By the time the fingers hit the keyboard for the write up of any final replay, every cliche and superlative will already have had a prior airing. So let’s keep it simple. Two fabulous traditions of hurling came together to display grit, hunger, determination and true respect for what each side could deliver with a sliotar and camán.
Over thirty years ago, the Buggles released a song called ‘video killed the radio star’ and rather ironically, perhaps on this occasion the catchup stream has killed the match report. Well, maybe that’s not entirely true but I’m sure you’ll forgive us for using it as an excuse so as to avoid having to give the nerves another steamrolling, rather preferring to say that on the day of the replay, only two points could separate the teams at full time. But that made all the difference between achieving an audacious dream triple back to back Jeremiah McVeagh or having a space in the trophy cabinet in McKenna Hall.
And the latter it is to be. Yes it wasn’t to be our day on this occasion, but our lads gave us another exciting journey and we are proud of what they have achieved to date. We wish Jeremiah a happy new home and hope that it will garnish Portaferry with the best of Down’s hurling SHC essence.
Here’s a few pictures sent to us from Dermot Donnelly [sadly I had to return to Gib] that we’ve saved from the cutting room floor to help us record the occasion.
Now let’s get the cabinet polished and find a space for the Betsy Gray Shield. Oh wait a minute…
