Soggy sandwiches and dog collars long gone

HAVING lived and worked for more than 40 years in England, where I had the privilege of serving as mayor of Coventry, it was a real thrill last Saturday to go to Dungarvan with members of my extended Coventry family to watch Cork play Kilkenny in the all-Ireland intermediate hurling final.

It has been a long time since I last enjoyed that kind of experience.

All the old memories came flooding back: the camaraderie of the opposing supporters, the infectious passion of the fans matched by the endeavour of the 30 young men on the pitch.