A day of incredible emotion, drama and total joy on Kildare's All-Ireland final day
Do you have to be a Dub to have a pint after an All-Ireland final here (interview room under the Cusack Stand at Headquarters) asked Kildare captain Grace Clifford following her side's win over Clare in Sunday's TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Football final at Croke Park.
It was, of course, a tongue in cheek remark as the Eadestown player had just completed the after-match interview with the press and jokingly referred to the Dublin senior football captain, James McCarthy who enjoyed a pint of Guinness during his after-match interview with his manager,Dessie Farrell sitting beside him.
No pint for Grace on Sunday, well at least not immediately after the game, but no doubt the celebrations got underway soon after as dramatic a final as we have seen as Kildare, for the third time this season, got the better of Clare to clinch the title and bring home the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup to the Shortgrass county for the second time, having won it previously in 2016, ironically defeating Clare in that final also.
Approaching Croker on Sunday one could not but be struck by the amount of young children, in their respective county colours, heading for the three game programme.
Inside the noise, from an attendance of 45, 326, was intense throughout the afternoon that all added up to a mighty atmosphere.
Kildare certainly had a fair support with pockets of white-clad supporters spread throughout the stadium in all areas and with their TG4 flags it certainly made for a great family day out and a great occasion.
The hosteleries may not have done the business they would normally do on an All-Ireland Sunday with most supporters, on this occasion at least, heading to the ground rather than suppin' one or two before throw-i n.
Maybe a sign of things to come?
With Down getting the better of Limerick in the Junior final opener, the noise levels went up a notch or two as The Lilies and Ladies from The Banner entered and ready to do battle in a game that threw-in at 1.45.
The flag-waving, the cheering, clapping and the encouragement from supporters, very young to the more mature, saw the girls from Clare open with the first point of the game after three minutes.
An early goal chance went abegging for The Lilies before Clare raised another white but while we did not know at the time, that was as good as it got for the side from the West as slowly but surely Kildare turned the screw, initially opening with a point from the ever-reliable and talented Róisín Byrne who fired over a free.
Even at this early stage one player in white was showing she brought her 'A' game to Croke Park.
Lauren Burke, from Naas, has been ejoying a great season and the corner back was absolutely superb again on Sunday. Her reading of the game; her tackling; her dispossessing of opponents, time and time again, really caught the eye — a corner back that any defence would be only delighted to have.
Unfortunately Lauren picked up what looked like a serious injury late on that she here stretchered off, her loss was sorely felt by Kildare.
The Lilies second score of the day was simply out of the top drawer. An inch perfect, defence splitting kick pass from Neasa Dooley put Trina Duggan in and the Suncroft player made no mistake.
It was a goal of sublime vision and skill, brilliantly set-up and executed; fit for any stage.
A second goal from Ellen Dowling on 21 minutes really put The Lilies in control after the Suncroft girl got in front of her marker to win a short kick-out and duly kept her composure to fire the ball to the empty net.
The Lilies flags were flying high; as their supporters roared their approval and by the half-time break O'Hora's side led by a very comfortableseven points and looking good.
That lead was out to eight with just 12 minutes remaining; Lauren Burke had departed on the motorised stretcher before Clare hit The Lilies with 2-1 in a six minute spell; two goals that in fairness came from two Kildare mistakes more than anything else but a Neasa Dooley point between those two greens was to prove vital as with the clock ticking down Clare had a 45m free to level but it fell short, the hooter sounded; joy for Lilies; heartbreak for The Banner.
An incredible season for Kildare; three competitions; three throphies; unbeaten in 2023 and now All-Ireland champions; senior championship football and Division 2 League action come 2024, the stuff that dreams are made of.
Team captain, Grace Clifford, said after the game it is something she felt she could only ever dream about but now it is a reality.
Róisín Byrne was awarded the Player of the Match, her seven points tally ensured that but again another player who has enjoyed a tremendous season, especially when you consider the injuries the Sarsfields player has had to endure over the past few seasons.
Still those final minutes as the clock was edging to the 'hooter' were sheer agony.
Kildare, male or female, don't make life easy when it comes to winning in Croke Park.
It must be in all our DNA's.
But in fairness this was a game that Kildare could, and should, have had done and dusted early on; as early as in the first half, while filling the Clare net twice, it could have been filled double that with the amount of chances that were created.
Again the defence was really solid throughout, right up to that six minutes of madness when concentration levels seemed to go AWAL, — coupled with the injury to Lauren Burke — but in the end they dug it out; that vital point from Neasa Dooley in between the two Clare goals, was a life-saver; a game saver and ensured that the honours went where they belonged on a day that will be remembered for many a long day.
The celebrations will, no doubt, be long and extensive, as they should be, it is rarely indeed, for a Kildare team especially, to win every competition they played in — the Division 3 League (and promotion); the Leinster Championship, topping it off with the All-Ireland title.
Well done to each and every player, the management, the backroom, the county executive.
Magnificent.
Brilliant.
And well deserved!