1987 Munster hurling final, Tipp v Cork in Thurles.
Tipp were on the verge of breaking an almost 20 years of a barren spell of no Munster titles, Cork were reigning AI champions going into the game.
As a 14yo don't remember much about the actual game itself, remember getting up at 5 in the morning with my Da, an Uncle and an older brother, driving round the road as we call it as the ferry boat wasn't on so had to head north to Belfast before heading southbound. Going through the Army checkpoint outside Newry onto the old Dublin road through loads of wee towns, Dundalk, Drogheda etc etc before heading inland at some point, 7 plus hours I think it took before we got to Thurles.
The throngs of people in Liberty square, going over the railway bridge to the ground was something else, getting through the turnstiles was all a new experience for me, then into what was called the new stand back then.
There was an U16 game on beforehand, two regional Clare teams playing out in their Munster final, then to see John Fenton run out in the flesh along with Nicky English and Pat Fox was unreal. The cheers that rang round when both teams sprinted out onto the ground was something else and as the game ebbed and flowed one minute the chant of "Tipp, Tipp, Tipp" would ring round the place followed by an equally loud "Cark, Cark Cark" sticks in the mind.
The game was over in what seemed like a flash and ended in a draw, but it being my first (of many thereafter) it sticks in my mind and will never be equalled.
The journey home I don't remember at all, my recollections ended with the final whistle.
