Road to Croker on All Ireland Final Day

Th early rise on All Ireland Sunday morning is greeted by a grey overcast sky with even the ever present Slievenamon in the distance wearing a cap of cloud cover. Breakfast brings the first heavy drops of rain that thankfully quickly abate as the car is decorated, tickets packed and final arrangements made for the journey. 

With the dog fed, door locked, the epic journey begins.  As we drive away from the border country to meet our neighbours again in  a few hours by the Hallowed sod on Jones Road. The bunting is visible everywhere on houses and in the villages as the trip through Callan sees the Guinnes Hurling sign starkly proclaim "One Conquers All"  as the motorcade now contains vechicles sporting both the Blue and Gold and Black and Amber.

Approaching the Marble City the digital Traffic Information Display states the News that there is a "One Way Traffic System in the City Centre on Monday as both sets of supporters wonder is it Corporation Works or Match related! In 2010 and beyond the journey take the new motorway away from the roadside flagwavers in Clara, the crowds gathering at the crossroads along the way, and the ladies who flashed their county jersies from beneath their hoodies in Paulstown.

Tuning in to Sunday Miscellany the miles passed through the cornfield bedecked landscape of Carlow as tales were heard of Local Derbies in Carrick, Hurling Anylists Dreams, The Black and Amber Waistcoast, Stars of the Past, Thurles and Mullinahone, and Hurlers Dreams and Ambitions. Into Kildare we are reminded  of the first recorded of the ancient game played in 1275 B.C. on the plains of Moytura. As the Tuatha De Dannan took the title over the Fir Bolg and the Breton Laws  used hurling games to resolve local conncerns the level of traffic increased to fill the three laned dual carriageway. To the strains of the Rose and Slievenamon the traffic lights gave an opportunity to meet and greet fellow travellers to the games most recent epic.      

Into the Fair City all is running smooth as the day holds up brighter and dry as the Luas is packed with supporters from the Red Cow in. Parked up, grub organised and then it arrives, the most consitent part of this years Irish Summer the rain. Its presence reduces the chit chat as supporters await a break to head for the grounds as news of backlogs in Urlingford and beyond trickle through from the road.

In the Stadium.................