In 2014, Eoin Murphy didn’t have to worry about any of it.
An elbow injury early on in the year had sidelined the Glenmore man for the Leinster final and All-Ireland semi, so when Brian Cody called him over during Kilkenny’s last session before the decider, he actually thought he was about to be dropped.
“I had no inclination I was going to be playing at all in the three/four weeks build-up. I basically just got away with all the hype and just went and played the All-Ireland,” he said on Friday’s GAA Hour Live Show.
“Just running out on the pitch, ten past six of a Friday evening they (Cody and co.) called me over and I thought I wouldn’t even be making the panel, and they said, ‘how are you fixed to be playing on Sunday?’
“That was it then, you don’t really get a chance to get excited, you’re getting the gear ready the next day and you’re just falling into the match then,” he said.
Just like Shane O’Donnell the year previous, Murphy had been protected from the hype and the buzz of it all. He didn’t even have time to think about the occasion or the sideshows that surround it and he just went in and played it like any other game.
One of the biggest pre All-Ireland sideshows is the scramble for tickets. Knowing that the players involved in the game receive a number of free tickets as well as an option to buy more, those on the outside, desperate to get their bums on a seat for the big day, often chance their arm with the player they share nothing but a county with.
It can be a stressful time for players, especially when you’ve to get your own house in order first.
“When you get to the big match, they all want tickets off you, and if you don’t give one to your family, then you’re the worst in the world,” chipped in Waterford’s Dan Shanahan.
Seeing as Murphy didn’t see himself manning the Kilkenny goals on that first Sunday in September 2014, it was a little easier for him to keep everybody happy, and given the substantial amount of tickets the Kilkenny boys received, he had no excuses on that front.
“We didn’t get the 20 that the Cork lads were looking for,” he joked.
“You had an option to buy an unlimited amount of tickets, but I suppose the quality of them mightn’t have been great.”
“It was 12 standing, and six hill tickets that we got (for free), but I’ve got none for Sunday in case anybody is asking,” laughed the Kilkenny man.
In Clare, the players aren’t afforded as many freebies, but they do get enough to ensure their own families are taken care of.
“It wasn’t 12 and six that we got,” joked John Conlon.
And that 2014 experience couldn’t have went any better for Murphy. The absence of pressure, two solid performances, a first Celtic Cross as a starter and then wild celebrations afterwards.
How wouldn’t Kilkenny and Murphy keep on coming back for more?
“I suppose if you think of the craic you have after winning the All-Ireland, Jesus, you’ll definitely want to win it every year,” he said with a smile.
That’s why these lads get into hurling in the first place, that’s what it’s all about.
You can listen to this discussion and much more from the GAA Hour Show Live from The Sugar Club right here.
