All-Ireland final is the day of days for hurling people, so expect an epic
Wednesday evening. UL’s north campus pitch. The weather is balmy and bright. We’re on the astroturf pitch with the Limerick minors, a ritual we’ve followed now before our last couple of games. The dimensions are the size of Croke Park. The surface isn’t the same but the ball still shoots off the ground like a golf ball slamming against concrete. That’s what we want to try and simulate for tomorrow; pace, electric hurling pace. That’s what All-Ireland final day at headquarters is all about.
This is serious business but any chance I get, I remind the lads of how lucky and privileged we are. This is the day of days for hurling people. It’s everything for people like us who live for this game, for this warrior sport that we were lucky enough inherit from our forefathers. When you’re brought to the field as a young child, this is the dream. ‘Let’s enjoy this lads,’ I say to boys in the huddle afterwards. ‘Let’s really make the most of this opportunity.’ I know they are supposed to be better than us but let’s be the best we can be on the day.’
