‘Fairytale’ seems to be the only word for it

IMMORTALITY? Perhaps but apparently, Laois and Mick O’Dwyer don’t do mushy end-lines.

"I didn't think this team could go all the way. Now I'm not so sure," the GAA's greatest living legend winked in a quiet corner of a tumultuous Leinster final winning dressing-room.

If O'Dwyer says it, you don't want to disagree? "People can't seem to understand that we have a seriously good side this year who can win the All-Ireland," insisted a forthright Colm Parkinson. "We know we have an unbelievable chance, so why blow it? There is no two ways about it. We've beaten Offaly, Dublin, Kildare, Armagh - serious sides, and we've lost one game all year. We're the form team and there are people who won't want to meet us in the quarter final."