SÉAMUS CALLANAN and Brendan Cummins are team-mates separated in age by 14 years – aeons in terms of hurling experience – but united in a resolution that Sunday’s defeat will act as a galvanising force for the days, months and years ahead.
Callanan speaks with the voice of a 20 year-old; emotionally raw after being tantalised by victory only to have it violently snatched away. His memories are snapshots of the some of the seminal moments in the final, the first recalling Kilkenny goalkeeper PJ Ryan’s wonderful reflexes that kept out Callanan’s powerfully struck shot.
“I was quiet in the first half and then when that (chance) came along I thought, ‘this is a chance to get going in the match’. It was a fantastic save by PJ (Ryan).
“I don’t know how he pulled it out of the top corner. I hit it well. I was in shock not to see it go in, but it was a really fantastic save. He was on form. He saved one from Eoin Kelly and another from Noel McGrath there at the end.”
If the young Tipperary centre forward was unaware of the bruising physicality of finals he was offered an introduction by Kilkenny’s Jackie Tyrell after three minutes when shoulder and midriff proved unequal adversaries. Callanan recalled: “I couldn’t breathe really for a minute; I was winded. It knocked a bit out of me for a few minutes.”
“Everyone dreams of All-Ireland final day, but they don’t dream of losing. I can see us going on to win a few All-Irelands – there’s no doubt about it.”
Cummins’ tone is more measured, as befits a player who has known most emotions in a marvellous career. “We don’t want to be portrayed as the gallant losers, but I suppose we have to see the reality too that we are building and growing. You see the team that we have and you see them without helmets and you realise that they are just young fellows.
“I will have a look at it in the next couple of months to see where I am at. A lot of it is my decision, but a lot of it is Liam Sheedy’s as well. Unless you are willing to give 100 per cent – 99 per cent won’t do – it’s not good enough and I have to be able to say in my head I am able to give that and I have to be sure I am able to give it.”
