FOUR-IN-A-ROW HEROES
FITZGERALD STADIUM AND FOSSA’S GAA CLUBROOMS ROLL OUT THE GREEN AND GOLD WELCOME FOR HEROES
THERE was more than a little applause for the Kerry captain who bagged an incredible 4-4 in Sunday’s final – but the enthusiastic crowd that welcomed Kerry’s four-in-a-row-winning Minors back to the Kingdom rightly saluted all of the brilliant team that made history – and not just David Clifford.
It was a marked improvement on the somewhat more muted celebrations last year for the three-ina-row-winning team and everyone left Fitzgerald Stadium on Monday night – and Fossa’a GAA grounds later – agreeing that they’d just seen a homecoming worthy of a unique achievement.
The crowd enjoyed the witty remarks of emcee Niall O’Callaghan and Nelu O’Donoghue’s nerveless rendition of ‘Rattlin’ Bog’, and Brian Lonergan’s hilarious dancing to Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’ fitted in perfectly with the spirit of the night.
A LOT of the focus, understandably, was on the man who plundered 4-4 on All-Ireland Sunday. But if we learned anything from the 2017 homecoming for our Minor champions, it’s that Kerry knows that Sunday’s masterclass came via the efforts of an excellent team.
“I’ve never seen a better Minor,” Gneeveguilla’s Willie Joe Cronin said of David Clifford as he left the grounds of Fitzgerald Stadium on Monday evening. “He’s something out of this world,” his friend Eamonn Sheehan agreed, “but the entire team gave a brilliant performance – not just Clifford”.
It was a point emphasised over and over at Monday night’s homecoming in Killarney, an unprecedented celebration of a fourth All-Ireland Minor title in succession. Clifford’s brilliance was the highlight of Sunday’s exhibition, but it’s worth remembering that his teammates contributed an impressive 2-13 to Kerry’s final tally of 6-17, while conceding a mere 1-8 in the process. It was only right that the county saluted all of its 2017 Minor All-Ireland medallists and, to be fair, supporters and organisers delivered on Monday.
They may have turned out to greet little Tommy Markham as opposed to the more vaunted Sam Maguire, but the attendance on Monday was strong, conveying deserved respect for the now-defunct competition’s last champions.
A range of well-wishers, including Minister Brendan Griffin, Cathaoirleach John Sheehan, Killarney District Cathaoirleach Niall Kelleher, and members of the county and East Kerry boards, each took their turn in congratulating the young heroes and the backroom team behind them, while throwing more than one eye to the future. Deputy Griffin told the youngsters in the crowd that they could hardly wish for stronger role-models, while Cllr Kelleher said that it wouldn’t be long before Sam Maguire’s return to the Kingdom if the recent Minor crops was anything to go by.
The event’s excellent emcee, Niall O’Callaghan, called the winning players one by one to the front of a flatbed truck parked behind the stand, each team-member saluting the gathering while sustaining light-hearted digs over their quirky haircuts and habits. O’Callaghan took aim at St Senans’ Barry O’Mahony for his dodgy, rainbow-coloured socks, Fiachra Clifford for a tan untypical of the average Killorglin man, and Jack Griffin for warning Dublin’s Johnny Cooper that he’d “see him in a few years” – an anecdote that delighted the ever so biased Kerry men, women and children in the crowd.
When the captain came forward, children cheered Clifford’s name in a manner normally reserved for seasoned seniors. Speaking with a calmness that complemented his astonishing All-Ireland final display, he offered generous praise to his teammates, though he also lamented that “after looking at about 50 players, we still couldn’t find a better looking centre-forward than Brian Friel”.
He also acknowledged all the non-playing contributors that had rowed in behind the winning effort, but his gaze has already moved from his Kerry exploits to helping his club, Fossa, to Croke Park. “An All-Ireland Junior would be nice for us,” he said to applause that presumably hailed from a certain parish on Killarney’s lakes. “That would be good.”
As the evening neared its close, there was still time for light entertainment. Nelu O’Doherty’s rendition of Rattlin’ Bog was remarkably surefooted given that it was performed in the face of a large, expectant crowd, though Ballmacelligott “dancer” Brian Lonergan was somewhat less impressive in showcasing none of the girl power usually associated with Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” to the merriment of the audience!
But when the laughter dimmed and the players slipped away for Clifford’s home club, Fossa, The Kerryman encountered nothing but good reviews for the event.
“We’re not usually for Kerry at all, but we’re very proud to be here for Jack, and we had a lovely night,” Banteer’s Mary Duggan, grandmother to Jack Griffin, said afterwards in the company of Granda Tim, aunt Marie Lehane, and Jack’s first-cousins. “We’re a bit scared of what’s coming down the line from Kerry, because the whole lot of them were brilliant on Sunday but we’re so proud of Jack,” she added.
As the crowd filtered onto Lewis Road, Helen Leary, originally from Ballyheigue but a resident of Killarney, made it her business to tell The Kerryman the night had been “the best homecoming yet”.
“It was very entertaining,” she said, “and I took photos with David Clifford and all!
“I was at the game yesterday in Dublin, and I thought they were very good. I love to see the Kerry teams winning always!”
I’VE NEVER SEEN A BETTER MINOR THAN DAVID CLIFFORD, HE’S SOMETHING OUT OF THIS WORLD BUT THE ENTIRE TEAM GAVE A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE. – KERRY SUPPORTERS