A big weight on young shoulders

WE had been hearing for some time about this budding phenom from Tipperary, a young Kelly, but this would surely be the test. Munster U21 final, August 31 1999, Cusack Park, Ennis.

The Clare/Tipperary rivalry had reached boiling point, the full-capacity extremely partisan crowd was tight on the pitch, almost within touching distance of the players, the air fairly crackled with electricity. Different electricity, the dangerous kind.

Clare had the better of the first half, led 1-7 to 0-8 at the break, and the wing-forward, barely out of minor ranks, didn’t get much chance to shine, saw little of the ball. So, hold judgment we thought, give him a chance. The teams come out for the second half, but what’s this?