LIAM MacCARTHY CUP:THE BIND connecting Tipperary's newly crowned hurling heroes with their devoted supporters was cemented last night when crowds came out in their tens of thousands to welcome the All-Ireland champions home.
Perhaps it was their close call last year, or the thrilling nature of their hurling, or their dethroning of one of history’s greatest hurling teams, but whatever the motivation there was no doubting the devotion this Tipperary team have built among their faithful.
Up to 30,000 blue-and-gold bedecked supporters, young and old, defied heavy rain and packed themselves into Thurles last night to welcome home their Cat-conquering heroes and add to the scenes of joy that have been general throughout the county since about 5pm on Sunday.
The special train carrying the new All-Ireland champions arrived at the station in Thurles at about 6.20pm, with team captain Eoin Kelly and manager Liam Sheedy in the driver’s area with the most important passenger of all – the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
It was an “unreal feeling” to be back on home turf, Eoin Kelly confessed. “Happy days,” he laughed, while Liam Sheedy said he was “wrecked” after an eventful few days. But the broad smiles couldn’t be suppressed.
While most supporters headed straight to Semple Stadium for the official reception, a few hundred turned up at the station to be among the first to greet the players on their arrival.
Then it was on to an open-top bus that made its way through the crowds, who sang Slievenamon, and through the town before arriving at the stadium shortly after 7pm.
As the players and management were individually introduced to the crowd, among the loudest ovations were those for Eoin Kelly himself and home-town hat-trick hero Lar Corbett, who is now sure to go down on the same gilded page of Thurles history as the likes of Jimmy Doyle, Tony Wall and Mickey “the Rattler” Byrne.
“It’s all about believing and we believed we could do the job,” said the ace goalscorer, adding that it was “a great feeling” to be home.
In a speech to the adoring crowds, a hoarse Kelly thanked all involved for their support, including “the Tipperary supporters” before recalling last year when tears were shed after defeat. “Thank God 12 months later, on the sixth of September, Tipperary are All-Ireland champions,” he roared.
For the players, last night’s festivities in Thurles brought an end to another long day that began at their Dublin base in the Burlington Hotel, continued with a visit to Crumlin children’s hospital, before boarding a train home from Heuston Station.
The celebrations began at Semple Stadium at 5pm yesterday when the gates opened. Crowds poured in and entertainment was laid on from the likes of Johnny B and the Boogie Men, the people who brought us the Tipperary Rap.
The night’s formalities wound up with songs by Liam Sheedy’s mother Biddy from Portroe, Tipperary forward Pat “Festy” Kerwick who reprised his Croke Park rendition of The Galtee Mountain Boy and county board secretary Sean Nugent with Slievenamon.
Some fans looked the worse for wear after a long Sunday evening celebrating, some were tired from all the travelling of the last couple of days, but their enthusiasm could not be dimmed after one of the sweetest of the county’s 26 All-Ireland wins.
For the players and their management, it promises to be a long and exhausting yet no doubt exhilarating week. Next up is a visit tonight to Eoin Kelly’s home town of Mullinahone.