Cats celebratesweet victory amid cheers, rain and roars

YOU’D never think it was their 29th All-Ireland win, or that it was just three short years since Liam MacCarthy was last seen in Cats country.

But hurling isn’t a game in Kilkenny. It’s a religion. And last night, the euphoria, passion and sheer joy of an oh so sweet victory and blocking the Rebel Treble was evident on the streets of a very damp Kilkenny.

The scenes amid the 25,000 plus who greeted the 2006 All-Ireland champions could only be compared to those witnessed in Ennis when Clare took the honours in 1995.