking at it after a defeat. It should. Your county getting to an All-Ireland final is huge, reaching the peak of the hurling grade and the chance to win the McCarthy Cup. Kilkenny, the masters, the craftsmen, the winners, will no doubt be favourites but I sense a Galway victory in the offing. The game will go by in a blur. I recall the 2009 & 2010 finals and the excellent hurling produced, with different games. One, where Kilkenny were like a wounded animal waiting to be put out of their misery before suddenly finding new breath to finish stronger. Lar Corbett and the Tipp lads in 2010 wearing Kilkenny down, setting the tone from minute 1 with a long direct ball and a goal.
Then at 5.15 on Sunday it may be all over. A hero will have emerged, a team may be champions. Someone has the chance to join the list of greats like Johnny Flaherty, Eddie Brennan, Jimmy Barry Murphy, The Rackard's, Mick Mackey, the list goes on and on. As long as Sunday is not a draw, once over we will have the football final to look forward to where more history will be written. And then the leaves will fall, another year down and everyone will be preparing to do it all again next year.
May the best team win on Sunday, but something tells me it will be Galway by 2-22 to 1-21.
slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 01/09/2015 10:50:17
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