Surveying a
crowd of thousands on Monday night in Nowlan Park at another victory celebration, Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody was already planting the seeds for more All-Ireland homecomings.
Once upon a time, he told the crowd, the players who helped earn a 36th title for the county on Sunday were among the supporters who turned out to cheer the Cats as they returned home to parade the silverware.
“That gave them the drive and ambition and dream to get up on that stage themselves, to get to play with Kilkenny and be a part of something like this,” he said. “It’s certain there are young children and teenagers in the stand tonight, you people have that same dream and same ambition and same determination to some day be up wearing the black and amber and hopefully be part of a team that brings back the Liam MacCarthy Cup.”
Rooting for Galway
After receiving the loudest cheer of the evening when he strode onto the stage in Nowlan Park, Cody pointed out that 31 counties were rooting for Galway in Sunday’s final. “And that’s understandable,” he said. He commended Galway for a “magnificent” first half, but then reminded everyone what makes his side great.
“I think the display in the second half and the skill and strength of character they showed can be compared to any display by any team in any code, anywhere,” he added.
Cody’s speech was the last at a homecoming event which got under way when the team bus arrived at Kilkenny Castle at 5.45pm. The players then boarded an open-top bus for the familiar journey through the streets towards Nowlan Park.
Some 12,000 people gathered on the streets and in Nowlan Park, the headquarters of Kilkenny hurling, to congratulate the players and see the cup.
Streaker
One supporter was so pleased about the victory that he braved the wrath of the gardaí – and county board stewards – by streaking on to the pitch wearing little more than a pair of socks.
Cody watched as his players were introduced one-by-one to the crowd by county board chairman Ned Quinn. He started with captain Joey Holden, “a giant of a man.”
Singer-songwriter Alan Hayes led the players and supporters in a rendition of The Rose of Mooncoin as the Nowlan Park formalities came to a close and another night of festivities kicked off in Kilkenny.
Within minutes, the Kilkenny players left the stadium on foot and made their way back into the city centre.
The posed for photographs with fans on their way from Nowlan Park – sure wasn’t it just the All-Ireland champions out for a stroll and taking a night off before returning to their clubs to begin preparations for next year and perhaps All Ireland number 37.