Who is the face of the GAA?

IT WAS last week that Limerick played Wexford in a senior hurling challenge to mark the official opening of the new clubhouse and pitch of Ballybricken-Bohermore.

One to impress for Limerick was a young wing-forward, Kevin Ryan, from Na Piarsaigh club in Limerick city. Kevin wasn’t chosen on the original 15, was a late replacement for Mike Fitzgerald, but he notched three fine points from play, worked hard generally, had his effort publicly acknowledged afterwards by manager Richie Bennis.

There was another Kevin Ryan in Ballybricken that festive evening, however. His name didn't appear in lights the next day, nor was it ever likely to, but this Kevin Ryan was a much more central player to events in that little rural Limerick parish than anyone who lined out in either set of colours that evening.