Anthony Daly: Ballyea have knowhow but Gunners dialed up the heat like champions do
UP FOR IT: Mossy Gavin of Ballyea in action against Cian Walsh of St Finbarr's during the AIB Munster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship semi-final match between Ballyea and St Finbarr's at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Pic: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
In the run up to Sunday, I contacted two high ranking officials in the Clare and Limerick county boards to ensure I got to see both games with peace of mind. Those phone calls facilitated my brisk escape route from Ennis – where I was parked in the Cloister car park - to a safe passage into the car park at the back of the terracing in the Gaelic Grounds to make sure I was sitting comfortably in the Mackey Stand before the start of the Ballygunner-Na Piarsaigh match.
All good plans, though, can easily come apart with extra-time and penalties in the modern game. I had set myself up in ‘The Shed’ – the North stand – in Cusack Park but the din from the loudspeaker blaring out from the nest of ‘Barrs supporters was such an assault on my eardrums that I moved over to the far side to watch the second half.
