Wexford’s bravery rewarded but Cats’ panic was so unlike Brian Cody

About half an hour after the final whistle in Croke Park yesterday, as the Wexford players were still celebrating on the pitch, I ran into a bunch of Wexford supporters I last met in Down Royal racecourse years ago.

Johnny Callanan, the former Clarecastle and Clare hurler, was in a syndicate with a group from Wexford. Paddy Doyle from Ferns, God be good to him, was head of the syndicate and I used to tag along the odd time with Cal. Colonel Reyburn was the horse’s name and he was trained by Paul Nolan who hurled for Wexford. Everyone was on such a high after one win that we had to head south to celebrate. It took us nearly a day to get there and God knows how long for myself and Callanan to get home.