'At the end of the day it was only one point': Cork fans gutted as the Banner celebrate

Dejected Cork fans look on as Clare fans celebrate. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

There was a deafening silence from heartbroken Cork fans as they left Croke Park for the long journey home this evening — a sharp contrast to their earlier pre-match joy and excitement.

Fans had travelled from all over the country to attend the much-anticipated hurling clash, with one family even flying in from Yonkers for the event. Flags and banners dotted around the city added to the pre-match excitement and carnival feeling on the streets of the capital.

After the final whistle, an army of red and white could be seen leaving Croker as jubilant Clare fans danced and celebrated their side's victory.

After the final whistle, bringing down the curtain on a pulsating and nail-biting final, Clare man Donal Sheedy said he almost lost his voice from screaming.

“It was total bedlam, it was pure joy” he said. 

“It’s not something we get often in Clare, for the last few years we have had a lot of misery and lost finals but today we pushed and pushed and pushed. Even when Horgan equalised at the end of full time, we came out and we hurled and hurled, and it was the full effort from everyone on the panel.

“I never saw anything like the fight they put up and they so deserved the win, it will be a great week in Clare after this”.

Mike Russell from Arizona, USA, flew in and secured a ticket to watch the epic clash at Croke Park. Picture: Larry Cummins

Lianda D’auria from Ennis, who had  travelled to Dublin earlier in the day celebrated the win with her family.

“We are absolutely delighted” she said. “It’s even more poignant because my father Enzo passed away on April 19.

“He would have loved this. Dad was very well known, he had loads of businesses in Ennis and Lahinch, everybody knew him, and we are all thinking of him today.

“Dad was 81 and he would be looking down on us now, it is a good day for us, it is a happy memory for us.

It was fantastic, Clare deserved it, they worked so hard, it was absolutely brilliant. What an atmosphere and it was so close.

Gail McCarthy and her aunt Majella Casey from Dicer O'Dea and Newmarket on Fergus said they were thrilled and put on a celebratory dance for the Irish Examiner as they shouted, “Up the Banners”.

However, Killian Murphy from Carriagline in Cork could not hide his disappointment and said he was “gutted” with the loss.

“I work with Niall O’Leary” he said “I can’t fault the Cork lads they left it all out there. It was hard to say who was the better on the day.

“They have given us a great year, I couldn’t be prouder of the lads, but I thought there was a bad tackle in the first half, but Cork are a great county, a great side.

“You give Cork one inch, and the fans will take a mile, they give us everything. But we will be back. I want to say thanks to the lads who gave us everything. We have had better days, but they will come back next year, and we’ll hammer them then”.

Parents Richard and Mairead and children Micheal and Roisin from Ballineen, Cork divided their support for Clare and Cork showdown. Picture: Larry Cummins

Eamonn Keneally and his wife Eucharia and their daughters Laura and Megan said they were “heartbroken”.

 “It seemed very tough. I think our best performance was against Limerick. As a team we didn’t perform and to be honest, Clare deserved to win.

Mr Keneally added “We are gutted for everyone, the team and the fans. They did fantastically well this year and we were very hopeful today — at the end of the day it was only one point”.

Michael Connor and his wife Noelle brought their new baby Nancy, who is four months old to the match and were joined by their friends Dymphna and Brid.

“Nancy is four months old she has seen Clare win an All-Ireland and not many babies can say that” said her dad, Michael.

“Things couldn’t be better, we won the All-Ireland,” said Nancy’s mother Noelle. The angelic baby sat happily in a pouch on her dad’s chest as they made their way home.

“She brought us luck” added Michael. “We have had the best day.”