THE TICKETS are bought, the transport is arranged, the ham is ready for the sandwiches – and now the tribes of Tipperary and Kilkenny just have to worry about the result.
Some wily fans from the two hurling strongholds will make their way to Dublin today in advance of tomorrow’s All-Ireland final, one of the most eagerly anticipated in years following two classics between the same counties in 2009 and 2010.
But most will travel tomorrow by car, train, Luas or minibus, or perhaps by bicycle, as so many did in the past, when the roads were busy with thousands of GAA fans pedalling to the big smoke for the match – with sandwiches and flasks of tea at the ready.
Rivalry between Tipperary and Kilkenny has never been far from the surface and this is even more true this year, given it is the third successive year the same counties have made it to the hurling showdown.
Near border areas between the two counties, the “friendly” banter becomes even more pronounced. Some households enjoy weeks of slagging and one-upmanship at such times, such as that of Jackie and Tommy Grinshell, who live in Grangemockler, just inside the Tipperary side of the border.
Jackie is a Tipp woman while Tommy is from Windgap in the neighbouring county. With their four children, the blue and gold won out.
“Tommy would be a big Kilkenny supporter, but we just take it in our stride,” Jackie said yesterday. “Normally we go up to it [the All-Ireland] but this year we’re staying at home and will watch it on the television. My son is going. Tickets are very hard to come by.”
As for the match itself, she’s going for a double for Tipperary: “They’re young and fit and I think they can do it.”
Grangemockler is just a stone’s throw from the border and other “interface” areas such as Pilltown and Carrick-on-Suir, Mullinahone and Callan, and Graigue-Ballycallan and Ballingarry. One Ballingarry native who has seen both sides of the friendly rivalry is Willie Norton, a Tipp fan to the bone but who, until recently, was principal at Grennan College in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.
Yesterday, the recently retired teacher paid a visit to his old haunt where, for years until Tipperary’s resurgence, he had to endure the triumphalism of his charges at this time of year.
“It was nice last year, after years of humiliation, to get the result at last,” he said after calling to see his former pupils, bedecked in black and amber. “Hopefully we’ll have a good open game this time and that the game of hurling will win out.”
Retirement will allow even more time to go to such matches. “It’s nice to be able to walk out of there [the school] without the responsibility on your shoulders. But of course I’ll miss the school, it’s been my life for so many years.”
Meanwhile, back in Tipp, the streets of Clonmel will flaunt even more blue and gold than recently because of a local Chamber of Commerce initiative. Shoppers have been encouraged to dress in the Tipperary colours as they go about their business in the town centre, while retail outlets are making an extra effort to “Tippify” their premises in advance of the big game.
“Last year this town looked fantastic and local business owners did a great job decorating windows, putting up bunting and flags,” chamber president Tina Mulhearne said.
“This year we want shoppers and businesses to get behind the team by wearing the Tipperary colours.”
And to add to the occasion the borough council has decided to waive parking fees in the town centre car parks for the day.