Why it’s different

We have an open plan office at work. So open, the President is practically the only one with an actual office of his own. This means we are never too far from a colleague.

I’ve a Flemish guy called Nick sitting across from me. He’s a football fan but also a fan of sport in general. In recent months I’m bringing him up to speed on G.A.A. while he educates me on cycling (a Belgian favourite).

Last Monday week, the conversation naturally turned to Cork’s victory over Dublin in the football league final. I was still a bit animated about the whole experience and the extent of my gesticulating clearly indicated strong feelings about the Dubs.

Yesterday we got onto the hurling league final and I enthusiastically talked of Dublin’s victory over Kilkenny. After a few minutes he stopped me to confirm that it was Dublin who won and that this was a good thing. He was confused about how my feelings for the same county could swing in one week.

It’s impossible to explain to non-G.A.A. people (even some G.A.A. people in fact). I didn’t understand it for a long time either when Dad used keep telling me that the G.A.A. needs Dublin. But it does. The county is host to almost 25% of Ireland’s population. Their heads will naturally be turned in the direction of the city’s most successful sporting sons.

Last weekend Leinster overcame the French super power Toulouse to qualify for the European Cup rugby final but it was the hurlers who grabbed the headlines with the demolition job on Kilkenny. It was their first national title since something like 1939 and is the result of focused efforts over the last ten years.

Hurling is a game that faces an eternal struggle to survive. Mothers think it is too dangerous whilst potential players can be put off by how difficult it is to master its skills. The only way to get a foothold is to make it sexy. Success does that. Success will see lads pucking sliotars against gable ends and in parks and on streets in Dublin. That it happened in Dublin means so much more because Hurling is a sport which has been owned by Cork, Tipp and Kilkenny for the last 12 years. It needs a revolution like the 90’s and it needed Dublin to step up.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer though and the same side’s capitulation at the hands of Antrim last year will mean they won’t get carried away. However, based on Sunday’s performance, myself and Nick might be talking about them a few more Monday mornings.

Of course it’s important to mention Belgium G.A.A.’s link to the occasion. Eoin’s brother John is on the Dublin panel is one of the young crop of talented hurlers they can call on. A proud day for the Sheanon’s no doubt.