Lollys Adventures to Croke Park All Ireland GAA Semi Finals The Almighty Cats (Kilkenny v Limerick)
With heavy rain forecasted for the match I dressed accordingly with my jeans, dessert boots, Kilkenny Jersey, Rain Jacket and Umbrella all excited and enroute with my best friend Declan Croker Bound via Train to watch my favourite Team the one and only Almighty Cats. Kilkenny of course! to take down Limerick to get themselves through to the All Ireland Hurling Championships 2014 for the 13th Year in a row. I have been supporting Kilkenny since I am the size of shirt button taking after my lovely Dad I guess.
With my first adventure to Croke Park but not my Last! I got very little sleep, I felt a little bit like a child on Christmas Eve I was that excited waiting for the morning to arrive. I woke up pulled across my bedroom curtains and low and behold the sun was shining and I said a little wee prayer that the typical Irish rainy weather would hold off for an amazing day ahead.
There was weeks of speculations from everyone that Kilkenny would not have an easy ride and by God were they right! I was stuck to the pitch. I can honestly say I didn’t take my eyes off the field once.
We got off the train and jumped on the Luas straight into Abbey Street, grabbed a bite to eat and a few drinks before we headed up to Ryans Pub on Jones Street which is directly behind the stadium. There was a sea of people over 45,000 people to be exact all up to watch their favourite Teams battle it out for the All Ireland GAA Semi Finals 2014
I was walking along and low and behold who did I bump into only Bernard Dunne a Former World Champion Boxer. He was only to happy to take a photo with me. I was absolutely trembling to be honest I was shaking as the photograph was being taken. I think I was a little star struck as I am a massive Boxing fan. He was a very nice man with piercing blue eyes. I never realised he was so small for some reason I though he was taller!
We left Ryans Pub and made our way to the Stadium. We walked up the steps of Croke Park and I can only tell you that the hair literally stood on my head. I was gob smacked I could not believe what I was seeing. I felt so proud to be Irish for that moment. I didn’t speak I took it all in and literally did a whole 360 turn three times very slowly so I wouldn’t miss anything. I’d say lookers on thought I was from outer space.
So, the battle begun. For the first half of the game Kilkenny had it tough the rain was pouring down and the weather conditions were terrible. Kilkenny were certainly put to the test yesterday on all fronts but they wore Limerick down in the end by zapping their energy.
The rain got so bad they had to switch on the floodlights in Croke Park Stadium midway through the first half and the sky darkened even more in the second half. But, it didn’t stop the drive and the battle of the players, they soldiered on as true Irish Hurlers do Funnily enough Limerick played it’s best in the second half and that was when the weather conditions deteriorated.
Limerick scored five points in the second half of the game out and really turned the heat up testing The Almighty Cats abilities to get the lead. In fairness to Limerick they played some game. They only had one wide throughout the game compared to Kilkenny’s 8 which would have gave Kilkenny a massive lead had they been more accurate with their attempts. I’d say Cody will have a thing or two to say about that at the next training session.
Kilkenny performed very badly in the first half of the match which is quiet unusual. I reckon Cody gave the players a good dressing down in the Changing Rooms at half time because they came out battling a lot harder in the second half to get ahead.
King Henry was brought on in the second half which immediately raised moral of the team but needless to say that put extra pressure on Limerick. I will never forget the roars coming from the Fans in the Stadium. It was something else, particularly from the Limerick Fans. I was stuck in the Cusack Stand amongst ten’s of thousands of Limerick Supporters screaming at the Limerick Players shouting abuse at the Ref. There was a really funny Limerick Guy standing behind me. He was really into the game and he was hurdling abuse at the Ref. One phrase he used was “That’s Shocking” in a real thick Limerick Irish Accent. It was quiet funny. You could feel the passion he had for the game and how much he so wanted his home town to win as much as I wanted Kilkenny to win.
The game was heating up, I was heating up, the fans were heating up. I was taking on my jacket, off my jacket with my body temperature rising from pure intense nail biting tension with the match being so neck and neck. At one point I really thought Kilkenny were going to loose it. I was praying and screaming for the Ref to Blow the Whistle “Blow the Whistle Ref Please” I can tell you it was one sound I loved hearing. With two mins of extra time the Ref Blew it up. It was all over and I leapt out of my Seat Screaming for the Stadium to blare out the song “Cool for Cats”
The atmosphere was nothing short of electric. It was an unbelievable experience and something I will never forget. I felt very sorry on the Limerick Players and Supporters. There is no doubt in my mind they literally played a “Stormer” but as the saying goes the best men won on the day! Kilkenny survived with goals by Richie Hogan and Richie Power critical to their victory and an absolute heroic effort by Limerick. Well done.
I can’t recommend a visit to Croke Park for an All Ireland Semi Final enough or even a visit when the League is on. There were people from all over the World in the Stadium. Tourists checking out what all the fuss is about with the “Clash of the Ash” I can tell you they too were amazed at how this game is played and how two teams battle it out in the worst weather conditions ever. I could see them watch the Supporters and smile. I could tell that they were truely enjoying it. I took it all in and I have to say that today I’m on a complete and utter high that my Team Kilkenny GAA All Ireland Champions for 34 Times are through to the All Ireland GAA Hurling Championships 2014. I am proud as punch and absolutely delighted for the Team and the one and only Manager Brian Cody who celebrated his 60th Birthday only a few weeks ago. What a present it was. Cody grabbed Jackie Tyrell at the end of the match and they sang in the rain. It was something else.
See you for the Final everyone where I shall report Lolly Style again and hopefully the Cat will get the cream! So, if you have never been to a Game I strongly suggest you stick it down on your bucket list or you’ll Live to regret it. Proud to be Irish!
Love Lolly xx
