BEFORE I go into the match analysis, I’d like to compliment everyone involved in Semple Stadium for the state of the pitch yesterday.

IT was celebration time in the GAA on Sunday on the exact date of that famous meeting in Hayes Hotel in Thurles 125 years ago.

THE FIRST thing to say was how fantastic to see Plan B going up in lights at Croke Park again yesterday.

THERE have been three outstanding hurling games this year.

I WANT to compliment whoever made the following decisions at Croke Park yesterday: (1) the band playing the national anthem, the voices coming only from the crowd; (2) the common sense that prevailed at the end of the game, when the crowd broke the cordon on Hill 16 and the decision was made to move the presentation back to the Hogan Stand, thus allowing the Kilkenny supporters to do what has always been done traditionally on All-Ireland final day in Croke Park and mix with the players; (3) and this one is crucial – the appointment of Diarmuid Kirwan as referee.

AS usual before an All-Ireland final, I travelled to both competing counties this past week, to Hayes’ Hotel in Thurles and to the equally renowned Langton’s in Kilkenny.

IN these final few days before the All-Ireland decider, all the talk is about the players from both teams. Henry, Eoin Kelly, Eoin Larkin, Lar Corbett – these are the stars, these are the guys you pay to see, and the pressure is on them to produce.

JOHN F Kennedy produced a line for the ages in his inauguration speech as US President when he told his audience to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

AS I made my way from Croke Park yesterday I met a number of people, from different counties, and all were saying more or less the same thing – “shocking match, you won’t have much to write about.”

CROKE PARK yesterday was a marvellous place to be, two hugely entertaining hurling games and a fine football game between Meath and Mayo.