Kieran Shannon: Sunday showed hurling's local heroes up there with best in the world

The Banner lads seemed to get the balance right in the build-up to the game's showpiece. 

All-Ireland hurling champions Clare brought the Liam MacCarthy Cup to Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street for a special visit. Pictured is Isla Timmins (3) from Donaghmede Co Dublin with players David Fitzgerald, Peter Duggan, John Conlon and Tony Kelly. Picture Andres Poveda

Last Friday lunchtime while I was writing up a piece on Tony Kelly from the Clare press day for the following day’s paper, I took a quick break and called round to the local garage shop to grab a print edition of the Irish Examiner’s special 16-page All Ireland final supplement.

With an apologetic smile, Martina the shopkeeper and owner informed me that both the bad and the good news was that it was already sold out. I turned around and made my way out of Carrig’s to go back to writing that piece on Tony Kelly when who pulled up but… Tony Kelly.