John Fogarty: Children, and the passion they bring, sorely missed in the stands

Loughmore-Castleiney mascot, three-year-old Ollie Sweeney, son of corner-forward Evan, at the Tipperary SHC final at Semple Stadium. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

It was a source of dismay for Anthony Daly during his time in charge of Dublin that so many in the capital supported other counties. Hurling’s equivalent of Lunster fans.

“I remember having this conversation with Niall Quinn one night and Niall telling me, ‘I kinda shout for Tipp in the hurling’,” he said in 2017. “‘Sure.’ I says. ‘you hurled with Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final’. ‘Oh, no, no, I support Dublin as well, like,’ he said. Obviously, his father was a late, great massive star with Tipp.