It may well be a long way from Fiji to Farranree and from Cork to Croke Park, but last night, All-Ireland winning hurling captain, Seán Óg Ó hÁilpín discovered that a journey through the People's Republic can prove almost as arduous - if you're carrying the Liam McCarthy Cup!
The first ever member of the Na Piarsaigh's club to captain an All-Ireland winning Cork side, the unassuming Seán Óg and his teammates had to inch their way through the streets of the city as an estimated 50,000 plus turned up to welcome them home.
Corkonians, all understandably at ease with the world after Sunday's success, had been looking forward all day to the homecoming to hail their heroes but, unfortunately, the Cork City Council sponsored reception at Parnell Place was marred by some poor amplification.
Speaker after speaker, from Lord Mayor Cllr Deirdre Clune through to man of the moment Ó hÁiloín, had to contend with an erratic microphone that at times left the huge crowd up the South Mall straining to hear what was being said and who was being thanked.
Thankfully, most were able to catch Seán Óg's opening remarks when he announced "people of the Cork Republic - it gives me great pleasure and it's a great privilege to bring back the Liam McCarthy Cup for the 30th time - people of Cork, we love you".
One by one, the captain introduced his teammates and although the sound came and went, there was no mistaking the warmth of the Rebel reception, with Brian Corcoran and Diarmuid O'Sullivan in particular eliciting deafening responses.
Earlier the team's coach, John Allen, elicted more than a few squeals of excitement from female fans when he introduced the team's two male masseurs as those who get to rub Seán Óg's legs and suggested that they might be looking for an assistant next year.
And mention of next year. Corkonians, being Corkonians, are inevitably already starting to turn to 2006 when Cork, currently enjoying its tenure as European Capital of Culture, will seek to retain its title as Capital of Hurling, or as Seán Óg put it: "We hope to see you all again next year - same place, same channel." Dodgy amplification or not, the message was clear: Cork mean to hang on to Liam McCarthy for another year and complete - another - three-in-a- row.
Thousands of supporters also turned out in Galway to welcome home Cork's defeated opponents and their coach, Conor Hayes. They were accompanied by the county's minor side, victors over Limerick, who had silverware to ease the county's disappointment.
