STILL HEROES.
So declared a maroon and white banner held aloft by two young Galway fans at Pearse Stadium.
Monday evening in Galway and the senior hurler’s homecoming was a little more sedate, a little less jam-packed, than the triumphant scenes of 2017. Back then, not long after bringing the Liam MaccArthy west over the Shannon, Micheal Donoghue and his players were welcomed back into the city as conquering idols.
11 and a half months on and Galway had been bested by Limerick and ‘Liam’ was heading to the Gaelic Grounds.
Still, the Galway faithful streamed into Pearse Stadium. There was the minor team – All-Ireland champions 2018 – to cheer and the seniors to salute. Most would have come anyway but the heroic, doomed flurry of scores in injury time had shown others that these men don’t know when they are beaten.
Credit: Norman Media (via TouTube)Donoghue thanked the fans, players, backroom staff and paid tribute to victors Limerick before stepping back for captain David Burke.
His speech was just shy of three minutes and you could tell from his face how shattered the whole 48 hours – the whole summer, too – had been. His words were pure class, though, and will have hit home to so many, young and old, in the crowd.
There is a way to win and a way to lose. Galway have done both so nobly.
As the cheers died down, Burke gave a wave to acknowledge the support and said:
“Just first of all, when you win it is easy to come out and support but on behalf of the players, management – and just echocing what Micheal has said – it is brilliant to see the support out here this evening.
“It’s not easy, after last year and knowing what winning is like, and it is a testament to the support that we have for hurling in this county and the GAA in total. It’s been brilliant and we’re really thankful for that.
“It’s been a brilliant year for the normal hurling supporter. There’s been a massive amount of games and we’ve been on the road a lot. There were the round robins and we’ve had a couple of games here, and been on the road to Tullamore, Wexford Park two times, Croke Park three times, and Thurles. And ye have been behind us all the way. And, really, this is the only reason I’m up here today, thanking ye for all the support throughout the year.
“Not only this year but last year and the previous years to that. It’s been brilliant. We’d waited a long time [to win the All-Ireland] and this team is not going away. We’ll come back stronger again next year.
“Lastly, I’d like to thank the minor team for their win on Sunday. I think the sheer work-rate was the biggest trait from them that I took from watching them in the second half.
“The future is bright in Galway and any young people down there that might be looking up, you’re only four or five years away from playing minor grade with Galway, hurling or camogie, and that leads on to Under 21 and senior level. So, look, keep at it, stick with it and thanks again for coming out and supporting us. All the best.”
To these young Galway fans in the crowd, and hundreds of others, Burke and his teammates are still heroes, and so they should be.
Don’t be surprised, in years to come, if you hear of a hurler or camogie star who was at Pearse Stadium on Monday, August 20th 2018 and who was inspired to follow in the foot-steps of Burke and his men.
