Joy sustained for another few weeks by All-Ireland replay

THE end of the hurling year is like a small death for anybody who loves the game. Getting a few weeks extra lease on the season is brilliant, writes Dónal Óg Cusack

Some strange country we all live in. Last Sunday was proof hurling is the national game in whatever place it is that the gods live. The gods dressed the table for the All-Ireland final. Absolutely perfect conditions in Croke Park. The sun was masked by cloud, the day was grand and warm and still. The electricity running around Croker was so special, you could hear it crackle.

And there was a great story. After last year and the summer of new things and novelties the big powers were back in Croke Park ready to kick back against the revolution. We romantics who love the idea of a Clare breakthrough or a Dublin insurgence or a golden era of Laois hurling were going to be hard to please.