Limerick to party like it’s 1973 af ter All-Ireland win
AN ear-splitting cheer could be heard across Croke Park and beyond as Limerick won the All-Ireland hurling final yesterday for the first time in 45 years.
Limerick fans travelled to the capital city from all over the country – and the globe – to take part in the momentous occasion.
Two sisters from Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, travelled halfway around the world to see the county’s first win since 1973.
Claire and Laura Prendiville, who work in Sydney, Australia, paid hundreds of dollars each to get home in time for the match.
‘We were going to come home next week. Then we found out we were in the final so we decided to pay the extra money,’ said Claire. ‘We’re absolutely delighted.’
Isabelle Fitzgerald, 11, from Kilcornan, was up at the match with her aunt, Lisa Henihan.
Lisa said she became very nervous during the last ten minutes of the match, when it looked as though a determined Galway might snatch victory way from Limerick.
‘It was unreal,’ said Lisa. ‘My heart was in my chest. During the last ten minutes of the game, I thought I was going to have a coronary.’
‘But fair play to Galway,’ Lisa added.
Complaints of near heart failure were a common theme among Limerick fans pouring out of Croke Park.
Stay-at-home mothers Sharon Browne and Tanya Hayes, both originally from Limerick, said they were on tenterhooks towards the end of the match, as Galway clawed back a few points before Limerick’s final victory.
‘We’re nearly had a heart attack towards the end,’ said Sharon, who now lives in Kilkenny. ‘But Limerick deserved it more. This means everything to the county.’
‘We’re absolutely delighted,’ said Tanya, from Garryowen.
Laura Liston, from Croom, was still overcome with emotion as the crowds exited Croke Park. ‘Wow, that was brilliant,’ said Laura, who works as a civil servant in Dublin. ‘The lads are absolute heroes.’
Laura noted with amusement that as all of Limerick was up in Dublin for the match, she is preparing to move back to Croom on Wednesday.
Holding a Limerick sign proudly above his head, John Paul Sheehan, from Newcastlewest, said his team’s big win was down to the fact that they kept their eye on the prize.
‘They just had that “never say die” attitude,’ said John Paul. ‘Like the Limerick teams of old, the battled back.’
John Paul attended the match with his friend, Christopher O’Connor, also from Newcastlewest. Christopher is getting married on Friday, and he said the win was a good ‘boost’ before his big day.
Many Galway fans left the match early, too heartbroken to remain in Croke Park.
Tara Ryan, from Renmore, Galway, had brought her daughter Isabelle Fitzpatrick, who plays camogie with the Liam Mellows GAA club, up to Dublin for the match. ‘Limerick outplayed us,’ admitted Tara, whose father, Paddy Ryan, played for Galway in the 1970s.
‘They were very good on the day. The Galway team is very talented, but we were just flat on the day.’
Among those in attendance yesterday was former taoiseach Enda Kenny, sporting a stylish beard.
The heroic champions will be officially welcomed home with the Liam MacCarthy Cup this evening, with a major celebration to be held at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick city. The train carrying the victorious team is due to arrive in to Colbert Station at 5.40pm.
The team will travel on an opentop bus to the Gaelic Grounds for the official homecoming, giving as many fans as possible the chance to cheer on the champions.
‘I was going to have a coronary’