CROKER, GET READY

‘NO club no love’ is a saying coined by the famous Limerick hurler, Ciaran Carey. If you don’t understand what he means, then head to Beaufort or Kilcummin this week and you’ ll soon find out.

It’s not often Kerry folk get locked in All-Ireland fever when winter has hardly left the stage. But this is precisely the feeling that has made for a short winter in both parishes. The Beaufort and Kilcummin players carry the weight of expectation on their shoulders to Croke Park this Saturday evening. And if local support counts for anything, then Beaufort and Kilcummin are already a shoe-in.

Beaufort contest the All-Ireland Junior Final against Sligo champions, Easkey, while Kilcummin take on St Enda’s from Belfast in the Intermediate decider. No easy task on either count.

All week the tension and excitement has been building, with flags, scarves and banners hanging from every house and lamp post in sight. There is added excitement as the club’s boys will play on the Croker surface in exhibition games at half-time in the senior games.

It’s fair to say that school children in both parishes have been busy this week rhyming their lines in homage to the heroes. Well-known musicians the Two Mikes have even recorded a Neily O’Sullivan song called ‘Lios A Phúca Abú’. All going well the post-match dance at the Citywest

Hotel on Saturday night will be one to remember for the blueand-gold contingent.

Over in Kilcummin they’re busy churning out the songs too. Martina O’Riordan summed it up best with a line from her song: ‘We’re so proud of the red and green, If you’re from there, you know what we mean.’

Beaufort and Kilcummin have played in some feisty encounters on their way to Croker, their relentless campaigns have been supported every mile of the way by their loyal followers.

A final at GAA headquarters takes on a life of its own. And even though it’s just one day in a player’s life, it has the potential to last a lifetime for everyone involved. Would the last person to leave Beaufort and Kilcummin on Saturday please switch off the lights?

ABOVE: Caretaker and musician Mike Coffey with some pupils singing the Beaufort song ‘Lios An Phúca Abú’ at Cullina NS, Beaufort.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Some of the Beaufort footballers who will play during half time during the All Ireland Joseph Coffey, Fionn O’Sullivan, Fionn Kennedy, Cormac O’Sullivan, Kevin Coffey (back from left) ) Thomas Coffey, Arthur and Jack Gabbett, Éanna Coffey, Callum Smith , Daniel Kissane and John Murphy at Cullina National School Beaufort.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Junior Infants with all their colours at Cullina National School, Beaufort.

99-year-old John Coffey at home in Lewis Road, looking forward to watching his native Beaufort team in the All-Ireland Junior Final.

ABOVE: Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Emma O’Donoghue, Cillian O’Leary, Abbie McGuire, Caoimhe O’Callaghan, Ciara Foley, Ronan O’Conor and Alison Pigott singing the Kilcummin fans song “Supporters” by Martina O’Riordan at Kilcummin National School Cheering on Kilcummin were Katie Brosnan, Dara Keane, Aoife Doolan and Darragh Fleming at Kilcummin National School.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Junior Infants fly the flag at Kilcummin National School.