Our thoughts and hope go out to those charged with the hefty task of summarising such an astounding All Ireland final. Most of us might merely duplicate the words of Liam Sheedy on RTÉ post-match, uttering only “My God.” We’re quite far from hitting the number of words requested, but at times, words can be insufficient.
As Dónal Óg Cusack suggested when asked to comment on Tony Kelly’s magical goal, sometimes it’s better to save your words and just observe. Applying this sentiment to the entire match, we should just relish it over and over again. Sheer brilliance.
At the completion of the standard time, when Seanie McGrath, a Cork legend, was interviewed by Damian Lawlor, it was striking that the stadium was eerily silent. Brendan Cummins, asked to talk over the thunderous noise before the match, had a hard time making his voice heard over the din but now, a hush swept across the pitch.
It was feared that many supporters had already headed home, oblivious that there would be additional time, leaving the stadium empty. However, the crowd was simply out of energy to engage in conversation, exhausted from witnessing what Liam aptly termed “a game for the ages”. Seanie admitted to Damian that he could use a pint to reinvigorate himself, despite being a non-drinker.
By the end of the match, the physical toll was visible even on the referee, whose hamstring had given up. We could see numerous battered players scattered around the field, their bodies at their limit. While we, the spectators, loved the surplus 20-plus minutes, we still echoed Marty Morrissey: “Would you ever go ‘way and come back in two weeks?”
Dónal Óg expressed disappointment about the extension of gameplay, viewing it as the worst aspect of a tightly packed, “microwave season”. It was unfortunate, he said, that after such an exceptional day, it concluded in such a manner, having players who had played their best games utterly drained and unable to give any more in crucial moments. Michael Duignan’s plea for a tie, and thus a rematch, was likely a sentiment shared by the entire country, except, of course, for Clare.
Dónal Óg seemed astonished by the thought of individuals from Cork nearing their 20th birthday who had never seen their county clinch a senior All Ireland hurling championship. Anthony Daly speculated whether this might have humbled the typically proud Rebels. Dónal then mentioned the possibility of Liam MacCarthy trophy going “home” if Cork was victorious; a statement that left Anthony laughing and shaking his head in disbelief.
Of course, Clare also had undergone their own barren spell, although it was nearly half as long as Cork’s. Joanne Cantwell questioned Anthony’s well-being several times, to which the answer was typically negative. The anxiety was palpable, before extra time had even begun.
As the game started, Marty welcomed several nations in their own languages, his greeting to France anticipated to be among the most memorable moments in Reeling in the Years. The game began, and Cork seemed to have a quick victory, with Robert Downey scoring the day’s first contender for the goal of the century. Yet, the game was a complex one with the scores tied at half-time, and Clare’s team stepping off the field looking defiant and undeterred.
During the second half, Kelly scored the remarkable goal. In the words of Michael, “That’s 20 years of training in the backyard”. Later, Dónal Óg dubbed Kelly’s overall performance as “a feat for the record books”, even invoking the literary reference, quoting Yeats, “How do we know the dancer from the dance? His performance was captivating.”
Indeed, it was a beautiful display on a remarkable day, amongst a plethora of noteworthy performances. Truly a commendable performance by all the players on that special day.
“It’s a momentous occasion,” stated Anthony, the chap looking rather strained. “Feeling okay?” Joanne inquired once more. He responded with assurance that he had never felt better. It was an outstanding day. Yet, he hoped it would be the last instance of additional time being appended to the event. The chaps indeed warranted an improved experience.