Pubs hours do nothing to cool big match fever

ARRIVING in Dublin at 11.30am on the Sunday morning of the All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Cork and Waterford, our plan was to have a few drinks, a quick bite to eat and head to Croke Park early to catch the end of the minor game.

But we soon realised this was not to be because pubs do not open until 12.30pm on Sundays.

While I knew this, I had hoped somehow that things would be different in Dublin on big match mornings.