Traditional patterns, the formbook, jaded tactics - they were all washed away in Croke Park yesterday under another damburst of furious scoretaking, relentless pace and nerveless escape artistry. Would that all games were like this.
Twenty-five years ago, the first All-Ireland women's final wobbled through an unsteady infancy, a marked contrast to this occasion which ran its course in front of frenzied supporters and TV cameras. In the end, Monaghan turned for home without the Cup which has been theirs for two years, outgunned by old foes Waterford on a score of 2-14 to 3-8. After last week's startling turnout for the Australian showdown, we were becoming accustomed to impressive Croke Park numbers in late October and the 13,551 who turned up yesterday set about shaking the cobwebs off the Hogan Stand.
Recalling the nature of the drawn game three weeks ago, supporters felt the admission price might include yet another season of spectacular scores condensed into a single hour.
And again, goals were high on the agenda. Waterford, essentially point-kicking purists, hit the Monaghan net twice, both scores resulting from snow-capped balls which fell deceptively behind Monaghan veteran Brenda McAnespie.
Waterford's second effort, a distant lob from half-back Julieann Torpey, seemed to signal curtains for the match as a lively competition, but instead inspired a typical comeback for the stealthy goalpoachers from Kavanagh country.
Trailing 2-11 by 0-8, Monaghan engineered one last gallant defence of their title, knifing through their opponents defence and thrice finding the net.
The Waterford faithful could only watch and gulp as the champions astonishingly whittled away their advantage through Linda Farrelly, Diane Dempsey and Niamh Kindlon. Down 10 points, they had turned the game on its ear to leave the scores at 2-12 to 38. The final word fell to the Waterford women, however. "I just can't believe we have won this, it's the best feeling of my life," declared forward Aine Wall, who adds a senior medal to four under-age awards. "We owe (manager) Michael Ryan an awful lot. It was just a great game from both teams and I think we have taken women's football to the height it deserves."
Afterwards, Ryan took refuge in the radio commentary box in the upper Hogan. This sweet day had left him hoarse.
"After the first game, our defence was severely criticised, but my God, there was some blocking down in the last stages of that game. That we held our discipline and didn't concede frees was the key, I believe," he said.
His charges had lived precariously in those closing minutes, defending a three-point advantage as Monaghan probed ravenously, twice thumping the woodwork as they watched a string of late chances come to nothing.
"Well, they had the luck in the last game in that a few of their shots hit the post and went over. This time they went wide. That's the way of it," summed up Wall.
"They are a great team and we expected the game to be as tight as it was," said Martina O'Ryan. "It was a nerve-wracking game to play in to be honest. They were really intent on getting goals and, eventually, they hit us and I was a bit worried at that stage. But we did it. I'm delighted."
The stands were all but empty when the last players left the field. A rainbow coasted over the Cusack from Howth and a couple of players spun cartwheels across the pitch. A fitting close to a topsy-turvy season in the grand old stadium.
