A jersey now etched in history.
Hang it up there with the rest of them, with 1923’s, with 1980’s, 87 and 88.
2017 is now as momentous and now as memorable. 2017 will join the year of the immortals as the Tribesmen sign off with a national league title, a Leinster gong, an All-Ireland minor medal and, now, Liam is headed back west with them too.
National Hurling League 🏆
Leinster SHC 🏆
All-Ireland MHC 🏆
All-Ireland SHC 🏆Galway 2017 🔥
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 3, 2017
Almost three decades of hurt were buried emphatically at an electric Croke Park that was rocking on its hinges with the jumping and swaying and barbaric yawps of the Galway contingent.
“Not today”, was the message from inspirational captain David Burke when luck seemed to be deserting them. This was always going to be Galway’s, they were never going to leave Croke Park without Liam and how they celebrated when they finally got their hands on him.
Conor Whelan and Colm Callanan looked like two soldiers with a battle trophy, content that they’ve worked their hearts out in a good cause and were now resting victorious in the Galway changing room.
Éanna Burke and Shane Moloney with their spoils of war.
Whilst captain David Burke and Jason Flynn were the picture of two men who had been through the ringer and are now reasoning that it was all very worthwhile.
The celebrations were special. They were filled with emotion and passion and filled with such class too.
A full hour after the game, Joe Canning still hadn’t made it as far as the Galway changing room. Instead, he took time to pose for photos with two of the county’s biggest fans.
Just before that, at pitch-side, his parents were overcome by what had just happened and the scale of what their son had achieved.
Then big JC went nuts with his nephews.
Micheál Donoghue’s touching moments with his kids summed up what it all meant.
But not better than the outpour of sheer passion, joy and relief from Colm Callanan.
