It was a
pulsating match with so many highs and lows. A rip roaring final, that saw two
teams give no quarter. We witnessed colossal hits, a frenetic pace and talented
hurlers covering every single blade of grass on Croke Park’s field of green. A
better advert for hurling there could not have been.
I watched the match,
along with thousands of others, in Waterford City’s newest outdoor venue, The
Apple Market. This re-engineered corner of the City was built with many, many detractors.
If the truth be told, a venue, which during the construction phase, received
endless amounts of unfair criticism by hundreds of keyboard warriors, from all
over the country. Yet, on Sunday 3rd September this performance area
would play host to a magnificent Gladiatorial contest.
With three
screens to choose from, every supporter in white and blue could comfortably
view the match. The whole area was filled with Déise families, friends and the
odd tourist, wondering what the hell was going on. I saw visiting Spanish
students getting caught up in the majesty of the day. I know that Waterford
hurling has now gained a few more International supporters from the Basque
country.
There was a
never ending number of small children running around hysterically, in their
Déise colours. Quickly pursued by a Mum or Dad, trying to bring them back to
order. A hopeless task, as they would be off at the earliest opportunity,
pretending they too were in Croke Park, just like their heroes Gleeson, Brick
and Moran.
Tipperary
referee Hogan blew the whistle at 15:30 and within a few minutes our hopes
seemed shattered. As Galway steamed into an early lead and it looked like the
Déise men were in for a very tough day at the office. Then up popped the white
and blue Captain, to blast the sliotar into the
Tribesmen’s net – dare we start to dream?
It would be a pulsating game with
never more than a few points between the two teams. At halftime there was only
one point in it and we could all take a collective breath. There was a rush to
get refreshments and take back to your vantage point. Hoping that supporters
would be polite and normal order resumed prior to the start of the second half.
With everyone back in their place the game restarted.
The Déise ever so briefly went
into the lead around 16:30 and the crowds’ excitements levels rose. If we were
not careful the new Apple Market roof would be lifted right off the
foundations! We were all shouting and screaming in unison. A choreographed emotional
rollercoaster that had all of us hoping that our heart rate could be
controlled.
At around the hour mark, the
Tribesmen’s talisman Joe Canning, got his eighth point of the match and a few
of us started to feel that the match might just be slipping away. Suddenly
there was a four point difference, as the clock ticked inevitably towards
fulltime.
With four minutes of added time,
could our Déise men make up the three point difference? Would Austin Gleeson
get another wonder goal to drag us back into the match? Alas, it was not to be.
When Hogan blew the final whistle, the Tribesmen were three points to the good.
Galway would win their fifth All-Ireland Senior Hurling title, a first for 29
years.
Despite the thousands of
supporters, thronging The Apple Market, you could have heard a pin drop towards
the end of extra time, as the match drew towards its inevitable conclusion. We
collectively applauded and cheered the wonderful effort by Derek’s squad. It
was a titanic struggle and “Boi” can we be proud of our county.
Galway were just too strong on the
day and watching “The Sunday Game”, you could evidently see why. The graphic
for “Man of the Match” clearly showing, two giant Tribesmen beside the Déise’s
Jamie Barron!
Waterford has surely a great
hurling future. Our new outdoor venue, The Apple Market, will have its roof
raised many times, in the not too distant future.
Déise Abu.
(Burzza restaurant window Waterford, Photo of Derek & Dan: Piaras Ó Mídheach, Irish Independent)
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