And so it goes. Twelve months ago, a promise was made on the streets of Cork, and last night an tUasal Ó Grada, sound man that he is, was as good as his word when the Cork hurlers brought back the Liam McCarthy to Leeside to the acclaim of 40,000 roaring Rebel supporters.
Sunday was all about R&R for Cork. Redemption and relief. Redemption after 2003, when they felt they left an All-Ireland behind them. Relief that they had atoned for that defeat, and in the process denied the Cats a three in a row. And just as importantly, Cork went back to the top of the roll of honour with 29 All-Ireland titles.
By last night that sense of relief was replaced by jubilation as the red swarm of supporters that had engulfed Croke Park on Sunday began converging in their thousands along the South Mall and Parnell Place to hail their heroes on the podium by Parnell Bridge.
Still, it was probably relief at the ending of Cork's five-year interregnum and the thwarting of Kilkenny's bid for hurling primacy that prompted so many people to turn out.
As the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, observed, they were "the most popular Cork team ever in the history of the GAA".
Captain Ben O'Connor got the expected deafening roar when he arrived on the stage and raised the Liam McCarthy cup, but it was hard to tell for whom the crowd reserved their greatest roars of approval, with Sully, Seán Óg, Brian Corcoran and Deano all in contention for the loudest cheers.
An equally ear-splitting roar greeted an tUasal Ó Grada as he revealed initially - as Gaeilge - what a wonderful occasion it was to "finally bring Liam McCarthy home".
"There is a tremendous sense of pride in our hurling team in the city and county of Cork, and the skill and the heart and the spirit and determination these lads displayed yesterday was second to none - I just want to say what a privilege it was to be involved in such a fine team and I think they deserve every congratulations."
Meanwhile, the despondency of All-Ireland final defeat was wiped away by the huge welcome home given to the minor and senior hurlers of Kilkenny last night, writes Jim Rhatigan in Kilkenny.
So said Kilkenny county board chairman Mr Ned Quinn at the city's Market Yard as thousands cheered the hurling Cats. "The lads were in a state of despair because they had failed to win the three in a row, but your magnificent turnout has lifted them," he told supporters.
