Stop sniping and start admiring Cats

COMING into Tullamore on Saturday, you knew something special was going to happen; there was magic in the air.

And it confirmed something I’ve been saying for years - games such as these, a Leinster SHC semi-final between two outstanding teams, belong in these venues. Fair play to the Leinster Council for their vision, first, in bringing Galway into their championship, and second, for bringing the match to Tullamore.

It wasn’t special just for the fans either. I got to O'Connor Park around 5 o’clock, several hundred already in their seats in the fantastic new stand, several hundred more queuing outside for their tickets, to be greeted personally by a guy wearing an Offaly top – Brendan Minnock, the county PRO. Brendan was efficiency itself, a guy who took his job seriously. It was Brendan, and all the others involved who made this what it was – a thoroughly enjoyable evening.