Parnell Park bore witness to one hell of a game.
There was an incredible moment after Dublin won their thrilling Leinster SHC victory over Galway at Parnell Park on Saturday evening. Dublin hurling is on the rise.
Mattie Kenny’s side had defeated The Tribesmen but were left out on the pitch as they waited to see if they would make an All-Ireland quarter final. Wexford and Kilkenny were involved in a clinker, themselves, but that one ended in a draw.
Word got back to the Dublin hurlers and the place erupted. Not only had Galway been eliminated, Dublin had reached the preliminary quarters and will be playing Laois or Westmeath for a place in the final eight.
Chris Crummey is drinking it in@sportsfile 👏 pic.twitter.com/I0NHW67fhB
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) June 15, 2019
Thousands of Dublin fans had long since swarmed the pitch and the players were not for rushing to the changing rooms.
Captain Chris Crummey and his teammates joined in the joyous chorus of ‘Come on you Boys in Blue’ with the crowd and soaked in the scenes.
To see the joy on the faces of Dublin supporters tonight was just incredible. The release and ecstasy as that final whistle went was a special special moment. Then to see the players and supporters singing this most rousing rendition of Come On You Boys In Blue together. Magic 💙 pic.twitter.com/W4m2nuMsbA
— AllIrishSport (@AllIrishSport) June 15, 2019
One could not help but think back to an interview Crummey gave to SportsJOE back in February, at the same venue.
Crummey, who scored a late goal and was fouled for Sean Moran’s crucial penalty, was at Parnell Park to help launch a heart safety programme and initiative that provides training around CPR, choking, defibrillator/AED usage. He told us:
“To be honest, it’s definitely my favourite ground in the country. The atmosphere in Parnell Park in big championship games is unreal. It’s a great to have such a large Dublin support – they really add to the team’s performance, especially in the closing minutes when they really get behind the team and it really makes a big difference.”
Crummey added, “Winning is a habit as people say, and it definitely does make a difference. It does build confidence because we know that when we perform, we’re as good as any team in the country but then when we’re not at the level, we could be beaten. It’s just about concentrating on ourselves and putting in the right performance because we know when we do, we can beat anyone on their day.”
Following the game, Dublin boss Mattie Kenny spoke with RTE about his players’ belief and that crucial five minutes at the end, when Dublin outscored the 2017 champions 1-2 to 0-1.
Kenny also raved about the Parnell Park atmosphere and revealed what a few of the Galway panel said as they game finished up.
“Playing in these smaller stadiums, it just shows you the atmosphere you can generate.
“Talking to some of the Galway people coming off, they’re very disappointed. But they said to me, ‘What a game of hurling, what an atmosphere, what a night’.”
June 15 was the night this year’s hurling championship officially throbbed to life.
Galway out while Dublin a game away from the All-Ireland quarter-finals. We’re bubbling away now.
