One minute we were shepherding in the summer and all it promised — the Volvo, the arts festival, the races, the oysters, and it all came with such a flurry that before we knew it, the summer had disappeared into thin air and we were left facing down the hill into Christmas. But what an unexpected bonus it is that we are on the cusp of October and yet there is still reason for fire in our ample bellies. Who could have believed that with darkness falling across the land as the lowing herd winds slowly o’er the ( bit of Gray there, but not the fifty shades variety ) and that as yet, the destiny of the premier hurling title is still undecided and that better still, our team has shown that it is well capable of entering the final replay and bringing home the McCarthy Cup for the first time in a generation.
What better way of shortening the winter than replaying in our minds the memories of the first match and the second match, especially if victory is ours come teatime Sunday. What better way is there of bearing those dark evenings than by being kept aglow with the heat of pride in the achievements of our team? Is there anything nicer than waking on the Monday morning and knowing that you can look forward to hearing the sports reports?
We have seen what last Sunday’s title has meant to the people of Donegal. As a Mayoman, I can testify to the opposite emotion, but we soldier on in the belief that it is not the despair that kills us, but the hope. And because I know that it is like to be feasting on the morsels of a trophy famine, I am aware of just how much it would mean were rich foods to suddenly come our way.
Galway head to Croke Park on Sunday not needing to fear anybody but themselves. Just take a look at our team. They are the strongest, most physically imposing warriors we have sent out for some time. It is a team full of role models, of young men who were infants when last success came our way. They are not burdened by history or by an psychology. They have shown they are able to match and better Kilkenny and next Sunday they get another chance to show that.
Little did we think that October would be almost upon us, that the tenth month of the year would be the month we’d hold the homecoming. But there is a novel aspect to this weekend.
The Galway intermediate camogie players replay their final with Derry on Saturday afternoon. In the first match, they too showed late guile and courage to come back from a last minute blow to achieve a draw — what a glorious double that would be if we were to have a cross-gender homecoming on Monday night.
Best of luck to both teams. Your city and county is proud of you. Now just go out and do what you are well able to do, and if you do that, the rewards will be many.
