Final fervour reaches fever pitch with €305 bus tickets

THEY have shared five of the last six All-Ireland Hurling titles. But familiarity has only sharpened people’s enthusiasm and, perhaps in some cases, dulled their senses ahead of tomorrow’s Cork v Kilkenny clash.

Yesterday, a couple of return coach tickets from Cork to Dublin leaving on Sunday morning sold for €305 on eBay — proof that the fervour had blurred people’s senses as well as their ability to read the fine print.

In fairness to the unnamed seller they did specify “bus seats only”, face value €35, and, in bold writing, pleaded with people not to bid the same price for transport as others were paying for elusive access to Croke Park.