Yankees and Rebels toast Joanne

It takes something special to trump speaking at the United Nations in New York — but being feted by the New York Yankees before being thanked from the Croke Park victory podium by your Cork football heroes must come pretty close.

That’s the head-spinning climax to an incredible week for Cork’s wonder girl Joanne O’Riordan as she toasted Cork’s NFL Division One title success from a Manhattan bar last night.

First, Rebel captain Graham Canty thanked her publicly in his victory speech for the special message she sent the Cork players ahead of yesterday’s final against Mayo in Croke Park. Then Cork coach Conor Counihan name-checked one of the county’s diehard football fans when insisting the quality of support for the team was more important than the quantity.

“We’ve a small group of people (following us), but they’re important people to us. There are some people that inspire us. Joanne O’Riordan sent us a text from New York before the game today. When you’ve people like that, it doesn’t matter if it’s five or 50, we’re doing it for those people and doing it for the team.”

The New York Yankees gave Joanne the VIP treatment at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Friday night.

“I’d never seen a baseball game before but I really enjoyed it,” said the Millstreet girl.