Diplomacy wins out at Iverk Show

IT took a diplomatic Kerryman to send thousands of Kilkenny and Tipperary hurling followers home happy from Iverk Show.

MEP Sean Kelly was asked before he opened the show in Piltown on Saturday to wish Kilkenny the best of luck in next Sunday’s All Ireland final.

The former GAA president did as he was asked, but as a Munster man he said he also had to wish Tipperary the best.

Mr Kelly said, regardless of what happens in Croke Park next Sunday, Kilkenny are regarded as the best team that ever played hurling. If Tipperary beat that team, there will be congratulations to both sides.

Show chairman Walter Walsh left nobody in any doubt about his allegiances as he hoped “Henry and the lads” would go where no hurlers had ever gone before by the winning the All Ireland senior title for the fifth year in a row.

Tipperary people among the large crowd brought word that the Premier County hurlers are full of passion and self-belief and looking forward to bringing the Liam McCarthy Cup to Thurles next Monday night. But they were met with multiple displays of the black and amber.

Even the farm leaders have divided loyalties as the countdown to Sunday’s final begins in earnest with tickets for the match as scarce as hen’s teeth in both counties. Irish Farmers Association president John Bryan is proud Kilkenny man, while Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association leader Jackie Cahill is a loyal Tipp supporter, whose cousin Michael Cahill plays for the county.

The keen rivalry was obvious on the approach roads to Piltown. There were even signs of “mixed marriages” with black and amber and blue and gold flags flying side by side from the same houses.

Theologically minded Tipp people could be forgiven, however, for looking to both the heavens and the earth for omens of what’s in store. The sight of a beautiful blue sky and fields turned into a gold coloured patchwork quilt following the harvest boosted their hopes and a belief that God is on their side this year.

But Kilkenny people dismissed it all as a delusion, as if rubbishing reports of moving statues and other strange happenings.