Kilkenny are worthy champions, but Limerick will be back

I’M heading off for France today, rugby World Cup duty, following the fortunes of the All-Blacks for three weeks (I can hear the moans of sympathy — thanks lads, appreciated).

I leave, though, with some disappointment. I know that in this job you’re not meant to become emotionally involved with a team, very unprofessional and all that. I’ve never quite subscribed to that theory, however, and will hand in my pen before I ever do.

Hurling, especially — how can you not be passionate about hurling? And how can you remain truly neutral when faced with a situation like we had for this year’s All-Ireland final, Limerick looking for their first title since 1973, against Kilkenny going for their fifth in eight years, their 30th in all, to join Cork on top of the roll of honour?

Rarely if ever have I met a management and player group as open, as welcoming, as Limerick have been all through this championship year. They have been frank, friendly, worn their hearts on their sleeves, all of them.

One interview, with Donie Ryan a couple of weeks ago, drew more reaction than all the interviews combined that I’ve done in the last 10 years.

Donie opened his home to me, opened his heart, revealed some of his inner self; the interview was his interview, his words almost in its entirety. And it worked.

Similarly, with his openness, his candour, in just one season Richie Bennis has woven his way into so many hearts this year. And so it happened that I had a bit of emotion of my own invested in Limerick, last Sunday, suffered with them when they lost.

Kilkenny too, had a lot of emotional investment in Sunday’s final. Brian Cody is probably as nice a fella as Richie Bennis (I don’t know him as well), is definitely as passionate about his hurling, is witty (I’ve suffered a few barbs lately!) and humorous.

As we always knew, though, as we now know beyond question, this was also a hugely emotional day for Kilkenny.

The death of Vanessa McGarry, young wife of Kilkenny keeper James McGarry, mother of Darragh, had touched everyone in hurling, but it had really impacted on the Kilkenny panel, all of whom knew Vanessa, some of whom were extremely close to both herself and James.

In the lead-up to this final, all discussion of those tragic events were suppressed, both inside and outside the panel; the emotion was there, however, and it found powerful expression on the field in the first 10 minutes especially.

It found expression afterwards even more eloquently in captain Henry Shefflin’s acceptance speech. And so, the disappointment for Limerick was leavened with happiness for those Kilkenny lads, for Brian Cody and his management team.

“We were talking about that last night, the players,” said Donie; “And while it’s devastating that we didn’t win it, when you heard what Shefflin said, James McGarry and his wife — God be good to her — that put things into perspective. I don’t care whether you liked Kilkenny or not, that presentation had to touch you. That had to be a massive motivation factor for Kilkenny, all of it.”

End of season then, end of another inter-county championship, and Kilkenny are kings again, worthy champions. I hope this title helps to start the healing process for James

McGarry and Darragh, for their friends both inside and outside the team.

For Limerick, there’s only the ache of not having performed, but they know at least, that if the hunger is really there, if the character remains, they can earn themselves another chance.

They won’t get a lot of real credit for their efforts last Sunday. Praise for their courage, their never-say-die attitude, yes, and that is not faint praise. That is exactly what Brian Cody has imbued into Kilkenny, has married to their skill, has forged into the winning mentality they now embody.

I heard the comments afterwards about Limerick’s skills, derogatory, most of them; I beg to differ. Maybe my judgement is flawed — I did pick Limerick to win — but I believe this is a serious hurling team, with serious hurlers. Go through them individually, tell me Limerick don’t have as many true stickmen as Kilkenny — they’re not all Tommy, Cha and Henry, you know. If they stay with it, Limerick will be back — as they say themselves, chalk that down.