Hurling means to me:
Memories as a kid being lifted over the turnstile by my grandfather or father even for all Ireland finals;
Paper crèche hats getting soaked and having the black and amber dye running down your face;
Flying the flag out the window of the car on the way up and down to the match only if you remembered not to pull the window down without holding the flag and seeing it going flying away;
Rosettes with a little silver cup;
Journeys back from croke park which seemed to involve stopping in every pub on the way when drink driving was a national past time;
Running out as a 10 year old onto Nowlan Park playing under 12s but feeling I was playing in an all Ireland final;
Chunky O'Brien teaching me how to rise a ball;
Remembering every county final I got to and more so every final or semi final we lost;
The joy and agony of matches which at the time were the most important thing in the world;
Watching my nephews play and seeing the same enjoyment I got that they got;
Talking to my Dad after every Kilkenny match. Sometimes I'd have made it back from London and we'd do it face to face. Other times on the phone(
Sitting in various pubs in London watching any game no matter what club or county and remembering hurling is what we are and always will be!
Memories as a kid being lifted over the turnstile by my grandfather or father even for all Ireland finals;
Paper crèche hats getting soaked and having the black and amber dye running down your face;
Flying the flag out the window of the car on the way up and down to the match only if you remembered not to pull the window down without holding the flag and seeing it going flying away;
Rosettes with a little silver cup;
Journeys back from croke park which seemed to involve stopping in every pub on the way when drink driving was a national past time;
Running out as a 10 year old onto Nowlan Park playing under 12s but feeling I was playing in an all Ireland final;
Chunky O'Brien teaching me how to rise a ball;
Remembering every county final I got to and more so every final or semi final we lost;
The joy and agony of matches which at the time were the most important thing in the world;
Watching my nephews play and seeing the same enjoyment I got that they got;
Talking to my Dad after every Kilkenny match. Sometimes I'd have made it back from London and we'd do it face to face. Other times on the phone(
Sitting in various pubs in London watching any game no matter what club or county and remembering hurling is what we are and always will be!